VoyForums Notice -- Quick Contributions:
Donate $10 to the Red Cross: Text the word REDCROSS to 90999
Donate $10 to the Salvation Army: Text the word STORM to 80888
* The charge will appear on your cellphone bill.
Presidential candidates being required to disclose their health records has been posed as a possibility since Franklin Delano Roosevelt progressively lost his health while in office. However, there is still no requirement that medical records of candidates be revealed.
In America's presidential history eight presidents have died in office including several who died of illness: William Henry Harrison died of pneumonia; Zachary Taylor died of what at the time was called "acute indigestion"; Warren G. Harding died of a heart attack; and Franklin Delano Roosevelt died of cerebral hemorrhage (he also was a polio victim, had cardiovascular problems, and may have had cancer according to many historians). Ronald Reagan developed Alzheimers late in his presidency. The others were assassinated.
Being the President of the United States is a job that would produce stress in the most serene individual. He literally carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. Every decision he makes affects a multitude of people for good or for bad - from the economy, to health care, to war. He is the Commander in Chief of the largest military force in the world.
Obviously, an incredibly important factor in the big picture is who the vice presidential candidate is and what kind of president he or she would make. This becomes even more critcal if the President is past the age when most people are enjoying their retirement and has a history of serious medical problems. He may succumb at any time; we therefore must be aware of who will take over, should the worst case scenario occur.
[ Post a Reply to This Message ] [ Edit | View ] [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [>
I found it deeply disturbing at the time the way the medical reports for Sen. McCain were distributed and even more so now. (long post inside. Sorry.) -- cyndi, 10:33:37 09/15/08 Mon(66-249-52-205.adsl.glbgil.grics.net/66.249.52.205)
I have little confidence in Sarah Palin's ability to lead the free world. It has nothing to do with her age or her skills as a parent. Her experience as mayor of a tiny town in a remote state and Governor of a state whose entire population is smaller than all of Chicago (I'm fuzzy on the size of Chicago this morning but I think Alaska=1/4 of Chicago) doesn't thrill me but I'm not condemning her for that, either. It's her attitudes and ideas that bother me. First and foremost, she is praised for her self confidence. What some may see as self confidence I found to be self satisfaction. I find that disturbing and unattractive in any individual but especially one who has to be able to move through the world at large and interact with people from the entire world in times that change as quickly as the blink of an eye. A person needs to be flexible in their thinking and have the ability to see things from other perspectives. Gov. Palin appears to me to be one of those people who thinks it's her way or the highway. We have one of those kinds of people in office right now and he has done irrepairable damage to this country. I want to see someone in office who is foreward thinking and able to move this country into the future. Beyond what I see as a flaw in her thought processes, the Governor and I do not agree on basic policy issues. I also don't agree with Senator McCain on most things. My lack of agreement is not a sign of disrespect for either person and I don't put her down for "being a hockey mom". I was a football, baseball and wrestling mom. I helped raise money for things, drove my son and his friends to practices and games, and did all the things that so many other women and some men do to keep a kid in sports. It was part of my role as a mother and I was glad to do it. I don't think what Mrs. Palin has done as a parent gives her a pass from the media by any means and she should have to answer all the tough questions that any other candidate for such a high office should have to answer. If she can't take the pressure of having to state her views and opinions to the media and the country what in the heck is she doing running for such a powerful position? To me, the McCain camp's decision to isolate her from the press makes me even more distrustful and cynical about her preparedness to take this office. Even if we were in a time of peace and prosperity, which we are not, to have a president die in office is very traumatic and wounding to a nation. Does she have what it would take to calm fears and take the reins in a way that would tell the world she was fully in charge from day one? I think not.
