McCain: Unelectable

[LuckyTheDog]

Think about what a blunder it was. The GOP is actually foolish to think that an elderly Washing on insider on a disability pension -- a guy with a history of health problems and anger management issues -- could ever be a serious contender for the White House.

Let's not even START with his history of flip-flopping on issues or the fact that he dumped his wife and kids for a beer heiress.

Say what you want about Obama, but he's clearly prepared and fit enough. He has a great team and a lot of good ideas. He's also a smart, decent man who loves American and gets up every day thinking about how to make it better.

There is simply no reason for America to take a chance on McCain.

If people can just be reminded of who McCain really is, there is no way he can win.


:dem:

[loyalsister]

1. Did you know

People with disabilities are the largest minority in the country? Bigotry in that direction (and that includes agism) will not be productive.

[LuckyTheDog]

2. How many are almost 72 and running for president?

Sorry, but McCain's physical and mental stamina is an issue worth bringing up. No major corporation would hire a man of his age and poor health to be its CEO. He's simply not up to the job.

It's not an issue of "ageism." It's a reality. Every president ages a lot in that job. And McCain seems worn out already.

[loyalsister]

6. Come on

Ever hear of the Americans with Disabilities Act?
An individual with a disability is defined by the ADA as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has a history or record of such an impairment, or a person who is perceived by others as having such an impairment. The ADA does not specifically name all of the impairments that are covered.

The GOP is actually foolish to think that ________ on a disability pension -- a guy with a history of health problems and anger management issues -- could ever be a serious contender for _______.

There are 56 million in this country and that population is growing. All I am saying is it is one who has empathy for being excluded bases on age and physical capabilities. Early retirement and the new guard taking over. There is no sense in encouraging people to feel empathy for John McCain.

[LuckyTheDog]

9. Nobody is suggesting restricting the rights of anybody

But nobody has a "right" to fill the physically and mentally demanding job of president. McCain is not up to the job.

This is not an ADA issue. This is a national security issue. If McCain was a civil-service worker in the federal bureaucracy, I'd want the government to make all the reasonable accommodations necessary to allow him to do his job. But McCain wants to be PRESIDENT. That's different. That's not just any federal job. And there is not an ergonomic workstation in the world that can make McCain fit enough to do that job.

It is nonsense to suggest that we should not make McCain's physical and mental stamina an issue in this campaign.

[MoonRiver]

11. 3 letters, no, make that 6

FDR, JFK

Do you understand yet?

[LuckyTheDog]

12. And? So?

Sorry, but let McCain make that case.

If he wants to compare his state of health to the back pain of a young, basically healthy JFK, let him try.

If he wants to say that being president now is not more physically and mentally demanding than it was in the 30s, I say he should have at it.

But, I think it is obvious that McCain's health and mental acuity is a legitimate issue.

[MoonRiver]

19. JFK was definitely NOT healthy.

I'm on my way out the door, but just google JFK's health.

[LuckyTheDog]

20. If that was the case

Then Nixon should have made it into a campaign issue -- and Nixon would have had he known about it.

[MoonRiver]

21. Here's a link to JFK's health issues.

I don't know how old you are, but the Internet is very new. It didn't exist when Kennedy and Nixon ran for the presidency. I'm sure that this information could have been kept hidden by the ultra rich Kennedys.

http://www.doctorzebra.com/Prez/g35.htm

[LuckyTheDog]

23. But Nixon would have used it

if he knew it. And it would have been a legitimate issue. I doubt it would have worked for Nixon, though. Kennedy had youth on his side.

I think it is legitimate now to question whether a 72-year-old on a disability pension who has a history of cancer is really fit to be president.

[MoonRiver]

25. I doubt if Nixon knew anything about JFK's health issues.

Because, as you state, he would have used the information, if he had access to it. Nixon was about as corrupt as them come.

But, you are correct to state that McCain's age will be used against him. Whether this resonates will depend on what McCain can use against Obama. The election is very close and it shouldn't be, considering *'s and the Repugnant's unpopularity. Something is definitely amiss here.

[loyalsister]

28. ADA is about discrimination and bigotry

"on a disability pension" is a stereotype

"a guy with a history of health problems and anger management issues" a stereotype

You used both of those as negative stereotypes. The point of ADA is there are a lot of people who have those qualities and don't get hired because of a negative stereotype. It's bigotry.

Just like the bigotry being spouted here.

Neither of these things is relevant. Neither should be discussed. It's about the administration and the policies.

[LuckyTheDog]

29. That's like saying

that it is a "stereotype" to question whether a person in a wheelchair is likely to be a star in the NBA.

You fail to acknowledge that the presidency is a mentally and physically demanding job. It also is a very special case because of the power every president has over the fate of the nation and the world.

We have all seen presidents age 10-15 years in their first terms in office. The temperament of the candidate is relevant. The physical/mental stamina of the candidate is relevant as well.

[loyalsister]

30. You are completely missing the point

It's the generalization.....

"a guy on a disability pension with a history of health problems and anger management issues" describes one of my very good friends.

It's a generalization that extends to more people than John McCain. You are talking about 1000s of people in that statement.

Including one of our own......

Sen. Tom Eagleton http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Eagleton was swiftboated.

Having been declined by the "name" Senators, McGovern turned to lesser-known candidates, and Eagleton, who had opposed the Vietnam War, was selected on July 14 with only a minimal background check. Eagleton made no mention of his earlier hospitalizations. Newspapers soon revealed them. McGovern and Eagleton initially joked about the case with Eagleton saying he would undergo a psychiatric examination if other candidates (e.g., Nixon) would do the same. But the charges kept coming. Columnist Jack Anderson wrote a column falsely accusing Eagleton of being arrested for drunk driving — a charge that Anderson had to retract.

Between 1960 and 1966, Eagleton checked himself into the hospital three times for physical and nervous exhaustion, receiving electric shock treatments twice.<1>

The hospitalizations, which were not widely publicized, had little effect on his political aspirations, although the St. Louis Post-Dispatch was to note, in 1972, immediately after his vice presidential nomination:

He had been troubled with gastric disturbances, which have led to occasional hospitalizations. The stomach troubles have contributed to rumors that he had a drinking problem.<1>

I respect personal evaluation criteria, however they are not public policy. Shoveling ageist ablist bias is no better than shoveling racism and sexism. Use it for your voting determination if you like, but I base my vote on policy.
That is the relevant difference anyway.

[LuckyTheDog]

31. So is it your contention

that the presidency does not require great physical and mental stamina?

[loyalsister]

32. It is my contention

that I am not his physician and therefore not qualified to make ass\umptions.

I have no way of knowing. Obama could be hiding a serious disability. Even a severe mental illness.
I am not qualified to make that judgement from this distance.

I certainly don't believe that is the case, of course and have put my trust in his judgement with my vote.

Whatever I may think about any possible limitations McCain may have that could affect his capacity to serve as president is my opinion and has no basis on which to be judged universally.

I have no access to medical measurements.

And, the truth is it is not my business. I have never voted for McCain. He doesn't owe me any explanation unless he is elected.

Whatever explanations have been given in AZ are between him and the people of AZ.
The same goes for the Republican party.

[nxylas]

16. The ADA only covers people who can perform the essential functions of the job

What constitutes a "reasonable accommodation" for a President?

[loyalsister]

27. You miss the point

And that's not true. The ADA covers discrimination.
When you make fun of McCain you denigrate anyone who has thought about bringing a lawsuit based on ADA.
Anyone was discriminated against because someone decided they were unfit because they looked like they could go ballistic.
Or discriminated against because of a history of mental illness.

The things you are saying are denigrating other people more than McCain.

[Malloy63]

3. Reagan...

was ..... well ... maybe

most ... likely ...

Senile

[LuckyTheDog]

4. By his second term he was, for sure

And McCain is starting out even older and in worse shape than Reagan was when he started.

[jwirr]

5. Am I being bigoted about age if I say that McCain is older than I

am by a few years and I am too old to be president? Did we learn nothing from Reagan who had Alzheimer's during his term? Age is and should be an issue.

[Celticsfan]

7. The economy is so bad that any Republican would be unelectable n/t

[Fire Walk With Me]

8. That is exactly why these people tend to steal things instead of leaving the choice to others.

[Butch350]

10. Unelectable???

I don't think he'd even be a good VP!

[GihrenZabi]

13. A terrible issue to raise

Bringing up McCain's age and health should absolutely be avoided like the plague by the Obama campaign. Talk about potential for a backfire! You may as well tell all the senior voters on national television that their votes just don't count because they're old and may not be around much longer so why should they get a say in things anyway?

Furthermore, this is the sort of thing Repugs do in campaigns. Obama is above that sort of character assassination. He's going to debate and win on the issues, and nothing else. He doesn't NEED anything else...

[NC_Nurse]

14. Here's my issue with his "disability". How can someone who has held a full

time position as a Senator and now wants to be President be drawing $58,000 in government
disability payments a year? :wtf:

I know many people who CANNOT work due to physical or mental health issues who have been
denied ANY disability money - much less FULL disability benefits. Yes, I'm aware he was tortured in
Vietnam. So what's his disability at this point? We owe him? Is that the justification?

What about the currently brain-injured troops returned from Iraq who are denied disability benefits?
Where is the outrage over this RICH man continuing to receive disability long after he was able to return to
a well paid job?

Isn't that kind of ANTI-Republican?

[goldcanyonaz]

15. I thought the same about Bush in 04

[Hepburn]

17. Even with his fucked up policies...my biggest gripe against McCant is...

...that he called his wife the C-word. Totally, completely 1000% unacceptable conduct and I don't give a damn what she had done.

Now, I do have to admit that Cindy McCant might fit a few definitions of that word, but for her own husband to call her that in public ~~ or even in private ~~ ?? Just something that says more to me about McCant's lack of good character than about anything else...well, leaving his injured First Wife ranks right up there, too.

This man is NO officer and a gentleman...he is a mean spirited POS.

JMHO

[lib2DaBone]

18. McSame is not going to be candidate....

I predict McSame will drop out due to health. The Republicans are going to run Condi Rice and another hi-profile Neocon for VP. That way, they can play the Race Card and the Gender Card at the same time.

[MaryEllen71]

24. if the racists won't vote for Obama

what makes you think they would vote for Condi?

[Imagevision]

22. McCain isn't electable, the only possible is rigging the election!

[Timmy5835]

26. The GOP dosen't want the White House...yet

The GOP never wanted the White House this time. With all the strong Republicans out their McCain was the best they could do? My theory, The GOP knows the country is truly screwed so let the Dems have a hand at it. They will screw it up some more then the GOP can gallop in in 2012 and save the day.

[symbolman]

33. Close

Its a cycle I've noticed in my 55 odd years.. The Democrats are let into office once the outrage is too high, while the Dems rebuild what the Repigs have torn asunder the Right wing count all the money they've stolen and wait for the Dems to pile more up, all the while Blaming the Dems for the Mess They created when they were in office Before..

Wash

Rinse

Repeat :)