How old is too old?

[DangerDave921]

What is everyone's general preference for how old they want their president to be? I think McCain is the oldest of all candidates, being 72 at the time of the general election. That strikes me as being too old. But do we want someone in their 40's? 50's? 60's? Does it make a difference at all?

[Imalittleteapot]

1. 40s? 50s? 60s?

Yes.

[Jackpine Radical]

2. 63 is too old.

I know. I'm 63. It's too old.

[Egnever]

3. Hah

thats was funny thanks :)

[Green Mountain Dem]

7. me too...

being 63 sucks and we should be put out to pasture!

[Seabiscuit]

19. Aw, sheeeeeitttt!!! I've only got 4 months left!

[FREEWILL56]

28. Hmmm. I disagree about 63 as their mouths still work and they can

still write as long as they don't have arthritis. They also don't need to take viagra to screw us over.

[0007]

4. Depends on the person.

[qb]

5. It depends on how batshit crazy they've been acting...

McCain is too old.

[THUNDER HANDS]

6. I'd like my perfect candidate to be in their 30s or 40s.

[youthere]

8. I'd say no older than 65.

[originalpckelly]

9. I hear they've changed the name of the McCain campaign to McCane in '08.

:P

I'd like my President to be able to know who the President is, and how many fingers I'm holding up, aside from that it's not about age.

[youthere]

14. Remember that question was brought up with RAYgun?

and everyone pooh-poohed it and said his age wasn't an issue? Remember how we ended up with a president that had oatmeal for brains?

[Jackpine Radical]

41. Reagan ALWAYS had oatmeal for brains. That wasn't due to age.

He had oatmeal for brains when he was governor. He had oatmeal for brains when he hosted Death Valley Days.

The age is what gave him RANCID oatmeal for brains.

Let's be clear here.

[FREEWILL56]

30. Why am I thinking about bush 43?

[Alexander]

10. Actually Ron Paul and Mike Gravel are the oldest.

Paul will be 73 this year. Gravel, 78.

[ingac70]

11. It makes a hell of a difference...

We don't need another dementia case (i.e. Reagan) puttering about the White House.

I prefer folks in their 40's and 50's, but will consider people up to age 65.

[FREEWILL56]

31. Gee again I'm thinking about bush 43 as he certainly is in another world.

[ingac70]

33. W is just retarded...

The GOP has another just like him in Huckabee.

[FREEWILL56]

39. I must disagree as I think most of the repuke party is like that.

[Colobo]

12. I wouldn't vote for anyone older than 60 (first term). By the end of the person's

second term, the person will be exhausted and 68. Look what happened with Reagan.

[Seabiscuit]

22. So you wouldn't vote for Al Gore?

Reagan was senile, by the way, when he turned 18.

[Alexander]

25. Gore will be 60 this year.

[Seabiscuit]

29. Right. And he'll be well on his way to 61 come January, 2009.

And he'll be "over 60" by November, 2008.

[Alexander]

36. Um, no. He will be 60 until March 31, 2009.

You are really reaching.

I guess I should've tried to get into bars the day after my 20th birthday. After all, I would've been "over 20".

:eyes:

[Seabiscuit]

38. OK, I was just guessing.

But he would almost be 68 by the end of his second term.

My point is that 60 is not "too old". The Reagan example was silly - Reagan was a mental midget, a moron, and a simpleton who became senile at an early age.

[LisaM]

13. In some ways, 40s are too young. My example would be Clinton.

He was the best president we've had since Carter (and much more effective), yet here he is, active, vigorous, lots of good years left, and, unless someone appoints him to be SOS or to the Supreme Court or something, marginalized in the US political arena for the rest of his life.

I think Reagan was too old, but of course, his problems were exacerbated by the onset of Alzheimer's disease.

[Jersey Devil]

15. Just think! In about 10 years Britney will be eligible to be President

Just trying to work in some really relevant news here.

[mohc]

16. Paul actually beats McCain by a year

...and 9 days. McCain will be 72 in August, Paul 73. McCain has already hinted at the possibility than he may only be running for a single term. Obviously we should look at things on a case by case basis, but as a general rule I would prefer candidates between 40-65.

[Seabiscuit]

17. I'm old, but never "too old".

[george_maniakes]

18. When you start looking back to mondale in '84 for one-liners...

yes,she has a legitimate line of argument (experience counts for something), but jeez, whats next a reference to potsie and the fonz?

[DrFunkenstein]

20. We Want a Reasonable Expectation of 4 Full Years Without a Health Crisis

Which could happen during the time of a national crisis. In fact, the pressure could lead to a health crisis.

[Eurobabe]

21. Wilford Brimley and his sidekick John McCain

[HeraldSquare212]

23. I think it depends on the person, but I've very leery of somone say, 72 , like McCain

I'm afraid they become figurehead presidents, with their staff running amok doing all sorts of things. I think that was true during Reagan's terms.

[SteppingRazor]

24. 36.

:popcorn:

[Warpy]

26. "Old" is 15 years older than you are, at whatever age you are.

I would love to see a minimum age for USSC justices of 65 since they serve for life. It would prevent the GOP from poisoning the court for decades with relatively young males like Thomas who don't really have the judicial experience to be there.

I would love to see a maximum age for a first term Presidency at 70. It's the toughest job in the world and ages even the young men who assume it. After 70, the physical and emotional stress are simply overwhelming.

I would like to see a retirement age of 75 in Congress. Let's face it, by the time they're 75 they've all been there too long. Having it as a geriatric facility of last resort because they've all been too mean to enact national health insurance should not be an option.

[1corona4u]

27. In the event, you hadn't heard....

50 is the new 40. So, 70 must be the new 60. 46 must be the new 36.....it's because people are living longer, and are in better health.

Aditionally, there are laws against age discrimination in this country, in the event you didn't know that.

Ronald Reagan was 69. Gerald Ford was 61, Truman was 60...you get the idea. Age is not, and should not be a factor. What is important are their skills, expereience, morals, and overall mindset.

Here are the ages presidents of the US;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Presidents_by_age

The only thing that is emerging in this country is, the hype of physicality. It's really a shame people have become so shallow, and material if you ask me.

[Hart2008]

32. Gary Hart at 71 is still sharper than many who are younger.

He still connects very well with college students because he still has his idealism.

I don't think age alone should be determinative.

[fadedrose]

34. Well, I'm almost 70, and

I think 70 is too old. Too many aches and pains. Technology is too difficult to understand for us. Vision/hearing/energy decreased. Too many of us can bend but not straigten up.

I think that a Senior Advisor to the president should be a MUST and should be at LEAST 70 years of age. Sort of like an in-house lobbyist who remembers historical events to help guide the President. A former president vice/president would be great for this.

You know, so that dummies like the press secretary, what's her name, I forget (:)) who doesn't know what the Bay of Pigs incident was, don't end up in influential positions.

The presidential nominee could be chosen anywhere from age 35 to 65.

[Desertrose]

35. Totally depends on the individual...but don't like McCain

and not because of his age.......

[Bucky]

37. At 72, McCain is far too conservative to serve as president.

In 2000, he was only 64 and also then was far too conservative. 72 is not too old if his health and mind hold up, which by all indications they will. However he will always be too McCain to serve.

[Iggo]

40. Like, a hundred. (n/t)