Comments | astarte59: Wanting to be President

astarte59

Wanting to be President

Feb 25, 2008 17:07

In yesterday's L.A. Times there was an article about seniors and whether they thought John McCain (71) was too old to be President. Not surprisingly, there were opposing opinions. But I was struck by a particular answer since it's something I've believed for a long time anyway--regardless of age. So I wrote a letter to the Times. I think it's ( Read more... )

supreme court, war, our prez, politicians, 2008 campaign, politics

Comments 6

anthalus February 26 2008, 03:16:46 UTC

On retrospection, I would limit the amount of blame for Bush, as more likely his cabinet and his father (former head of the CIA) are mostly responsible...

Good article though!

fading_coal February 27 2008, 15:15:36 UTC

I beg to differ (this is me, btw, signed in under my icon journal). There's a major Oedipal thing b/t George pére and fils. And apparently the fam were grooming Jeb Bush to be the star of the family, not GWB. But everything I've read has suggested that GHWB does not agree w/ what his little boy is doing, is frankly embarrassed by him, and in general finds his actions rash and excessive. Remember, daddy didn't "complete" the job in 1991 according to some, and Jr. is going to show him up.

I read an article in Mother Jones quite a while back about the cabal: the folks in GWB's inner circle who have been planning this war since GHWB "didn't finish it" in '91: Cheney, Wolfowitz, and several others whose names I can't remember now. They've just been waiting for the opportunity, and 9/11 provided one, esp. since they had a cowboy Prez who isn't very smart. Some of the cabal have since lost their jobs (like Wolfowitz) b/c apparently their actions in other respects were too embarrassing (W's nepotism thing w/ his g/f, for instance). ( ... )

anthalus February 29 2008, 04:51:54 UTC

Well GHWB must publicly deny his involvement, as he is a former pres and his son is in office. But the CIA link can not be disregarded. I do agree that the cabal has been working feverishly on the plan, though it was probably since GHWB was in office. There is a theory out there amongst the conspiracy folks that they way to control a nation is to wage war to control spending. Does make some sense especially regarding that junior made the speech that everyone should "shop" post-9/11.

In regards to Gibson:

I have yet to read any of his stuff that was not fascinating. He is definitely a supplicant of the Thompson school of writing...

nobutterflies February 27 2008, 01:42:24 UTC

Interesting...I never thought of that before. People who are called 'seniors' are usually expected to retire from their jobs, and younger people seem to have the advantage of being 'up-to-date'. But for world leaders, age is more respected, and seen as more credible, than youth. So what is it that makes 50-year-olds bad middle managers but good presidents?

fading_coal February 27 2008, 15:42:05 UTC

As long as it's not too much age. One of the people interviewed in the article wondered how McCain would, physically, deal w/ the rigors of being Prez (they mostly figured his mind would be sharp)--like being woken at 3 a.m. to deal w/a crisis, etc. And think of all the jet lag. :-)

But 50 isn't old; it's middle-aged! (I'm 48, although in my case 48 is the new 58.) I think the 50's-60's are considered good Presidential ages b/c they indicate experience and a person who's still in good physical shape (think of Bush and all his brush-clearing and Clinton and his jogging)--old enough to know and have dealt with issues of governance and/or issues like foreign policy (having been a governor, or a distinguished senator) but young enough to be woken up frequently at 3 a.m. and travel frequently (granted, in high style, and not having to deal with his/her own luggage), and look vigorous to the nation. Something we saw w/ Reagan, though he was much older (but then again, I think they had a substitute and kept the real guy out of sight ( ... )

nobutterflies February 28 2008, 00:36:57 UTC

Oh no, I didn't mean that 50 is old! I used it as the example because I can't picture any 60-yr-old middle managers, but I'm sure I've known some in their 50s. :)

I confess that I don't know much about McCain. I know vaguely what he looks like, but I never would have thought that he was in his 70s. It does seem a little too old (like you said, for health/physical reasons rather than mental)--but then again, look at Castro. Our PM, Harper, is in his late 40s and is practically boyish in comparison. But I totally see why older leaders of state may seem more credible than the younger ones.

Yeah, I think you're right about school principals. I don't remember having many "aged" ones, to use a Buffy term. I think the oldest person I remember from school was...the librarian! Stereotypical, huh.