McCain: Botoxer-in-Chief
The redoubtable Jane Hamsher raised a taut issue recently over at Firedoglake, and I've been waiting for someone to follow her lead. But so far, not a word. So I'll take the plunge.
Jane points out that John McCain's Botox treatments are becoming not only conspicuous, but also flat-out ridiculous:
...his entire forehead is frozen so badly his brows don't even move. His eyes are immobile (he probably had the crow's feet done, too). The whole top of his head looks cadaverous, like it's been coated in funeral parlor wax. It should start to wear off in a few weeks but lordy me, that's one of the worst jobs I've ever seen.
My question: Is the MSM going to give John McCain a pass on his Botox?
They skewered John Kerry in 2004 for possible Botox injections.
They pounced on John Edwards' $400 haircuts.
They've scrutinized every one of Hillary's wrinkles.
Rush Limbaugh wondered aloud whether the U.S. public really wants to see a woman age in office. Will Rush also be asking whether we want to see a 72 year-old man shoot himself in the face every few weeks in order to stave off those presidential sags and wrinkles? (Hey, it's only going to get worse with HDTV, folks.)
Yes, Reagan dyed his hair. But he let his face go all craggy. And he confronted the "age issue" with a pointed quip rather than a toxic syringe.
I'm starting to lose the ability to see a huge difference between what Roger Clemens injected into his butt versus what John McCain injects into his face. Both are using drugs to boost their performance in a competitive arena, and both are trying to mask liabilities associated with the aging process. If we're going to ban steroids in athletics, shouldn't we be thinking about banning or at least eschewing performance-enhancing drugs in the body politic?
I'm also starting to dread the specter of a McCain presidency under such conditions: We can expect Burt Reynolds and Joan Rivers to become frequent White House guests, in order to make McCain's face-job look good by comparison. Bill Kristol will write the predictable paean to McCain's classically manly visage and ruggedly good looks.
Call him John McVain, a guy who believes in cosmetic touch-ups and cover-ups, on the campaign trail and beyond. Be forewarned: What you see is not what you get.
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I don't support age discrimination, however I am a big supporter of asshole discrimination, which is what John McCain is.
He's a frickin' monotone robot wired to snap at anyone who pisses him off...he would be a complete jerk in the whitehouse
and it's never going to happen...a
it's going to be historical, the voter turnout...
about time....
all the more reason to vote for someone young & handsome!!! heeheehee
"Will Rush also be asking whether we want to see a 72 year-old man shoot himself in the face?
Hasn't Dick Cheney taught us that shooting someone in the face the job of a VP?
Why should he shoot himself in the face? Isn't face shootings Cheney's specialty?
Hillary is not bad either. Except they did a pretty good job on her.
Gerald Ford, while running against Reagan for the Republican Presidential nomination in 1980, remarked that Reagan's hair "was turning prematurely orange".
Funny stuff, John. That our presidential contest has become partly a beauty contest is a disturbing but undeniable reality. Your playfulness here points to the one of the many ways that the age gap will rear its ugly head if we end up with an Obama / McCain show down.
I should apologize for that atrocious pun, but right now I have better things to do with my time--like explain to my 2.5 year old son why he probably should not stroll around his daycare playroom shouting "Barak Obama!"
On a more serious note, I think candidate aesthetics can work in other ways as well; many voters seemed as disturbed as I was by Romney's made for TV president / Lucifer visage.
Jim
Reagan "dyed" his hair-- not "died" his hair..
you dont know that...
I think Hillary's botoxing, too. But, then again, so what?
The camera's really cruel these days, and these two aren't youngsters. Whatever helps them make a better appearance is necessary (McCain could use some makeup, too, come to think of it. He often looks like death warmed over).
I really don't think John is buying his own botox. Seems to be leftovers from his wife's treatments. Don't care how he looks, though. The man is 71 years old, and too old to be starting the job as president. He'll be dead in a year from the pressure, and we'll have the Mitt, the Huck, or Lieberman. Nothing scary about choices like that.
I support Obama, but this is total BS. My hometown of Springfield, MA just emerged from the brink of bankruptcy, thanks to two terms from an energetic mayor who worked tirelessly to get the city back on track.
He's 80 years old.
But by all means, let's see the Democrats bash McCain for his age, and imply that people that old have nothing left to offer. Piss off all the senior voters. BRILLIANT STRATEGY!
Don't be a Reagan ass. There were signs Reagan's Alzheimer's began affecting his (already limited) mental abilities several years before he left office. FDR died in office, leaving questions about his acquiescence to allow Stalin to take over eastern Europe. Did FDR have the strength to oppose Stalin?
McCain's physical health is questionable due to his mistreatment in a North Vietnam prison. Anyone over 70 is already comparing their energy level to what a president requires. At McCain's age the American public must question his ability to be productive.
Good for him, the 80 year old. The difference is that he was working for the good of the city. The politicians work for their own good, and their "owners"
If the 80 year old mayor dies while in office, what happens? A special election? That is not a bad outcome. However, a VP is often selected for reasons other than qualifications to be president. It is often said that the choice of a VP won't gain a presidential candidate votes, but it can cost him votes. Anyone who votes for McCain had better be voting for his VP to be president as well.
Um...not a fan of McCain, but didn't he have facial surgery to remove a Melanoma tumor? They generally remove lots of tissue, besides the growth, so maybe he's got some nerve damage?
Maybe we should leave this one alone.
Melanoma? If that's true, then what in the hell is he doing running for president? Melanoma is one of the most virulent forms of cancer there are, and one NEVER assumes that they "got it all" in the first round of treatment.
He won't be dead in a year from old age or stress - he'll be dead from cancer. IF, that is, what you say is true.
Yeah, it true, but it was several years ago. It was skin cancer, but I can't remember what kind.
If BO wins the DEM nomination is it OK to start on the 'he probably will be assinated by a crazy white supremist' so what the hell is he running for president for?
When Ronnie was in the WHouse Botox was not available.
He should have left the botox injections off the agenda, and had his teeth whitened. His teeth are horrible.
Another moron who doesn't take McCain's history into account: He spent five years in a North Vietnam prison, they weren't interested in dental health there nor adequate nutrition. I doubt his teeth can't be whitened. His choice is limited to unattractive teeth or dentures. Ugly teeth are the better choice.
You need to grow up and judge him based on his ideology, not on whether you'd french kiss him.
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