Barack Obama versus John McCain. One of the first things that supporters of Obama ought to realize is that attacking, belittling or characterizing John McCain by emphasizing his age is a mistake. It is a mistake that may backfire and cost them a lot of votes with seniors in this country.
I don't know about you, but everywhere I look in our society, people over sixty-five are making profound contributions to their chosen fields. Architecture, writing, journalism, painting, education, corporate leadership, law, medicine. You name it. With the exception of actually performing in fields such as sports or ballet, for example, men and women that are John McCain's age are not only contributing, they are at the top of their game.
The problem with John McCain is not his age, it's his condition. McCain's true lack of the abundant energy required to function as president, even performing the job on the most basic level, is what must be questioned. Perhaps McCain could have served in the 1950s, back in a time when the job was significantly less complicated than it is today. However, the world has grown far more dangerous and complicated in the last decade. (I know this because the Bush administration has worked incredibly hard for eight years to convince me of this.) The world today requires that we have a president who has the mental and physical capability and stamina to face issues such as terrorism, global warming and the energy crisis we are currently steeped in, not to mention the link between all three.
John McCain had a relatively brief and less taxing battle for his party's nomination than Barack Obama did. He has had time to rest up. Get mentally fit. Study his notes and come out swinging once he had a clear target. And what have we witnessed thus far? What kind of shape will John McCain be in come September or October, after weeks of stress and pounding from his adversary, who seems right now to be indefatigable?
McCain's ideas are too old, not the Senator himself. McCain's view of this country, his view of the world, are too old. There may be a seventy-two year old Republican Senator/ war hero who has most or all of what it takes to lead this country out of these difficult times. John McCain is not that man.
McCain as president would be a national calamity.
The Repubs should rethink who they are going to nominate. There were several better candidates. For instance, Huckabee and those guys from California and Arizona, forget their names unfortunately.
And, thanks, Mr. Baldwin. I've thought this and argued it for months. McCain does not have either the physical energy nor the intellectual sharpness (much less the depth) needed for this position.
That said, thanks also, to those in their 60s and 70s who posted RESPECTFUL thoughts about McCain's age as it relates to his ability to be president. I, too, feel that the job would be too stressful for most at his age, gees for many at my age of 53! I noticed a huge change in my stamina once I entered mid-life and was quite surprised by it. As another poster mentioned, one has only to look at how Clinton and Bush have aged as POTUS to see the level of stress this job levels on its occupant.
What scares me most about McCain, however, is his temperament. I can’t imagine anyone who has yelled, “F**k you!” at committee members in the Senate or who has called their own wife a “c*nt” in front of reporters being allowed anywhere near the proverbial “red button”!!!
No matter how old he is, what can't be denied are those befuddled looks as the wheels turn that makes him resemble Clarence from It's A Wonderful Life. Obama has the breezy quality that the McCain of 2000 has long lost. McCain would sleep right through that 3 am call.
Even though we lost. The domino crud was a bust for the Commies.
The president of the United States has no such luxury. The person who takes on that job must be in top-notch shape mentally AND physically, ready 24-7 to deal with every and any emergency. Even if there are NO expected emergencies, we do need that preparedness and youth.
So, Mr. Baldwin, don't worry about offending me.
I, like you, sometimes suffer the Scarlett O'Hara syndrome ("I'll thnk about that tomorrow"). I have all these "to-do" things in my head and celebrate it as a success if I can ahceive getting half of them accomplished. McCain needs to take a page from our playbook...he's just not up to snuff for the rigors of the campaign nor the White House!!!