How Old Is Too Old?

Race, gender—they're both up for grabs in this presidential election. It's age that has become the new taboo in a vitality culture.

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  • Posted By: cant9562 @ 10/23/2008 12:05:01 PM

    ha...yeah....age discrimination. First Obama believes in letting a baby dies in the case of a botched abortion.
    Next thing you know the idiot will believe older people are useless and should also be left to die. If Obama gets elected, you liberals will get what you deserve....a Communistic socialistic IDIOT!

  • Posted By: cant9562 @ 10/23/2008 12:02:01 PM

    http://www.wlsam.com/goout.asp?u=http://richardastauch.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!A6E92AC172DBFA46!204.entry

  • Posted By: bigbrewhaha @ 02/01/2008 4:05:20 PM

    I'm just baffled by the absolute determination shown by these creaky old barnacles that just absolutely refuse to realize their time has passed, its not even funny how disconnected they are, imagine watching mccain try to figure out an iphone, or connect to a wireless network, these guys are DONE! The ship has sailed the world has changed theres no more communists. Even thought they try to convince themselfs that there is this looming enemy, there isn't, its mearly a bunch of angry middleasterners that have ALWAYS hated us, that has never changed. These guys have no idea what this world is about any more they still think its the 70's and we need to march around the globe looking for the bad guys, THERE ARE NO MORE BAD GUYS, we are the bad guys now, we are the joke of the planet. For god sakes get somebody new in there

    • Posted By: lefty1010 @ 02/04/2008 9:11:21 AM

      If it wasn't so frightening, the naivete you and others on the left exhibit would be laughable. Believing that there are "no more bad guys," is almost as ignorant as mispelling merely in your post.

      • Posted By: cant9562 @ 10/23/2008 12:00:38 PM

        you better check your OWN spelling, lefty!!

  • Posted By: cant9562 @ 10/23/2008 11:57:55 AM

    Ronald Reagan was about 70 when he became President.

    CASE CLOSED!

  • Posted By: WarPath @ 06/17/2008 9:04:31 PM

    Benjamin Franklin was 70 when he and 4 others started drafting the The Declaration of Independence.

  • Posted By: ciakane @ 06/05/2008 4:43:03 PM

    It isn't his age that bothers me, although he too old to be President, it is his determination to followed George Bush and continue the war in Iraq. Americans are not stupid. McCain can say anything, after all this is election year. However, most everyone is desperate for a better economy, an afforable healthcare system, attention to global warming, and afforable education for our children. McCain reminds me of our neighbors parrot. Everything Obama says, McCain repeats, and repeats, and repeats, like it was his idea. I have a grandfather like that. Maybe the age thing is more important than we think.

  • Posted By: teddyo @ 05/30/2008 8:43:25 AM

    Much too old for me. I like the young guy he's smart, new ideas, handsome, tall, nice tan too. When I look at McCain I see a tired old wrinkled man who needs to retire.

  • Posted By: CherryBlonde @ 05/11/2008 7:43:03 PM

    Quindlen usually has sensible ideas, but this whole age thing is just a smoke screen for not wanting McCain. I can understand not wanting McCain because of policy, beliefs and things like that, but the age in McCain's case is irrelevant. 71 is often too old, I'm sure, but I don't believe it is in his case.

  • Posted By: CDN1 @ 03/06/2008 2:04:08 PM

    WHEN THE PHONE RINGS AT 3 AM , I DON'T THINK MCCAIN WILL BE ABLE TO GET UP WITHOUT A GOOD NIGHTS REST.. I LIKE THE GUY, I DISAGREE WITH HIM ON MANY ISSUES BUT HE SAYS WHAT HE BELIEVES , I JUST THINK HE IS OUT OF TOUCH WITH THE NEEDS OF THE NATION, AND WE DONT NEED SOME STUBBORN OLD GUY DOING WHAT HE THINKS IS RIGHT, THATS JUST WRONG.
    HI AGE IS A BIG PROBLEM, WE NEED A YOUNGER MORE ENERGIZED LEADER.

  • Posted By: renny @ 02/29/2008 1:36:15 PM

    McCain's mother is 95. That's great but he doesn't mention that his grandfather died at age 61 and his father died at age 70. He has already outlived them. He is too old.

  • Posted By: drsally @ 02/25/2008 6:21:25 PM

    Wanna add years to your complexion? Become president, and let the before and after photos speak for themselves. The presidency is a stressful job -- for anyone, of any age. . . especially our presidency. Unfortunately, McCain is 71, had a tenacious type of cancer, which may or may not be in remission and is exacerbated by stress. And, as a certified rehabilitation counselor, who specializes in assessing abilities, disabilities, aptitudes, and making professional career recommendations ??? I couldn???t recommend McCain for president without first OBJECTVIVELY addressing and considering the probability of a stress induced cancer relapse and McCain???s ability to survive it.

  • Posted By: drsally @ 02/25/2008 6:07:09 PM

    Wanna add years to your complexion? Become president , and let the before and after photos speak for themselves. The presidency is a stressful job -- for anyone, of any age. . . especially our presidency. Unfortunately, McCain is 71, had a tenacious type of cancer, which may or may not be in remission and is stress exacerbated by stress. And, as a certified rehabilitation counselor, who specializes in assessing abilities, disabilities, aptitudes, etc. and making professional career recommendations ??? I couldn???t recommend McCain for president without first OBJECTVIVELY addressing and considering the probability of a stress induced cancer relapse and McCain???s ability to survive it .

  • Posted By: sbarrys @ 02/15/2008 9:00:26 PM

    There was a time when a gray head of hair was considered distinguished and wisdom the prize of a long life. But in our image obsessed culture, smooth skin and physical vitality have taken first place over good judgement. And look at the result: we're all style and no substance. Sure, the job of president is a tough one. But is it really that much harder than scraping and clawing like so many Americans do on a daily basis just to get by? I don't need the next president to be able to skip up a set of stairs or eagerly comb his hair like a teenager, I just need him to make good decisions--young or old. If the stairs are too hard he can take the elevator.

  • Posted By: sbarrys @ 02/15/2008 8:59:55 PM

    There was a time when a gray head of hair was considered distinguished and wisdom the prize of a long life. But in our image obsessed culture, smooth skin and physical vitality have taken first place over good judgment. And look at the result: we're all style and no substance. Sure, the job of president is a tough one. But is it really that much harder than scraping and clawing like so many Americans do on a daily basis just to get by? I don't need the next president to be able to skip up a set of stairs or eagerly comb his hair like a teenager, I just need him to make good decisions--young or old. If the stairs are too hard he can take the elevator.

  • Posted By: lefty1010 @ 02/01/2008 9:24:35 AM

    Though this argument was cleverly crafted, the underlying purpose is so very transparent. I have read enough of Ms. Quindlen's material to know that this piece is a product of her fear that McCain will thump Hillary in the fall.

    The claim that age has been a taboo subject in the primary race, while race and gender are openly discussed is laughable. What would Quindlen's reaction be to anyone considering Clinton's gender or Obama's race as disqualifying characteristics in the same way, she calls Senator McCain's age into question?

    I think it is John McCain's appeal to independant and moderate voters, not his age that scares the daylights out of Ms. Quindlen.

    • Posted By: undecidedtrace @ 02/11/2008 11:03:25 AM

      I think that at this point in the race, a democrat will definitely take the presidency. First of all, President Bush has done so much damage, that many undecided and Republican voters are turning to the Democratic nominees. Also, Hilary and Obama have simply been getting more press coverage. Have you seen time lately? The republicans are hardly mentioned. I don't think any of the Republican candidates are even a significant threat to Obama or Hilary, seeing as Romney dropped out, Huckabee doesn't appeal to a wide enough spectrum of voters, and yes, McCain is too old to run. He would the THE OLDEST PRESIDENT IN ALL OF HISTORY.
      The race is between Obama and Hilary; it doesn't take a genius to figure that out. After all, I am a junior in high school.

    • Posted By: QSW71N @ 02/01/2008 11:54:55 AM

      very well said

      www.begup.com

  • Posted By: Lakeshore @ 02/08/2008 8:18:55 PM

    Age is a factor. As the Republicans fall over themselves to praise Ronald Reagan, they fail to mention that in his last term he had Alzheimer's Disease. It should not be taboo to discuss this possibility. It was in his second term that much of the scandal occurred. Is this what we would look forward to under John McCain? There are already several topics he has told us he knows nothering about, inlcuding the economny. Oouch.

  • Posted By: rwoodjr. @ 02/08/2008 7:53:39 PM

    I believe there is a correlation to age and competency and it should be a consideration to those casting a vote in November, especially when one considers the stressors faced by the occupant of the White House. The president should be fit, he or she should have all his or her faculties. That's why I'm casting my vote for Barack Obama, who, like me, is 46--the prime of life.

  • Posted By: tobysmom2 @ 02/07/2008 8:00:01 PM

    oh my gosh, I am so worried about this guy becoming a leader of anything! While watching the debate I realized how very unprofessional he is- that smirk on his face- I wanted to slap him. He 'is' too old to be our president. The stress of this job is simply too great. I don't care if he is a vet- or that he was held as a prisoner of war. That is not a good reason to vote him in as President. SImply put, his mind isn't up to the task. If he ever acted as simple minded as he did during the last debates our country would be in bigger trouble that it is right now. As a Republican, I am sad to say that I will be voting Democrat for the first time in over 25 years. Huckabee is no better able to run this country and since Romney pulled out, I have no other choices.

  • Posted By: blah292 @ 02/07/2008 3:10:48 PM

    The fact that a 71-year old would think that he is qualified to be president of the US is evidence of diminished mental capacity in itself. The biggest problem is that he brings nothing to the table to make up for the age handicap. Meaning that it would be different if he had a high IQ. But he comes across as someone who is no smarter than George Bush junior. In my opinion, the people who voted for Bush junior the second time, after witnessing his incompetence for four years, should have their voting rights revoked. That is the only way to keep them from finishing off the US by turning it over to McCain. It should be illegal for people with average intelligence to run for president, because the majority of voters are too dumb to realize that it takes a really smart person to do the job effectively. Eight years of Bush junior doing nothing but screwing things up did not make an impression on them. Now they're ready to give the job to someone who is equivalent to Bush. Unbelievable. With so many dumb voters, the US is doomed.

  • Posted By: blah292 @ 02/07/2008 3:09:22 PM

    The fact that a 71-year old would think that he is qualified to be president of the US is evidence of diminished mental capacity in itself. The biggest problem is that he brings nothing to the table to make up for the age handicap. Meaning that it would be different if he had a high IQ. But he comes across as someone who is no smarter than George Bush junior. In my opinion, the people who voted for Bush junior the second time, after witnessing his incompetence for four years, should have their voting rights revoked. That is the only way to keep them from finishing off the US by turning it over to McCain. It should be illegal for people with average intelligence to run for president, because the majority of voters are too dumb to realize that it takes a really smart person to do the job effectively. Eight years of Bush junior doing nothing but screwing things up did not make an impression on them. Now they're ready to give the job to someone who is equivalent to Bush. Unbelievable. With so many dumb voters, the US is doomed.

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