My father was a brilliant man. One of the top appellate lawyers

in the country, a scholar, a fabulous speaker, a close friend and advisor to JFK. He was the longest serving member of the Board of Directors of AT&T back when corporations had souls. He was on maybe a dozen other Boards.

When my Dad turned 70, he was retired...from his law firm, from all those Boards of Directors. He didn't chose to be retired, it was manditory retirement and he understood it. This man, who was one of the smartest men I've ever known, said to me that it "was time for sharper minds to take over".

John McCain should do this country a favor and take my father's advice.

intellect. We have seen from this campaign and his speeches he has neither of those qualities.

If he were alive today, he would say the same of McCain. He would say to make room for the younger guys.

So what compels McCain to spend 10 years to be President?

For Reagan it was ideological in nature. He was pushing a crusade that he thought would have a lasting impact in changing the government.

McCain isn't an ideologue and he knows it. He criss crosses at will. So what twisted reason does he have that compels him to seek power at a time when he knows that his skills are diminishing and will continue to diminish.

to act out in whatever manner he's liked, for his entire life (see his own autobio for many, many examples of his ill-temper, willfullness, self-centered actions), compounded by his extreme wealth, almost unchecked power, and CELEBRITY, has become the worst sort of megalomaniac, who feels that the world is his little oyster, and ANYONE, even his wifey wife, who dares cross him, will suffer the slings and arrows of his twisted temperament

just ask any of his republican senate colleagues, or Rick Renzi. some, like Trent Lott, and another southern senator have go on record as being very worried about his inability to control his temper

too frickin' bad Bush didn't have to unseal his medical records in 2000. can't believe they weren't leaked. you know they'll show he's been diagnosed as having severed PTSD, at the very least.....he's SERIOUSLY insane, and if he wins, it's going to come out. I just hope it happens during the campaign, and the curtain can be pulled back on his dysfuncionality

his youth. He doesn't see himself as he is, he sees himself as he was and he seeks power because of his own self-deception and over-inflated ego, imo.

Were both Admirals. McCain knew he'd never achieve that rank. Politics became his chance at greatness. Being President gives him a chance to be on a level playing field with his father and grandfather. Sound familiar?

beat me by 16 minutes...If I hadn't been fooling around here, it would have been much closer..I see we agree...wb

but they weren't more condescending in their tone so I put it out there.

there are several of us thinking alike...so it must be true...wb

Poor student. Nepotism to get into a prestigous university and to get a choice naval assignment. Partying hard way past the age when appropriate. Son of a greater man. He's W with a war record.

The term daddy or Pa wasn't in it so I had to throw it out there.

it's like a trophy he's always wanted??

I am 67, and I guarantee everyone, being president at my age, would NOT be something I want or desire to do(unless I was planning for someone else to do the actual job, while I just sat around and acted my age)...hence the trophy thought for McCain...and possibly he's trying to best the Admiral rank that he screwed up(literally) all those years ago...LOOK G.Pa...LOOK Dad...I did better than you, after all.......wb

retirement rule for the Senate and the House. I know that when my father was retired I thought it was an awfull waste of talent and wisdom. But my Dad continued to consult, he just wasn't making the executive decisions anymore.

My father was a respected print journalist in DC. Only death retired him at age 78.
One of his close colleagues, Helen Thomas, is still active at age 88. My dad was
president of the Gridiron Club at age 73, and his idea of retirement was going into
Washington only 4 times a week instead of 5 times a week. If the organization you work
for has a mandatory retirement age, then you have to accept it. Here is an example
of my dad's idea of "retirement:" when we was wasting away from cancer, there was
a suggestion on how Medicare could save money by reducing the percentage of out-patient
cancer day care they covered from 95% to 85%. My father, who was by this time one such
patient, realized that this would cause poorer out-patient chemotherapy recipients to
just check themselves into a hospital for an overnight stay to reduce their participation
cost, but thereby drastically increasing the cost to Medicare. He arranged a conference
call, somehow summoning up the energy, between the office of Sen. Moynihan of NY and the
White House, explained to them the fallacy of their plan, and stopped it cold in its tracks
when they agreed. Seems like a more noble calling than watching golf on TV, even if his
cancer killed him a few months later anyway.

I know a bank in France that retired by mandate it's CEO at age 65, and the 40 somethings
that took over the place ran it into the ground. They had plenty of energy, but they were
jerks (still are).

I don't see this as a black and white issue (obviously), and I see the reason that McCain
is bad news is not his age, but that he has little fortitude, no integrity, or any idea where
he wants to go with our country. His own ideas, such as they can be pinned down, are
decidedly undynamic and outdated. His ability to remember facts, enthrall an audience,
and impress people that are not prepaid to fawn over him, is less than convincing, and we
have seen only too clearly over the last 8 years what happens when a president lets himself
be run by others with an agenda somewhat short of benevolent.

It was a rare comfort in the fall of 2002. Though some would argue that his voice and hands are too shaky but his mind is still there. I think we should examine people on a case by case basis. I think that McCain was never one of the sharpest minds to begin with and the aging just reveals it more.

can make a case for manditory retirement or going on forever! :-)

:shrug:

What did he do with his time when he retired?

younger lawyers. He got involved in the MA Bar Dispute Resolution Program where he mediated settlements of cases. He began writing a book about his experiences representing Admiral Husband Kimmel who was the Commander of the Pacific Fleet during Pearl Harbor and was blamed for that whole thing. He was very active until he walked out of the house in a suit and tie at age 88 for a routine Dr. appointment and never came home.

:)

Sorry, but younger doesn't necessarily mean "sharper", just like older doesn't necessarily mean "wise".

People are complicated. I think if you have the guts and energy and drive to want to change this world, go for it. :bounce:

Unless you are McCain. Ugh. :(

because I was TIRED of working.

Now I look at people that are stressing out and working at 75 and marvel at how they do it.

I don't have the stamina nor the will to do it.

I'm just TIRED and I'm my mid 60's.

I'm tired but I don't Look Tired like Mc Can't.

He is truly lost in the '60's.

It's the only compassionate thing to do. Just let him fade away. He isn't up to the job (he never was) and it's so fucking sad.

turns 70 - I pray he doesn't decide to retire. As for sharper minds taking over....I think that is an individual and personal decision. If Mr. Debi were to ask me to take over his law practice all hell would break loose. I'll never has as sharp of mind as he does.

John McCain may not be capable of being President of the United States....but it has nothing to do with his age. Or at least very little.

He was an active man till 60 and than Carly Fiorini at Lucent got an idea to get rid of all the old time experienced people at Lucent to save bucks because they of course were making great money after 30 or more years of service. She could replace them with young people at half the salary! So one day he walked into work to be greeted by Security and taken to HR with 10 of his friends to be let known they were being replaced. They didn't even give him the dignity to collect his pictures of his family. His co-workers through him a party at the bar across the street 2 weeks later.

He delved into alcholism for 4 years because he felt thrown away than got sober when he got prostrate cancer and started doing things again. 2 and half years ago he started to drink again to help him sleep because he was in pain and it actually was cancer. He died 6 weeks after being diagnosed.

Lucent ended up being sold to the french because Carly's plan was a disaster among other intiatives she began under her watch as a SR VP at Lucent before ruining HP. But hey Carly got her millions and can now be John's go to girl.

Everytime I see her on TV this election becomes very Personal.

I am baffled how a failed CEO can be considered an economic advisor. Up is down I guess.

To see her on TV. I'd have him knocking on doors for Obama telling his story in this community that lost jobs when Lucent split into 3 pieces and about the people who John McCain listens to for economic advice.

I wish he was alive for more reasons than that of course but my father would be a ball of fire against McCain after seeing her.

Or in literature in your state? :shrug:

I will have my mother do it as the widow and as a former republican till February of this year.

The Emperor is not aware he isn't wearing any clothes!

I think if the John McCain of 2000 saw the John McCain of 2008 he would be appalled!!!
Robyn

The man has always been a jerk. He would have been just as snarky and an asshole and played the same tricks W did against Gore if given the chance for a GE. He was playing by Reagan rules (Thou shall not attack other republicans) in 2000. He learned hardly that W plays by no rules.