| Saying that Senator John McCain is too old to be | | | | having all the energy necessary to run long distances, |
| president is like saying that Santa Claus is too fat to | | | | and this is the very same energy needed to do one's |
| be - Santa Claus! After all, Mr. Claus's girth would | | | | job, even if one's job is running the country. |
| appear to be a huge hindrance to his getting down all | | | | Some would like to take this "too-old" argument one |
| those chimneys to deliver the goods. Nevertheless, as | | | | step further by pointing out that McCain would be in his |
| we all know, S. Claus does his job very well. His | | | | eighties at the end of a second term. Let's look, then, |
| heart-attack-waiting-to-happen, size-50 waist hasn't | | | | at the potential of eighty-year-olds. Here's an example |
| caused him to get stuck in a single chimney yet - to | | | | of what one octogenarian can do. This past summer a |
| our knowledge. However, now that I think about it, he is | | | | fellow Arizonan of McCain's, Bill Anderson, peddled his |
| getting a little old, maybe too old for …-- which | | | | bike the perimeter of Arizona, some 2,000 miles in 14.5 |
| brings us back to McCain. | | | | days. In doing this, Anderson averaged over 130 miles |
| The question being bandied about these days, by actor | | | | a day for two weeks. He did this despite having to |
| Chuck Norris of the Mike Huckabee camp for one, is: | | | | endure long, steep mountain climbs and 110-degree |
| Would McCain be able to withstand the pressures of | | | | desert heat. He did this to celebrate his eighty-first |
| being the leader of the free world? After all, he would | | | | birthday! |
| be 77 at the end of his first term. What some folks | | | | Beyond his expertise as a cyclist and his intense |
| seem to forget (not you and I, of course, but some | | | | training regimen, what made it possible for Anderson to |
| others less well informed) is that one's chronological | | | | accomplish this age-redefining feat was his drive to do |
| age and one's physiological age are not the same. | | | | it. This is the same resoluteness that sustained McCain |
| Let me give you an example. San Francisco's Ray | | | | through years of captivity as a prisoner of war and |
| Piva ran 109 miles at the 2003 USA 24-Hour Run | | | | through 25 contentious-filled years in Congress. It's the |
| Championship in San Diego. He was 77 at the time! As | | | | same determination that would sustain him as |
| you can see from this age-defying accomplishment, | | | | president. |
| Piva's real age, or, as some call it, his biological age, is | | | | No, I'm not saying that I would vote for McCain to be |
| nowhere near his chronological age (i.e., how many | | | | president of these United States of America, but |
| times he's circled the Sun). | | | | neither will I dismiss his candidacy based solely on his |
| How many of the candidates for president could keep | | | | age - any more than I would vote for someone purely |
| up with the 77-year-old Piva for 436 laps of a track? | | | | on the basis of his or her race or sex (be it male or |
| Let's see. It's obvious that John Edwards and Mitt | | | | female). However, I can say with certainty that Santa |
| Romney couldn't do it; all that running would muss up | | | | definitely gets my vote to stay on no matter how |
| their hair, and that suitcoat and tie would be a real | | | | plump or old he gets. |
| hindrance to Romney. How about Ron Paul? Paul | | | | Calendar years are simply not a true measure of |
| would be disqualified for not staying in his lane and not | | | | one's ability to function well; Ray Piva and Bill Anderson |
| even being able to stay on the track. What about | | | | have made this very clear. The wisdom, insights and |
| Dennis Kucinich? Even he would get tired of turning left | | | | experience garnered during years of captivity and a |
| after a while. And can you picture Hillary in running | | | | quarter century in the political arena fighting for his |
| shorts? No, I'm not going there, neither should you, nor | | | | convictions are far more important than McCain's age. |
| would Hillary. Finally, there's Barack Obama. Even with | | | | Maybe the better question is not whether McCain is |
| all his energy, charisma and youthful enthusiasm, he | | | | too old, Chuck, but rather whether the other, less |
| wouldn't be able to complete this race. From this, we | | | | experienced candidates are too young. |
| can see that age is not a significant deterrent to | | | | |