How would you feel waking up one morning to learn that "President" Grandpa Senator John McCain has slept on due to rigors of the office? Would you not have a perpetual tinge of guilty feelings for being partly responsible for his demise because you voted for him to be president? Is the uncertainty and infirmities of old age not enough to dissuade your vote for Senator John McCain? If not, why not? Do you really love this country or are you just in it for the prank of forcing an old man, who has been drawing on social security these past seven years, on the country as their president? Do you really believe he can deliver knowing the rigors of the office and how the office is an aging-machine which shows no mercy to its occupants? At 72 years plus old, Senator John McCain will simply be made a mince meat/hamburger by the office; so WHY? Even Grandpa Senator John McCain himself, admitted that he is too old for the office. In his own very words, while responding to a Jim Lehrer's question, ssometime after 2000 election (attached as comment here) John McCain said "Well, in 2004, I expect to be campaigning for the reelection of President George W. Bush, and by 2008, I think I might be ready to go down to the old soldiers home and await the cavalry charge there"
Why then one may ask, is this very ancient man being forced on America as her president when more energetic and well qualified youth is offering himself for the service for fatherland? Is Grandpa Senator John McCain being drafted just to possibly give up the ghost in the White-House for us to bear a national burial of a seating president? 
Recently in New Hampshire, while visiting Concord High School a student asked McCain if he was worried that being so old might cause him to die in office or get Alzheimer’s disease? To which Grandpa Senator John McCain responded “I work 24/7, I’m very active, and people will judge by the rigor and enthusiasm of our campaign”
It will be noted that Senator John McCain as usual just parried this question and failed to provide the answer being elicited by the question - being so old and possibly dying in office or afflicted with memory loss; and the matter of picking the Alaskan beauty queen as his running mate does not array this palpable fear in the minds of many Americans! Can you imagine dementia and the nuclear ball possible co-existence within the same person? Grandpa Senator John McCain, when will you come clean before American people and tell them in a simple narrative why a man whose prime has past, now thinks that he can provide America a leadership of the future? It is perplexing as it is astonishing! Can anyone teach a rigidly set in his ways, Grandpa John McCain any new thing? This is a man who was born before microwave oven was invented; a man who was born before the Internet and who admitted he does not know how to click a mouse; a man who shares almost the same birthday with the Golden gate bridge; a man who still lives and dwells in memory of 40 year old prison experience as a prisoner of war and you wonder, does it mean since forty years ago, Senator John McCain has not done any other thing worthy of any mention? Why dwell in a past which everyone has since acknowledged or is he on a sympathy mission? Senator John McCain is a man whose time has since past indeed! Why would America now entrust her future in this ancient man whose days are numbered and who does not have any meaningful future to work for? So many jokes has been made about John McCain's' very advanced age and this fact is being glossed over by the media because he fits the designated pedigree! This taciturn by the media about Senator John McCain's old age and possible infirmities Icheoku thinks, is not a healthy development; and his being goaded to the White-House is putting him on a fast lane to the beyond. Please help save Senator John McCain from an early home-call, do not vote for him for president. It is a honor and mercy call America which Icheoku hopes America will heed and spare our one time war hero, the denial of his golden years. Think Alzheimer's, don't vote for Senator John McCain! Think dementia, don't vote 
for Senator John McCain! Think diaper-wearing in the Oval office, don't vote for Senator John McCain! Think of sleeping through an international meetings, don't vote for Senator John McCain! Think about the rigors of the office, don't vote for Senator John McCain! Think about your aged loved ones and the difficulties of their advanced age, don't vote for Senator John McCain! Think of possible drooling in office, don;t vote for Senator John McCain! If you are such a partisan hack and cannot come around to voting for the other guy, then be merciful and show mercy to old Grandpa Senator John McCain; please save him from himself and stop him from going into the White-House! His very advanced age will simply not allow him to perform to the best of his abilities therein - it is a very demanding job only suitable for the vibrant and the youthful! It is not a job for old men and Senator John McCain is an old man! Grandpa Senator John McCain should instead be scouting for a comfortable senior home to spend his fast approaching golden age where he can live out his life in peace and harmony! At this point in his time, Senator John McCain should be planning on how to live a life in retirement instead of asking to be hired by the American people for the top job in the land! Please America, join the senator from New York, Hillary Rodham Clinton in chorusing No how! No way! No McCain! No Palin!
for Senator John McCain! Think diaper-wearing in the Oval office, don't vote for Senator John McCain! Think of sleeping through an international meetings, don't vote for Senator John McCain! Think about the rigors of the office, don't vote for Senator John McCain! Think about your aged loved ones and the difficulties of their advanced age, don't vote for Senator John McCain! Think of possible drooling in office, don;t vote for Senator John McCain! If you are such a partisan hack and cannot come around to voting for the other guy, then be merciful and show mercy to old Grandpa Senator John McCain; please save him from himself and stop him from going into the White-House! His very advanced age will simply not allow him to perform to the best of his abilities therein - it is a very demanding job only suitable for the vibrant and the youthful! It is not a job for old men and Senator John McCain is an old man! Grandpa Senator John McCain should instead be scouting for a comfortable senior home to spend his fast approaching golden age where he can live out his life in peace and harmony! At this point in his time, Senator John McCain should be planning on how to live a life in retirement instead of asking to be hired by the American people for the top job in the land! Please America, join the senator from New York, Hillary Rodham Clinton in chorusing No how! No way! No McCain! No Palin!
JIM LEHRER: Senator, welcome.
ReplyDeleteSEN. JOHN McCAIN: Thank you, Jim.
JIM LEHRER: What did you think of Colin Powell's words last night about affirmative action for lobbyists?
SEN. JOHN McCAIN: I think he was right on the mark, and I'm very pleased that he made the statement, and I'm glad it was applauded event by lobbyists. Look, there's no doubt that special interests and their representatives have taken over the legislative process and more and more money is pouring into the political campaigns from these interests and we have got to reform the system.
JIM LEHRER: What about -- what does this convention say about the system?
SEN. JOHN McCAIN: The convention and tens of millions or however much it is that's being spent by special interests in order to achieve access which then gains influence is a testimony to how the system is out of control. There's more of the special interest or lobbyist money this convention than there was last, and last there was more then the one before.
JIM LEHRER: So what does that applause that Colin Powell got last night mean?
SEN. JOHN McCAIN: I think that on the part of some it was simply because they are applauding Colin Powell because he's clearly, head and shoulders, the most respected man in America today. But I think there are many rank and file Republicans who were there who were also applauding because they agree with him -- that they believe that they have been deprived of their representation in Washington. Remember many of these delegates are not high income Americans; they are party workers. And they see the manifestations of the influence of special interests in Washington as well.
Campaign finance reform
JIM LEHRER: But is the current leadership of your party going to do anything about this?
SEN. JOHN McCAIN: The current leadership of my party doesn't want to do a lot. The current leadership of my party and the Democrat Party is going to have to do something because I and the other advocates of campaign finance reform will tie up the United States Senate next year. We will have blood all over the floor of the Senate until we exceed to the demands now, not the wishes, the demands of the American people to be represented in Washington again. There's a majority in both Houses. The Congress will pass it easily, the House will pass it easily. In the Senate we have clearly well over 50 votes; we need 60. So they're going to get reform.
JIM LEHRER: Those are strong words, blood on the floor, tie up the Senate?
SEN. JOHN McCAIN: Yep, absolutely, absolutely.
JIM LEHRER: Have you told George W. Bush this?
SEN. JOHN McCAIN: No, I have not, but I will repeat my advocacy for campaign finance reform whenever and however I can.
JIM LEHRER: So if somebody thinks you are going to go quietly away on this issue, forget it?
SEN. JOHN McCAIN: Forget it. The one thing I learned in my albeit failed campaign is the American people feel that, especially young ones, that they are no longer represented in Washington; they deserve a lot better than what they are getting.
JIM LEHRER: Are you going to have to reform the party first though, before you can reform the campaign finance system?
SEN. JOHN McCAIN: No, I don't think so because, again, the majority of my colleagues in the Senate and clearly the majority of Republicans want campaign finance reform. It's those who are the beneficiaries of this system, the incumbents that keep this system, the incumbents, that keep -- this system keeps incumbents in office - that are resistant to change.
JIM LEHRER: And you say you have not said this forthrightly, directly to George W. Bush, right?
SEN. JOHN McCAIN: I said it all through the campaign.
JIM LEHRER: But in conversation since, when you talked about the campaigning together and the 2000 election?
SEN. JOHN McCAIN: No, I didn't. I took it for granted that he knows of my advocacy. And in his behalf, he wants to rid us of corporate union contributions. He also wants full disclosure; he is about three quarters of the way there.
JIM LEHRER: But if he doesn't go the whole way - you're going to fight him, right? You would fight him, along with everybody else, if they don't go along?
SEN. JOHN McCAIN: First of all, I think that he will seek a solution, one that we may not agree with, but I think he realizes the system is out of control. Second of all, I will do whatever is necessary, I hope with the leaders of both parties, but, if not, then we have to move forward.
JIM LEHRER: So you believe, if I understand what you are saying Senator, you believe that you have a McCain mandate that goes beyond party, goes beyond leadership, goes beyond the 2000 election, et cetera, to do something about this issue?
SEN. JOHN McCAIN: I believe it not only because I think I have a mandate but I also have an obligation to serve the people of this country -- something I've been doing for more then 40 years. And obviously they no longer are represented in what is supposed to be, once was, and will be a democratic form of government. And so there's just no doubt about it in my mind where my duty lies. If that sounds a little demagogic, I think I can back it up with polling data after polling data, including the reality that young voters are no longer participating in the political process. In the 1998 election, the 18 to 26-year-old vote was the lowest in history, and when these young people are asked why, it's because they believe they are no longer represented.
JIM LEHRER: Back to the Republican Party specifically. It's been suggested today that the diversity that was shown on the podium last night is not reflected in the reality of the Republican Party? Is that right?
SEN. JOHN McCAIN: Yes, but let me add a very important caveat. The Republican Party presented last night what it wants its image to be. I believe that that's the vision of Gov. Bush for the Republican Party in America; it's certainly mine. I believe it is certainly General Colin Powell's. So I think -- I don't think it was disingenuous what the Republican Party did. I think it's the image that we want our party to be, and our message of inclusion is one that I think is best articulated by those individuals who have been attracted to our party.
JIM LEHRER: So it's more of a come join us, rather then a reflection of what the party is today?
SEN. JOHN McCAIN: I think so, particularly when you look at the delegates. But let's also look at the fact that Governor Bush got a very significant percentage of the Hispanic vote. I in my last election got over half of the Hispanic vote in my state. There are many Republican office holders who are attracting people from all walks of life to our banner; we just have to do a lot more of it. And those we have attracted -- as we all know -- are our best messengers.
Powell as Secretary of State
JIM LEHRER: Colin Powell -- also, the conventional wisdom is that Colin Powell will be the Secretary of State if there is a Bush/Cheney administration.
SEN. JOHN McCAIN: I devoutly hope.
JIM LEHRER: You do?
SEN. JOHN McCAIN: Yes.
JIM LEHRER: Why?
SEN. JOHN McCAIN: Because I think he has all of the good principles and grounding and experience on national security issues. I think he is respected not only in America but throughout the world. And I think he will restore some coherency and consistency to the conduct of American foreign policy. And I have as much confidence in that as I have in anything in America today.
JIM LEHRER: What about the specific issue - you've talked about it and others have too - but not in much detail - is to -- when should the United States deploy its armed forces abroad, and what criteria should be used? Are you comfortable with the decision-making that would - that a Bush-Cheney- Powell triumvirate would make?
SEN. JOHN McCAIN: Yes. I'm extremely comfortable and basically it's when American interests and values are threatened. And sometimes when our values are threatened, over time our interests can be threatened. I can't make an argument to you that Kosovo posed an immediate threat to our national interest. But I can argue that it offended our values to a degree that if allowed to go unchecked, then unrestrained, once Milosevic started to do his ethnic cleansing, then sooner or later our interest would be threaten because that same kind of scenario would transpire in other places in Europe
JIM LEHRER: You mentioned campaign finance reform. I assume that in this area too foreign policy, defense policy, that you would remain active with a Republican administration as well?
SEN. JOHN McCAIN: Yes I would. I believe that we have to reform the military to meet the challenges of the post Cold War era. We are still pork barreling in the most obscene fashion, in fact the worst that I've ever seen on defense appropriations bills, and we -
JIM LEHRER: Just wasting money on things that are not needed?
SEN. JOHN McCAIN: Not only not needed but have nothing to do with defense. The last defense appropriations bill had $4 million in it for the protection of the desert tortoise. I'm all for protecting the desert tortoise. Tell me - what relation does it have to defense? I mean, we're going to pave Hawaii and Alaska before this is over, the senior members form the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee hail from those states. It's really disgraceful and unconscionable, and I said so on the floor of the Senate. But we also have to reform the military to meet the post Cold War era, and again, campaign finance reform -- influence to the defense contractors has to be diminished. President Eisenhower's warnings about the defense industrial complex are still valid, so we have to reform the military to achieve a military establishment that can be rapidly deployed anywhere on the globe at short notice and once they are effective, beneficially affect the battlefield equation and we haven't done that yet.
JIM LEHRER: Bush-Cheney-Powell will do that?
SEN. JOHN McCAIN: Oh, I'm convinced of it, and, frankly, I know of no one better who knows of the need for reform in the military than Cheney and Powell, who both have had intimate knowledge of our defense establishment.
McCain's role
JIM LEHRER: On a personal level, Senator, finally, are you having any problems being at this convention not being the party's nominee?
SEN. JOHN McCAIN: I am not, Jim, and here's why: because once the campaign was over, I think that I had to move forward, and I have moved forward. I've been grateful for the experience. I don't think Americans like a sore loser. In fact, I know they don't. And I'm grateful for having had the opportunity to run; I'm grateful for the incredible experience, which is so unique that I was able to able to have, and I'll always be grateful.
JIM LEHRER: But you don't see yourself as a loser, do you?
SEN. JOHN McCAIN: Well, let me say runner-up...(laughter)…. You remember Vince Lombardi once said, show me a good loser and I'll show you a loser. But no, certainly we didn't win, I'm a distant runner-up, and there's no doubt who did win. So the answer is obvious.
JIM LEHRER: Sure, but in a more general way, a broader way - you were - yes, you were well known, but you were basically well known as a Senator from Arizona before all this happened. Now, all the polls show you are one of the most respected public figures in America, and now the question is: what do you do with this?
SEN. JOHN McCAIN: Exactly right. That's exactly right. That's the heart of all this. I was able to get a small but significant -- I with the help of many others - able to get a modest reform of disclosure of some rather egregious organizations that were involved in political campaigns. I wouldn't have been able to do that before this campaign. What I need to do and what my job is, is to reform the institutions of government and using campaign finance form as that gateway, but campaign finance reform is not an end to itself -- unto itself. It's a means to an end, which is to reform the institutions of government, which would then be more responsive and attuned to the hopes and dreams and aspirations of the American people. I think that my last campaign allowed me more influence in that process.
JIM LEHRER: Finally, for the record, you have not lost your desire to be President of the United States, have you?
SEN. JOHN McCAIN: Certainly it's been put in deep cold storage.
JIM LEHRER: But you haven't lost it?
SEN. JOHN McCAIN: Well, in 2004, I expect to be campaigning for the reelection of President George W. Bush, and by 2008, I think I might be ready to go down to the old soldiers home and await the cavalry charge there.
JIM LEHRER: But between now and then you are, in fact, as we're sitting here now in Philadelphia, you are a national figure. Do you intend to remain one over these next few years?
SEN. JOHN McCAIN: I intend - I have four more years in my term, in this term as a United States Senator -I intend to remain active, committed, dedicated to the principles that I hold dear and the policies which I think should be pursued for the benefit of the American people. But I think I can do that as a member of the United States Senate very effectively.
JIM LEHRER: Senator thank you very much
SEN. JOHN McCAIN: Thank you, Jim.