How to challenge McCain on his 'Senior Moments'...

[RichardRay]

Yesterday was my mom's 85th birthday. I called to wish her best and talk to her. Of course, the talk turned to politics. My mom follows every bit of political news she can get her hands on. She knows she has slips when her age causes her to make a bad decision or miss something critical to her safety or well being. She sees McCain having the exact same kind of issues; she knows a senior moment when she sees one. It's one thing for her to have to check multiple times to be certain she's turned off the coffee pot; it's a very different thing for the president of the country to not recall that Iran is not likely to get along with Al-Qaeda. She is very concerned about the possibility that John McCain would be anywhere close to the reins of power because she sees him having those failures. What she doesn’t know is exactly how to attack him on that point.

My mom is proud that she pays attention, recognizes her issues and allows for them, but she knows she has them. She believes (and I completely agree) that she knows way more about politics and policy than any dozen average 30 year olds you can find. Whoever goes up against McCain in the GE must raise the issue, but will have to raise it with appropriate respect to all the folks in this country who know they’re in the same boat. It's just not clear how to do that.

Ideas?

[frogcycle]

1. yeah, it won't be hard

people with that sort of problem can tend to be pretty testy about it. Tend to get angry when accused of misstatement. A couple of polite confrontations could precipitate a public meltdown, from what I read about his general temperament. The video clip on the plane was a mild example of what can/will happen.

It could be in a debate, but not likely. There he will be so heavily prepped to use the reagan "there you go again" that he's not likely to slip.

Just pointing out a couple of egregious errors after the fact won't do it either. Those he'll be ready to dismiss - forget about. But in some press conference or interview, right when he makes a gaffe, if a persistent questioner won't just let it go, keeps him twisting in the wind - we'll find out if he's 'round the bend or not.

[KittyWampus]

3. McCain is said to have a very real problem with anger & losing control. People've witnessed it.

Military leaders have come forward and said he isn't capable of handling the levers of power.

[rasputin1952]

5. One of the worst problems we have in media representation is

that when an interviewer has the opportunity to press for points, they fall flat. On many occasions I have witnessed nothing less than a "drop-off", at the critical point of contention. An answer never comes forward, simply because the next question, usually an obvious one, just isn't asked. I can actually watch the relief of some people interviewed when the critical moment is passed.

Often, I have been with people watching "debates" and interviews. I can see people perk up as a question is asked that sparks interest; heads rise, people move closer to the edges of their seats, arms and legs tense slightly...we've all see it...and then...PLOP. The next question is virtually worthless, it could be about nuking Samoa in the morning, the moment has passed, and the mini discussions and thought processes have already started, trying to figure out why the obvious was not asked.

We have almost lost the ability to question authority, and that is a terrifying place to be at in a democracy. To question authority is valid in virtually every case a decision is to be made. It doesn't mean you have to disagree or agree w/the position, but when it affects a nation one had damn well better be able to answer questions. What questions do is clarify the situation, and in the muddy swamp of the bush administration, if they were held to a standard from the beginning, we wouldn't be where we're at right now.

As an exercise in Politics 101, first listen to the Kennedy/nixon audio, don't watch the video. Then watch the video, and actually see what happened that night. There is a profound difference of perception and depth as to how the candidates react to questions.

At one point, FDR once said that he trusted George Marshall more than anyone in his administration to give him the straight story. Marshall refused ambition, he stayed the course of asking questions and demanding answers. In most cases Marshall was satisfied with the answers that came forward...but more importantly, so were others in meetings. Marshall knew he could not expect others to follow his orders w/o the knowledge that in the course of the decision being made, other options had been discussed, and the decision made was not unitarily made.

Time will tell if we see this in the future from the media, and indeed the people. for in the end, we must not rely on others to ask the questions, we must be prepared to ask them ourselves, and demand answers we may either like or dislike, but answers we must have.

[Raven]

2. Nice tribute to your Mom. I hope I'm that sharp and interested

when I'm her age. Actually, I'm wondering if we should lay off the age thing with McCain and focus on his mistakes and ignorance rather that what may be causing them. All people really need to do is look at the guy to realize he's too old for the job. Just a thought...

[stellanoir]

4. Top 10 list of

McCain's senior moments.

http://www.alternet.org/story/80622/

That might help.