The Techie in Chief

Just because a person is smart enough to hire a person to run his Web site doesn't make him savvy.. As far as a key board goes... Because of a stroke I am using one hand to type this. You would thikk McCain could do the same.

You certainly don't do your homework. As noted below John doesn't keyboard becasue the Vietcong tortured him for 5-years. Remember reading that? And you wonder why people don't believe what they read. It's biased and downright wrong. Frankly I liked it better witrh human contact.

You obviously don't keep up with the information world. John McCain can't use a keyboard because of the injuries he received while held captive. Like both arms broken and never set correctly. You do show your bias when you utter such trash. I am older than John and I use a PC all the time. I was in the working world when PC first came into existance and frankly there is something to be said for human contact.

I don't get it, Slate Magazine, "pegged McCain as the most cybersavvy of this year's (2000) crop of candidates." (http://www.slate.com/id/74812/) So how does the news media all of a sudden brand McCain as behind the times?

Hang your head in shame Ms. Quindlen. It's about time you knew that the reason John McCain "doesn't do email" is that his Vietcong torturers made sure he couldn't have the dexterous use of his hands that texting or even a laptop keyboard requires. In fact, it's old news, and it's been reported for at least the past 8 years. Loser.

A president doesn't need to deal with technology. In the last 8 years have you ever seen Bush with a cell phone or for that matter in the last 16 years have you see President Clinton with a cell phone? No you haven't.

Presidents have these things called staffers who handle these things. I know this is an amazing new development for democrats.

It is hard to believe after reading this story that the democrats are the ones saying republicans are the ones out of touch.

Mrs. Quindlen your technology arguement may be the stupidest reason for someone to pick a president.

I like most americans dont give a rats ass if the President can send a text message.

Is Anna Quindlen out of her mind? I think so. What does she know about strategery other than the fact that she read a history book or two. Just bc McCain doesn't text message makes him "OOI." Well, Mrs. Quindlen you are out of it. And comparing Lincoln to McCain -totally off base. McCain will surround himself with advisors committed to allowing the military to win this war. Plus McCain has proven himself in Vietnam. If you read your history Mrs. Quindlen, telegraphs were not the only critical factor how the north won the war. It was its industrial might, systematic railroads, and military leadership. Yes, McCain will entrust that we will win this war militarily, industrially and technologically. What do you have to say about the "other" candidate. Wait you didn't spell it out. Lastly, McCain may not know how to turn on a laptop but Obama doesn't have a clue how to win a war.
Sincerely,
Carlo
Marine Corps Officer war veteran OIF/

Is Anna Quindlen out of her mind? I think so. What does she know about strategery other than the fact that she read a history book or two. Just bc McCain doesn't text message makes him "OOI." Well, Mrs. Quindlen you are out of it. And comparing Lincoln to McCain -totally off base. McCain will surround himself with advisors committed to allowing the military to win this war. Plus McCain has proven himself in Vietnam. If you read your history Mrs. Quindlen, telegraphs were not the only critical factor how the north won the war. It was its industrial might, systematic railroads, and military leadership. Yes, McCain will entrust that we will win this war militarily, industrially and technologically. What do you have to say about the "other" candidate. Wait you didn't spell it out. Lastly, McCain may not know how to turn on a laptop but Obama doesn't have a clue how to win a war.
Sincerely,
Carlo
Marine Corps Officer war veteran OIF/

Yes, Anna, the Internet is a wonderful thing. And if you bothered to use it you would have found out that the whole "George Bush Sr. amazed at the supermarket scanner" story was an urban legend.

http://www.snopes.com/history/american/bushscan.asp

Anna Quindlen hit the wrong target in gigging McCain for being cyber-challenged. Lincoln's use of cutting-edge communications technology in wartime was pivotal because he was also battle-smart. I wouldn't expect even a war-hero to be such a hands-on commander-in-chief today. And while leaders do need to keep in touch with the people, one hardly needs to "sleep on a couch in the computer room" to do that. Let aides sort through the gunk and report the salient stuff. Quindlen would have been better advised to point out McCain's lack of Lincoln's other, far more important, key asset that Thom Wheeler described:: "being unburdened by the old dogmas."

The Internet is just ONE of the places where McCain shows both his ignorance and his arrogance. Any modern president or lawmaker for that matter who thinks acting dumb about technology makes them look smart (but perhaps only by 20th century business standards) doesn't deserve to be president of the United States. Haven't we had enough from bozos who act like being stupid is a badge of honor -- like W does every time he grins after mispronouncing a word? When did it become COLL to be stupid and then arrogant about being stupid? I know Bush has lowered the bar for what we expect in a president, but with Rove banging his usual drum every night on Hannity and Colmes, are Americans so asleep we are going to let another Republican waltz into the White House in this election???

Comment on OOI: Go to the library and checkout a volume of W. Somerset Maugham's short stories that contains "The Verger". Read it!
OR go to Netflix annd get the film "Trio" by W. somerset Maugham. Watch "The Verger".
Then decide if you need to reconsider your column.

Anna,please. Although you and I are from different sides of the political spectrum, I usually enjoy your column because it makes me think about other perspectives. This one,however,made me think that you might be losing it.......

Anna,please!! Although you and I often disagree politically,I usually read your comments to get a normally rational perspective from the other side. This column about a techie president is absurd. Please stick to something a bit more meaningful.

As usual clear and to the point . Had the majority read your columns over the past years as a nation we would we not only would have had 5 to 8 TRILLION dollars that would have been invested in AMERICA but we would also have the trillions of dollars of profits from the investment. All I can say is that if you do not understand all the sides of an issue how can you possibly make a good Presidental decission. John Mc Cain is probably a really great grandfater, but we rally do not need another 4 year puppet.

Yup totally agree! The Internet is as much a part of modern life as the telephone was in the 60's. That he is so behind the times is not gonna score him any points with young voters. Well at least the under 50 crowd!

Well, it's no secret that Anna is left-wing, but I'll save "idiot" for a more propitious occasion. For now I'll go with "sophomoric". Lincoln was more a techie (didn't know Morse code, and I doubt a telegraph operator ever let him touch the key) than JFK was a rocket scientist. But both grasped the political and social significance of the technology they adopted. There are millions of techies with astonishing skills and knowledge. Yet not one in a million has grasped the big picture of how the internet might shape the political and economic future.

As for being "Out of It", Obama leads the way in ignorance about economics and foreign relations, as well as his scary relationship with Jeremiah Wright and Michelle's warped picture of race relations.

Wow, I can't think of anything LESS important for a President then being Internet savvy. I guess my 20 old brother would make a GREAT Prez. He can surf the net better than anyone I know, sends text messages like a champ, He was even telling me about "Twitter" the other day. Give me a break.