Debate Takeaway: I'm Worried About McCain's Durability

Watching John McCain last night at the debate reminded me of the day I realized my father had gotten old. He had come to New Mexico for my daughter's high school graduation and we hadn't seen him for about a year. When he walked in the door he was stiff-legged and unsure, his head cocked to the side, taking in his surroundings.

Last night I felt the same way about McCain. Watching him in the town hall debate where he was meandering around and walking in that same stiff-legged manner that I had seen in my father, I had the sudden understanding of what people have been saying about him. He's 72. The oldest man to run for President. There are some things we need to talk about.

Now please understand, I have no bias against people of age. My father is still bright and funny and sends out emails of photos he takes with his digital camera. But as a strategist, it dawned on me that there was a question dangling out there that no one seems to be talking about. And as a country, we need to be prepared for anything.

Speaking in the hypothetical: If McCain were president, it's not the question of what happens if, God forbid, something should happen to him and he passes on. (We all know that means VP Palin would move up the corporate ladder). No, my question is what happens if he DOESN'T make that one-way trip. What happens if his mental capacities start to wane and he's still in office? What happens then?

The Alzheimers Association says as many as 5 million Americans are living with the disease and that it's the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. We've already had one president who had Alzheimers, Reagan, who many believe was afflicted with the disease while in office. Is it so unreasonable to consider the possibility that it might happen to another?

If McCain were to start to slip mentally, would we acknowledge that he had problems, or would that telegraph weakness to other nations? What if the mental problems were erratic? Would we brush "episodes" aside as normal forgetfulness and stress from the office? Could he "accidentally" say or do something that would set our country on a course for disaster? Who would take over? Who would be in the decision-making chair? Would we even know?

What if McCain were to suffer a stroke? It happened to President Woodrow Wilson, and he was only 62 (if I do my math correctly). Why couldn't it happen to McCain? Wilson's wife is considered to have been the "secret president" during the period of time that he was incapacitated. Would that mean that Cindy McCain would be making decisions for our country in domestic and foreign affairs? Would we even know?

You can perhaps see my concern. We don't even like to talk about mental issues, erratic behavior and mood disorders, much less admit to them. How would we handle a president who was showing signs of these conditions?

We know that the press didn't talk about President Roosevelt's polio. Certainly that was a different place and time, but would the same curtain of protectionism come down on a president exhibiting signs of mental dysfunction? Would we want the world to know that we had a president who "wasn't all there?" And would we even know?

I don't know the answers. In fact, I have never even thought about it before. But watching the debate last night started me asking the questions.

Comments

[drsusan]

With each passing day McCain seems to get more tired, more hunched over and make more verbal sliputs--sort of like Bush, but he's not yet in office! If McCain is this burned out before he's even finished campaigning, how can he possibly be up for arguably the most emotionally grueling job there is. Pam, you nailed it! He's a lovely 72-year old grandpa, but should he be running the country?? We WILL all end up prisoners...of his senility!

[CasperG]

Interesting... My take on the infamous "that one" comment is that McCain actually couldn't remember Obama's name at that particular moment. Another sign of mental deterioration, perhaps. That, paired with the "my fellow prisoners" line the very next day, is VERY worrisome.

[LeBeau59741]

I share this worry.
I am an Obama supporter, but even so, I'm starting to think McCain should stand down, not because of his outlandish temper or because of my total opposition to nearly every word he says, but because I'm beginning to worry that the campaign is going to kill him.
He has visibly deteriorated physically (witness the weight fluctuations, the waxy skin tone and the walk, once a "short man's swagger", now the shuffling gait of an elderly man on his way to a hip or knee replacement) and he appears to be losing his already tenuous control over his mouth- That "slip" yesterday of calling Americans his "fellow prisoners" rather than his "fellow Americans" or "fellow citizens" worries me mightily, both with regard to his fitness for any office and for his own sake- it implies that there may be a degree of PTSD that I would not wish on anyone.

Nevermind my utter terror at the idea of Mrs. McCain or Ms. Palin at the helm, I am genuinely concerned that the man is destroying himself in this quest for the presidency.

[concerned in ct]

Several weeks ago, my father voiced Pam's concern that perhaps McCain is showing signs of senility. I searched the web and could find no serious articles on the subject, so I thank you for writing this piece. You wrote what many of us have been thinking.

[rukiddingmerightnow]

I think his 'my fellow prisoners' speech might be yet another hint that he is on the downward spiral...

[keepemhonest]

When Reagan's mind went, Nancy Reagan ran the country. If it happened to McCain would Cindy run the country?

[missbelladog]

As outright deceitful McCain has been when we can easily fact-check him, it's frightening where this trait may lead if handed presidential powers. The man clearly has no interest in truth, research or facts.

[Noogie]

I think McCain's problems are the result of some combination of deceitfulness and forgetfulness. I have a hard time figuring out how much of each contributes to his behaviour, but both are troubling.

[zedthewizard]

excellent

[hortonhearsawho]

Chillycindy in office... "Nieman Marcus Bailout"

[bykenlevinecom]

Haven't we just had four years of a President with diminished mental capacity. Good post, Pam but now I really need a drink.

[zanzig]

"If McCain were to start to slip mentally, would we acknowledge that he had problems, or would that telegraph weakness to other nations?"

I can tell you that when it happened to Reagan, other nations were definitely the first to recognise it (or at least did not have compliant lickspittle media who would not hide the facts) so the chances are that this time around, the exact same thing would happen.

[kimp]

Talk about shaking things up! In everything I've considered recently your point had never occured to me Pam. I've been so focused on his age that I never considered diminished capacity for McCain. THAT is a very scary thought!

[pennster]

What a thought! It sure is entirely possible that could happen---and what would we really know out here??? How would we know? What would we know? It is scarey to think Sarah would be at the helm...her & Cindy together??? This is all something to think about!
Great article Pam!!!

[officewag]

Well observed, Pam. We all have seen how presidents age in office. Time does take its toll.
Cindy subbing for her ailing hub is truly a frightening scenario, as is Palin stepping up to the plate. Gobama 08

[asquared]

Another excellent article, Pam.