Some thoughts after seeing discussion of Bernie's health and the idea that Trump and Bernie are too old to run in the Shoe thread. Bernie basically had a heart attack and attempted to lie about it and hide it as something less serious. His campaign is effectively done because no one wants to elect a President who will keel over dead and leave the nation in crisis. One of the reasons people weren't willing to vote for McCain was his history of health problems.
If you didn't know Trump was in his 70s would you think he was? I was surprised to find out when he began his campaign that he was nearly 70. He seemed a good 10-15 years younger than that in terms of his appearance, health, energy level, etc. As of this past June Trump is 73. Bernie is 78. Would you think Bernie was only in his 70s looking at hhis grizzled crypt keeper ass? If you look at the two men the difference is night and day. It looks like a difference of more than five years. Trump is generally healthy, if a little overweight. Which isn't too bad for a senior citizen, as at least it means they have strength. But he's vibrant, he's not frail in the least, he has more energy than I could hope to have. Bernie on the other hand is about as withered and frail as can be, with one foot in the grave.
When you look at Trump and Bernie you're looking at the difference between a person who spent his entire life working, busy, engaged, challenged, and a person who spent his entire life as a lazy entitled do nothing. It's a difference in body and mind that becomes more and more clear as a person gets older. Too old? Maybe, I could agree on some level. Believe it or not Trump is actually our oldest President ever, being almost exactly one year older than Reagan at the same points in his Presidency. But looking at Trump's contemporaries in politics, he certainly seems to be in better shape than croaking Bernie, coughing Hillary, tongue twisting Nancy, and brain damage Joe.
So maybe age isn't the issue here but the lifestyle of public sector malaise. And the American peoples' bizarre willingness to tolerate politicians who are obviously not fit to hold office. Going back to John traitor ass McCain as a kind of a bookend here, I will never understand how this man was allowed to remain in the Senate making decisions that effect the public while suffering from fucking brain cancer. I guess my opinion in the end is that age shouldn't disqualify but certain medical conditions absolutely should.
Term limits would be a much better way to prevent people from growing old in office. If the GOP can wrangle themselves a few more Senate seats next year and brute force term limits for congress it would probably be remembered as one of THE hallmarks of Trump's presidency. Imagine how quickly we could be rid of so many bad actors and how limited the potential of future bad actors would be. A man can dream.
And speaking of all this, Ruth, it's time to step into the light.
Like I said, just some idle thoughts as I sit here piddling my twiddlestick on a Sunday morning.
