McCain and the politics of mortality

[Farang]

The odds of a 72-year-old man living four more years, or one full White House term, are better. But for a man who has lived 72 years and 67 days (McCain?s age on Election Day this year), there is between a 14.2 and 15.1 percent chance of dying before Inauguration Day 2013, according to the Social Security Administration?s 2004 actuarial tables and the authoritative 2001 mortality statistics assembled by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/politi...0903/pl_politico/13096

Are we really going to put a 1.5 year governor with little or no relevant experience prior to that in the Oval Office?

 

[nageov3t]

what are the odds for a 72 year-old man with completely free access to the best medical care in the world within minutes any time he sneezes?

 

[Red Dawn]

I hear the swollen gland in his left cheek is immortal.

 

[Genx87]

Is this how you are going to play it? Replace Palin with Obama and ask ourselves. Are we going to elect a guy with such little experience?

What is honestly the difference between the two? They are both inexperience candidates. One happenes to be a gov, the other a US senator.

 

[Farang]

Originally posted by: loki8481
what are the odds for a 72 year-old man with completely free access to the best medical care in the world within minutes any time he sneezes?

Or if he has the most stressful job in the world, known for giving all of its workers gray hair within 4 years (unless they already have it)? Or a job where one out of every 10 workers gets shot at random?

 

[nageov3t]

I dunno... you really think McCain is going to find the oval office that much more stressful than a POW camp?

 

[bamacre]

Its just really sad that people have to result to rather stupid and often irrelevant issues when attacking one of the candidates. McCain's age, Obama's lack of a US flag pin. Can we not stick to real issues? Reading through P&N has become almost like watching cable news. And I don't watch it for a reason.

 

[Farang]

If he was 72 when he entered the camp I'm quite sure he would be dead.

and this is a completely relevant issue please explain to me how it isn't

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: bamacre
Its just really sad that people have to result to rather stupid and often irrelevant issues when attacking one of the candidates. McCain's age, Obama's lack of a US flag pin. Can we not stick to real issues? Reading through P&N has become almost like watching cable news. And I don't watch it for a reason.

You're somewhat on point but not entirely. I think McCain's odds of dying are higher than 15% as stated above. Despite quick access to medical care, he's already had a run in with cancer and will be in an exceptionally tiring, high-stress job. The odds of his VP taking over for some or a lot of his term are very real.

 

[blackangst1]

Are we really considering making a man with 3 years senate experience with no real big issues under his belt POTUS? Unfuckingbelievable.

 

[GTKeeper]

Originally posted by: Genx87
Is this how you are going to play it? Replace Palin with Obama and ask ourselves. Are we going to elect a guy with such little experience?

What is honestly the difference between the two? They are both inexperience candidates. One happenes to be a gov, the other a US senator.

I think thats quite a short-sighted statement.

They both lack experience, but one lacks a hell of a lot more than the other.

 

[GTKeeper]

Originally posted by: blackangst1
Are we really considering making a man with 3 years senate experience with no real big issues under his belt POTUS? Unfuckingbelievable.

I think with the amount of influence the VP office has established/exerted over the last 8 years you have to look at the ticket as a whole.

Which ticket has more total experience?

 

[nageov3t]

Originally posted by: GTKeeper

Originally posted by: blackangst1
Are we really considering making a man with 3 years senate experience with no real big issues under his belt POTUS? Unfuckingbelievable.

I think with the amount of influence the VP office has established/exerted over the last 8 years you have to look at the ticket as a whole.

I don't think anyone would try and argue that McCain/Palin would have the same relationship dynamic as Bush/Cheney have had.

Cheney's more the exception than the rule.

 

[badnewcastle]

Ok, it's a relevant issue... I don't believe it is but for the sake of argument... Paulin has experience as an executive decision maker of a state, Obama does not, he just has experience as a senator where he can say yes or no but either way he has not been in a position where he is the sole and final decision maker.

 

[winnar111]

Originally posted by: Farang

The odds of a 72-year-old man living four more years, or one full White House term, are better. But for a man who has lived 72 years and 67 days (McCain?s age on Election Day this year), there is between a 14.2 and 15.1 percent chance of dying before Inauguration Day 2013, according to the Social Security Administration?s 2004 actuarial tables and the authoritative 2001 mortality statistics assembled by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/politi...0903/pl_politico/13096

Are we really going to put a 1.5 year governor with little or no relevant experience prior to that in the Oval Office?

After a year or two of being VP she will have more experience than Obama does now.

 

[Druidx]

Honest question. So let's take the average an say McCain dies halfway through his term. What real effect will it have? She would be stuck with whatever policy McCain starts. Isn't all this Babel about only being a heart beat away from the Presidency just another form of fear mongering? I think it's a safe bet the Dems will keep a majority in Congress, so it's not as though she would have free reign. What about the checks an balances built into our system of government? Is the real reason the Dems are so concerned is because deep down they know they can't trust the Democratic Congress not to roll over again like it did with Bush.

 

[ProfJohn]

You realize that the last President to die before the age of 81 was LBJ?

That is 7 straight Presidents who lived to at least 81.

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

Originally posted by: Farang

The odds of a 72-year-old man living four more years, or one full White House term, are better. But for a man who has lived 72 years and 67 days (McCain?s age on Election Day this year), there is between a 14.2 and 15.1 percent chance of dying before Inauguration Day 2013, according to the Social Security Administration?s 2004 actuarial tables and the authoritative 2001 mortality statistics assembled by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/politi...0903/pl_politico/13096

Are we really going to put a 1.5 year governor with little or no relevant experience prior to that in the Oval Office?

What about a former community organizer with half a term in the senate who has authored and passed no real legislation and has a history of not making any decisions... even voting yes or no? (Oh gee, I don't know... Ummm... Present)

I'll take the noob governor from a small state, thank you. At least she's actually been in charge of something.

 

[Farang]

Originally posted by: winnar111

Originally posted by: Farang

The odds of a 72-year-old man living four more years, or one full White House term, are better. But for a man who has lived 72 years and 67 days (McCain?s age on Election Day this year), there is between a 14.2 and 15.1 percent chance of dying before Inauguration Day 2013, according to the Social Security Administration?s 2004 actuarial tables and the authoritative 2001 mortality statistics assembled by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/politi...0903/pl_politico/13096

Are we really going to put a 1.5 year governor with little or no relevant experience prior to that in the Oval Office?

After a year or two of being VP she will have more experience than Obama does now.

Ha, I love this response. She isn't qualified for the job but after a couple of years she will have a couple of years experience.

 

[nageov3t]

Originally posted by: Farang

Originally posted by: winnar111

Originally posted by: Farang

The odds of a 72-year-old man living four more years, or one full White House term, are better. But for a man who has lived 72 years and 67 days (McCain?s age on Election Day this year), there is between a 14.2 and 15.1 percent chance of dying before Inauguration Day 2013, according to the Social Security Administration?s 2004 actuarial tables and the authoritative 2001 mortality statistics assembled by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/politi...0903/pl_politico/13096

Are we really going to put a 1.5 year governor with little or no relevant experience prior to that in the Oval Office?

After a year or two of being VP she will have more experience than Obama does now.

Ha, I love this response. She isn't qualified for the job but after a couple of years she will have a couple of years experience.

I thought experience didn't matter anyways?

 

[sportage]

You realize that the last President to die before the age of 81 was LBJ?

That is 7 straight Presidents who lived to at least 81.

What does that say about universal gov healthcare?
They have it! :thumbsup:

 

[dardin211]

An even bigger factor of his age is his brain does not work like it use to. I find it odd we ever elect people his age to positions of power knowing that the brain is on a huge decline, which impacts decision making and judgement.

60 years and older experience significant cognitive decline, including declines in memory, concentration, clarity of thought, focus and judgment with an increase in the onset of several neurological problems like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, stroke etc

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: dardin211
An even bigger factor of his age is his brain does not work like it use to. I find it odd we ever elect people his age to positions of power knowing that the brain is on a huge decline, which impacts decision making and judgement.

60 years and older experience significant cognitive decline, including declines in memory, concentration, clarity of thought, focus and judgment with an increase in the onset of several neurological problems like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, stroke etc

His body also underwent a lot more stress being a POW in deplorable conditions all those years and dealing with the Big C than your average politician.

 

[dardin211]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: dardin211
An even bigger factor of his age is his brain does not work like it use to. I find it odd we ever elect people his age to positions of power knowing that the brain is on a huge decline, which impacts decision making and judgement.

60 years and older experience significant cognitive decline, including declines in memory, concentration, clarity of thought, focus and judgment with an increase in the onset of several neurological problems like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, stroke etc

His body also underwent a lot more stress being a POW in deplorable conditions all those years and dealing with the Big C than your average politician.

His past experiences have nothing to do with the effects of aging and his brains ability to function like it did 20yrs ago. When I see him talk and give speeches I see an old man whose brain is on a serious decline. He often has trouble remembering things correctly and concentrating.

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: dardin211

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: dardin211
An even bigger factor of his age is his brain does not work like it use to. I find it odd we ever elect people his age to positions of power knowing that the brain is on a huge decline, which impacts decision making and judgement.

60 years and older experience significant cognitive decline, including declines in memory, concentration, clarity of thought, focus and judgment with an increase in the onset of several neurological problems like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, stroke etc

His body also underwent a lot more stress being a POW in deplorable conditions all those years and dealing with the Big C than your average politician.

His past experiences have nothing to do with the effects of aging and his brains ability to function like it did 20yrs ago. When I see him talk and give speeches I see an old man whose brain is on a serious decline. He often has trouble remembering things correctly and concentrating.

Well that's why he's got a young hottie as a VP to help him when he gets low.