72 just doesn't seem all THAT old to me.

[msallied]

I never viewed 72 as decrepit by any measure. My 80 year old grandfather is still very hale and healthy, even after breaking his hip ten years ago. Same thing with my grandmother. She's 77 and still walks two miles a day. There are plenty of well-aged actors and actresses in Hollywood who manage to still kick ass and take names in their advanced age. Clint Eastwood is still making awesome movies, for crying out loud.

The problem is, McCain has aged so POORLY. He comes off more like an 85 year old. He gives guys his age a bad name, in my opinion, because the number by itself is just really not all that frightening. At least to me.

But maybe I've been lucky in only really encountering healthy men at that age. Does the age of 72 seem decrepit to you, or is it just John McCain? lol

[orestes]

1. It's the combination of being 72 +

melanomas + Palin that irks me.

[msallied]

6. Most definitely.

The Palin factor even then wouldn't seem quite as frightening if he weren't a multiple melanoma survivor.

[Wapsie B]

2. It's just McCain.

Some people age well. I've met spry oldsters nearly 90 and beyond. But McCain's life has taken a toll on him.

[Voice for Peace]

3. I think you're right... 72 is not always that old. McCain seems much older.

He is missing the young-at-heart part, too.

[FKA MNChimpH8R]

34. I had a great uncle who was still trimming his own trees at 93

and apart from being a little hard of hearing was as sharp as a tack. Grampy, not so much.

[Lucy Goosey]

4. It's McCain.

I agree with you, McCain is old for a 72 year old. To be fair, it's not really his fault, what with the torture and the cancer, but I still don't want him to be president of anything.

He should just retire from politics - soon - it would be good for his health!

[msallied]

7. I agree completely.

[MonteLukast]

5. Definitely just McCain.

Look at Senators Lautenberg and Byrd. Sharper than McCain, and older too!

Personally I blame Republicanism. Ted Stevens has aged poorly, too.

[msallied]

10. lol! Good point.

All that "being an asshole for decades" stuff really does subtract years from one's life. :)

[progressiveforever]

8. My parents are 72 and 73 and I don't trust their judgment compared to 10 years ago

Something definitely changes.

[msallied]

17. If I were to project into the future...

I would definitely say that about my mom when she gets to that age. My dad is healthy, but my mom has a lot of health issues even at 50.

[goodgd_yall]

9. In the beginning I didn't think the age thing was that important

But seeing how McCain is doing, as you say, he doesn't seem to be aging well. And everyone who has served as POTUS seems to age quickly, so imagine how he'd be doing after just 4 years.

[Borgnine]

11. The dark side of the Force has aged him rapidly.

He's actually closer to 120.

[msallied]

15. John McPalpatine. LOL!

[firedupdem]

12. McCain is sick..thats the big difference. He is not healthy. n/t

[Cha]

13. 72 is young..it's not his age that makes him stupid.

But, Clint Eastwood has a problem knowing what the truth is..because he supports the make believe maverick who along with his sidekick likes to incite hate.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x7375429

[msallied]

16. Yeah, I know the bastard is a Republican.

But I still like his movies. LOL

[Cha]

22. It's a shame.. one can be a republican but does that

have to make them stupid? It's our country and Planet and he backs a dishonable liar who would OIL it into ground..he also told Spike Lee to "shut his face up" but Spike took care that.

[Raschel]

14. He's definitely physically older than 72 n/t

[hlthe2b]

18. He is not a healthy 72 yo-- either physically or mentally...

[Imagevision]

19. 72 year old Mccain still refuses to release his medical records, palin may be prez sooner

then you think, Palin would, click-click yah! let's bomb the Iranians before they bomb us, no warning just boom! let's just do it? - Palin.

[Carolina]

20. it's not his age that bothers me

IT'S HIM.

Mean, entitled, intellectually incurious...

[AlCzervik]

21. if McCain were 30 years younger he'd still be a grumpy old guy, it's not about his

age, it's about his demeanor.

[Historic NY]

23. 72 is old when your life expectancy is 75.7 yrs......

that is the average life expectancy of a W/M, its 77 when you add in all sex's. Given his life choices, medical condition and physical & mental condition...I'd say he is pushing the envelope.

[Batgirl]

24. There's a lot of variation in when people become decrepit.

Just as there is for other life stages. My dad beat cancer in his 40s, but by his late 60s began to show signs of vascular dementia, neuropathy and other problems related to his diabetes. He was confined to a hospice bed at home from age 70 for 5 years until his death. Many of his visitors during that time were significantly older than him, friends in their 80s who still drove themselves to Arizona for the winter. My parents lived in a rural area and had elderly friends up there who still traveled by snowshoe in winter.

Apparnetly you've got some good genes in your family but it's probably not a coincidence that your grandmother who is doing so well actually gets more exercise than the average person half her age. Sounds like she's making the most of whatever genetic hand she's been dealt.

[tabasco]

25. A rotten, hateful heart, full of greed, kills from within.

[Left Is Write]

26. 72 doesn't seem horribly old to me in the context of the every day citizen.

In the context of trying to sign on for the most high-pressure job in the country, it seems terribly old.

[Doityourself]

27. My uncle is73..completely healthy thank goodness, but even he admits he couldn't keep the schedule

needed to be President...it's too much for a young man, let alone an older one. Just look at how Presidents age while in office.

[JimWis]

28. Yup - and as many of you said - it's not his age - it's the 900

other things we don't like about him.

[TheKentuckian]

29. McCain is making 72 the new 102

In general terms I don't necessarily think 72 is too old but that puts you under more of a lens and increases the importance of the VP.
To my mind, McCain is individually too old to hold up to the job and I don't care how he racked up the mileage then he exploded the issue by selecting a VP that is both a toys in the attic nutjob and clearly incompetent.
To me that should be game over, there is just too much a stake to take such a risk. In eight years, if he wanted to run I might support Biden but I'd go thumbs down on him putting the Avon lady or some kat like Woody from Cheers on the ticket. As far as I'm concerned that's what McDumbass did, AT BEST. Palin makes Ernie Fletcher look like FDR, I bet that brainless ass would go to Alaska and run circles around Palin. This is coming from a person that thought Fletcher made Bush look like Churchill in comparison.

[HughMoran]

30. My dad is even more worn down than McCain @ 72

McCain is 4 months older than my dad, but my dad has had numerous heart issues and depression, so he barely functions for more than a few hours at a time. On the other hand, I know some 50 year old rednecks that are in worse shape than my dad, so it's all relative.

[Zookeeper]

31. To answer your question: It's just John McCain. n/t

[lonestarnot]

32. When you spend 1/2 your life lying and thieving, you age quickly. And life on the run can't be easy

:rofl:

[nutsnberries]

33. it's not. But McLame is a *hard* 72

for whatever reason(s).

[appleannie1]

35. My hub is 72, diabetic, a heart stent and could out work McCain.

Plus, mentally hub makes a heck of a lot less gaffes.

[RagAss]

36. 72 is very old....for a Lying Penguin !

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Blasphemer]

37. It's not 72 that concerns me... it's 80 (his age at the end of 2 potential terms)

and knowing what we now know about Reagan and his Presidency. I would have the same concerns if Biden decided to run for President in 8 years. Honestly, I don't think I would ever support anyone over 65 (of course if the Democratic nominee fell into that category I would still vote for him or her but with grave concerns).

[Oak2004]

38. Yes, the issue is how he has aged

There are people in their thirties who are in the early stages of Alzheimer's, and others with rarer conditions which will affect their cognition, but there are very few such unfortunate people. There are people in their thirties who are physically frail, and people in their thirties who have terminal cancer, but again there are few such people.

The thing about aging is not that all 72 year olds are incapable of serving as President (or whatever else you care to insert in place of the Presidency) -- it's that by the age of 72, a great many 72 year olds have lost sufficient capacity that they are no longer able to function well in those roles, and of those who still seem at least somewhat vigorous, many will rapidly deteriorate over the next few years. John McCain shows signs of deterioration at this time, and it's entirely reasonable to expect that he will deteriorate rapidly. In fact, short of a relatively few 72 year olds who are indisputably vigorous, rapid deterioration has to be a concern.

I could imagine voting for a 72 year old who still appeared vigorous. But I'd require that their VP be fully qualified. McCain's supporters have no such reassurance. Palin as a VP choice is a travesty.

[Withywindle]

39. If you think McCain looks bad...

..you should see the painting in his attic. :scared:

[Jennicut]

40. McCrap is a terrible 72. My Grandma kicked a lot of butt at 72.

She is slowing down at 87 now but back then she was picking up guys at dances and stuff. I am not kidding. She was a real spitfire. I don't see McCrap like that at all...he just seems crabby, confused, tired and well..old. I think its just him. Biden is only 6 years younger and I don't see him aging like that at all but he just seems to have alot of energy. McCrap has no energy, no life or spark to him. Maybe that is just his personality and combined with being 72 and his war injuries and his skin cancer it makes him lifeless.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

41. I posted this on another thread, but

there are two older men who take water aerobics at the same gym I do, and they're 84 and 92 years old. THEY both think McCain has aged badly.

[Balbus]

42. 72 is too old.

And I do agree with you, McCain still looks older than 72. But irregardless, I don't want anyone that age making important decisions that will affect me.