His age becoming an issue will be most affected by whom McCain chooses as the VP who would be so likely to take over

I agree, his VP choice will be crucial. They need to be relatively young, appealing to the GOP base as a future president, and also at least semi-compatible with McCain. If he doesn't hit it just right with his selection that could be the real trouble.

He's 72 - so what. It isn't like spending over 5 years as a POW (half that time getting the crap beat out of you) or being President ages anyone.
8 years ago, his age was not an issue (at least to me). Today it is. It is a pretty safe bet that if elected he will not live out his term and that his VP will succeed him.
And not to be ageist, but how many 70+ year olds can put in 70-80 hour weeks and function at capacity?

it is my impression that it is the over-65's that find his age most problematic-they KNOW how much the brain fades by age 70!

Regardless of Dean's motivation, he's doing the right thing. Pre-judging people based on age is as vile as the congressional candidate at the Vets for Freedom demonstration who introduced McCain by saying we don't need to emulate mixed race people. It's as vile as the sexist comments aimed at Hillary. Bush should be proof enough you don't need to hit retirement age to be unable to connect with reality. Maybe McCain's gotten worse as he's gotten older in that regard, but it's his delusions that are the issue, not the degree they come from age. That Dean has trouble hitting McCain in a bigoted way is part of why I'm a Democrat.

A few thoughts, didn't the guy already have skin cancer and doesn't that pose a recurrence problem? Given his age and afore mentioned cancer has he released his medical records to prove that he's up to the job? There would really be no point in voting for the angry old nut bag if he goes nuttier, can't keep up with the huge work load, and/or dies in office, and can he really take that rough a job at his age? Bush has spent ten times as much vacation time on his ranch as the average American gets and those 8 years still look like 20 when you compare the before and after pictures.

McCain is already making wrong statements about Iraq, he even seems to be confused to who are the players are in Iraq. He makes statements to show he does not know the differences of the Sunni and Shia. He seems to have morphed into a Bush clone. Either he let himself become a puppet of the neocons, a liar or he is losing it mentally. After that swift boating McCain has just lost it.

Leon A. Walker
April 11, 2008
Free-lance Writer
Pensacola, Florida
leonwalker@cox.net

The Clintons: “Sixty Is the New Seventy”

Former President Clinton’s recent remark about his wife being sixty and suggesting that those of that age can be expected to sometimes forget things leaves me in uncomfortable hysterics. I am only laughing about this most recent Clinton gaff because the content and context of the comments are really of no consequence. The reason I am somewhat uncomfortable is because the only plausible explanation for such a ridiculous statement is that the former President has actually started inhaling this time.

How is it possible for a surrogate (who happens to be your husband and a former President) to call his wife (a candidate for President) old, senile and then to again breathe life in the biggest lie she has told in her campaign (hopefully in her life). Never mind who is going to answer the phone. It already is beginning to look like the inmates have taken over at the asylum! I had no idea how old Senator Clinton was nor did I care prior to yesterday and I doubt that anyone in America really cares. Although I am not a supporter of Senator Clinton and whatever else I think of her and her politics, I would have to characterize her as an amazingly, bright, accomplished and vibrant woman. That said, I’m not seeing much in the way of leadership and experience from Senator Clinton in managing her campaign. Additionally and perhaps most importantly, she is faced with a political and personal problem in her husband that may have consequences beyond any she might have ever imagined. He is now a “prime time” political nightmare!

In consideration of the aforementioned I have to begin to ask some questions that have begun to haunt me. Exactly what does Bill Clinton fail to understand about the terms: “World Wide Web” and “Mass Media”? Exactly why does he continue to stand before crowds and reporters and wag his finger (oh god, the finger) and embellish and lie as if we will all consider that it is coming from the burning bush? How in the world will Senator Clinton’s Campaign remain credible in light of his continuing smorgasbord of embarrassments? Has anyone on their staff realized that he has now become a walking, talking reminder of every deception and scandal that were the hallmarks of the first Clinton Administration? Does anyone else see that right before our eyes, “Slick Willy”
has become “Silly Willy”?

I am convinced that former President Clinton has made and can continue to make a significant contribution to the Senator’s campaign behind the scenes. But as a front man, he has definitely lost his touch. The sad thing is Senator Clinton may not have figured it out yet. I can tell you this; she is going to have a good many people on her staff pointing it out to her in the very near future. That is when things will get interesting. Hillary is going to have to fire Bill and when that happens, many Democrats will be reminded to ask themselves this more serious question. Are we really comfortable with the idea of another Clinton Administration? Particularly one with the former President, a man of influence and connections wandering around making statements and working deals that may well run counter to administration policy. Ok, alright, let’s try another question. Does anyone really believe that Hillary can keep him on a short leash politically, ethically or otherwise? Go ahead, you can say it. Absolutely not!

Thankfully, I do not believe that we will be faced with another dysfunctional Clinton White House. I feel confident that as the primary process continues to unfold she will lose herself this contest due to unsavory tactics and the embarrassing baggage that she has to tote along with her. This is to say nothing of the earnings and business dealings that are beginning to surface and face severe scrutiny. I predict it is all far worse than it may currently appear.

Unfortunately, the impacts of this campaign fiasco may impact her political future beyond what I believe will be a failed run for the Presidency. This could get so messy that after her term I the U. S. Senate, Senator Clinton may just have to put a robe on Bill and shrink from public life.

I like to think that history will record that she had a storied life through age sixty. Even if she is a well… “old” sixty.

L. A. Walker

© Leon A. Walker, April 11, 2008

I've started one of those liberal blogs of which you speak. OldManMcCain.com! But it's not just about how freakin' old McCain is, it's also about how out of touch he is.

There are a few people that are nimble-minded into their eighties while some others are not at the top of their game in their sixties.

Age is a fair consideration and over seventy is a risk with some people.

I would not vote for McCain if he was much younger because I do not agree with his or the GOP's ideology.

I consider myself a social progressive/fiscal conservative.

John McCain often boasts about his living 93 year old mother but omits the fact that his father died of natural causes at the age of 70 and his grandfather died of a heart attack at age 61. Both were 4 star Admirals. Both received excellent health care.

the difference between mccain's campaign and reagans is visual.
mccain's age will be an assault on the visual cortex.

we are in the Age of Youtube, and television. homosapiens sapiens is wired to weight visual stimuli more strongly.
first impressions are visual.