One Heartbeat Away

To diffuse the fact that he would be the oldest person ever elected president, John McCain likes to talk about his gene pool -- and how his mother is still going strong at age 90. But the quality of one's genes is only one determinant of longevity. Considering McCain's history with skin cancer, who knows what his medical future holds.

My understanding is that Sarah Palin is a nice lady. I certainly don't agree with her on most of the important social issues. Other than her interesting life story, I don't know much about her. I don't know if McCain knows much about her.

God forbid something bad should befall a 72-year-old man who's had skin cancer. But if it does, is this truly the woman we want dealing with Putin on an instant's notice?

For me, the answer is no.

Read more reaction from HuffPost bloggers to John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate

Comments

[HowAboutThis]

John McCain's mother is still alive and may attend the convention. I hope that helps put your minds at ease about how being 70+ is a death sentence.

[mh01]

No more than I want a 20 minute Senator who would BE the president dealing with putin.

I have at least a little confidence that Palin would stand up for america, instead of Punting to the UN on any tough issue, like Obama has demonstrated as his plan for dealing with international issues.

She has bigger stones than he does.

[LA2000]

All that faux macho swagger is what has put the United States security and its economy in such a tenuous position. Prissy elitist republicans pretending to know what they are doing when it comes to the military.

It says everything about the state of the republican party that THIS is the best candidate they could find.

[mh01]

Liberals know exactly what to do with the military, every time. Wave the white flag.

[nk007]

mho1

I know you are not serious. Obama, graduate of Columbia and then Harvard Law school, President of the prestigious Harvard Law Review, Professor of Constitutional Law at the University of Chicago, State Senator of Illinois Senate (the fifth largest state in the Union) for eight years ( the same amount of time as Abraham Lincoln), United States Senator for four years, is to be compared to Pulin. The hypocrisy of Obama haters continues to amaze me! But I suppose that's the way Republicans who claim to be Christians operate. Please tell me how a BA graduate of Idaho State College who gained fame as a beauty queen and a sports news caster, was a mayor of tiny city and has only been Governor for two years, compares to Obama. Even McCain who graduated almost last in his class at the Navy Academy cannot compare, in intellect, to Obama, who graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School. Only a person blinded by racism and hatred would fail to recognize this man's brilliant intellect, superior judgement and discipline. He has been right on Iraq and Afighanistan. He is highly respected by his peers both Republican and Democrats and it seems he is respected by foreign leaders given his reception both in Europe and the Middle East.

[yngskywlkr]

Even though all it took for him to get the IRAQI PM to agree to a timetable was touch down on their soil.

By the way he's served on the senate for 11 years combined (not 20 minutes).

[definitelyNOTmisterRIGHT]

YOU ARE 100% D-E-L-U-S-­I-O-N-A-L-­! GIVE THE FALSE ACCUSATIONS A REST!

[charmedgreenquark]

Average American male lifespan: 75.15 years

[Seamus]

There must be a Ted Stevens connection somewhere. They have been in the senate for almost the same amount of time. Maybe this is some sort of payback.

I've never understood how McCain survived the "Keating Five" Savings & Loan debacle. And Palin as president? Is this a test run? Introduce her before the Caucus and see how it plays in the press - and if it plays great, well McCain has paid off some unknown debt. If it doesn't, McCain can still pick someone else and the debt is still paid.

What happened to the GOP? I still can't believe they may actually nominate this guy. W & Cheney have been devastating - but McCain & Palin?

[johnwinner]

Altgough Obama fans may have been too ferocious about it,m we did try to warn Clinton fans _ did you not know McCainb was going down this path? Did Clintonistas really think Mccain capable of showing women respect? Have you not grasped what "4 more years" really means? Palin - the former beauty queen who became a 'reformer' becuase she didn't get the job she wanted, but who thinks its really about makin' babies and shootin' endangered species and drillin' wild-life preserves and using government to get back at people she don't like and taking bribes and teachin' cresationism in schools and - 'yup yup.' PUMAMA

[PurplePhase]

At the risk of fluttering feminine feathers, I say Palin won't be a match for Putin, Ahmadinejad, Mubarak, the next Israeli prime minister, Al-Maliki, Karzai, Hamas, Assad, Hezbollah, next Pakistani president or prime minister, Hugo Chavez, and any other world leader who has a real or a potentially real impact on America. What can Palin really do with the Chinese leadership?

Let's not kid ourselves, Sarah Palin is no Golda Meir or Maggie Thatcher.

[XME]

The thought of McCain in charge makes me shudder...the though of Palin in charge terrifies me even more.

[Bronxcutie]

Biden can go toe-to-toe with her. I know many women like me are appalled that McCain underestimates our intelligence. I feel much safer with the Obama/Biden ticket.

[max]

I was pleased to hear most women I spoke to last night echo the same feeling.

[aznurse]

I wonder how the troops in Iraq and elsewhere think of her being a heart beat away from their commander in chief?

[bluestatelib]

I'm sure they would feel safe knowing that a self-proclaimed "hockey mom" was making the decisions as commander-in-chief ;-)

[lisad]

John McCAin is 72 years old and has recurrent malignant melanoma. He has had 3 relapses since his initial diagnosis. It must be assumed that it is not a question of IF his cancer will recurr, but when, and how aggressively, and if he will survive the relapse. The large scar on the left side of his face is evidence of the size of the malignancy and the aggressive efforts to remove all of the tumour. This is not a case of an easily treatable basal or squamous cell carcinoma, which can be cured by removal of the malignant mole. Malignant melanoma is an aggressive, frequently fatal disease, and John McCain has a recurrent form of the illness! How he can choose a completely inexperienced individual to be one heart beat from the presidency is beyond me. It is breath takingly irresponsible.

[robin50]

I could have sworn I have heard McCain say over and over that he puts his country first. Well I guess now we know of one thing he puts before his country, WINNING! How could a man who put's his country first even think of selecting who he did for vice president?

[gra8whit]

Thank you, McCain. You've just told the nation that you're offering another incompetent administration. If there's anything Americans have learned is not to elect another incompetent administration (heckuva job, Brownie!) Your selection just shows that your judgment is no better than Bush. You've just made the choice much more simpler. Thanks a million!

[OhioJan]

Amen to that!

[tuttlemsm]

She's another Harriet Meyers.

[littlejohn]

This is even worse than Dan Quayle. I want to hear her spell "potato."

[ObserverinVancouver]

How about Bill Miller, Goldwater's VP choice?

[ImagesAndAdjectives]

Forget "potato."

How about getting her to spell "Putin" and "Ahmadinejad." Oh yeah, and I wonder if she's ever heard the term "peak oil" - because ladies and gentlemen, if you think we've got problems now, you're in for a REAL surprise in the next 5-10 years.

[nofantasy]

Y'all need to step back and take a deep breath; level the proper arguments against Pailin. Better yet, keep your focus on McCain.
Your disorganized comments look like nothing less than panic . . . worse yet, they show how "liberals" came to forever own the Royal Title of "knee jerk."
The reasoned among will (as Senator Clinton has done) greet Gov Pailin with the dignity she deserves as a woman who has EFFECTIVELY kicked more Republican "good ol boy" ass than any other alive. [yes, there's a difference between a gravelly-v­oiced-man-­hater spitting out venom to the terminally angry, and someone like Sarah Pailin who gracefully brings to their knees the good ol boys (in her own party) as well as the "Big-Oil-C­ompanies-y­ou-SO-love­-to-hate"
The choice of Gov Pailin is what it is. If it's as you say, it will serve your agenda well.
But really, drop the "Heartbeat Away" hysteria; my 8 year old granddaughter heard that and said "It's a one-in-a-million chance a President will die; and if he does, the Vice President who steps in wouldn't be making the important decisions till the crisis is over anyway."
Will the reasoned among you,--who might just be “progressive” for the right reasons/long haul--please grab these “yakety” children by their collars and return them to the playground; the recess bell has wrung; let'stake a break from playing adult.
Hop-scotch or dodge-ball anyone?

[yngskywlkr]

The reasoned among will (as Senator Clinton has done) greet Gov Pailin with the dignity she deserves ...

You mean the same dignity Obama has being shown by your folks.

the recess bell has wrung ...

spell check, it is ...

the recess bell has rung

Okay, repeat after me its r - u - n - g, Gooood !!

Now let's go get some candy.

[clover2]

John McCain has made his choice. The focus has shiifted Governor Palin, but it should NOT be off McCain and, as a Republican said on CNN last night, what this choice says about his decision-making process. According to accounts, he'd only met her once or twice. Cold political calculations aside, he made his decision based on his gut. This should sound like someone else in high office for the last 8 years. This should make the prospect of a McCain presidency more than a bit scary.

McCain likes Governor Palin because she reminds him or himself. We've had 8 years of a White House where to was too little internal dissent. Obama has said he didn't want a Yes Man as VP, but rather someone who is willing to challenge him. By his choice, McCain has demonstrated that he wants more of a clone.