<p>the republican debate is being rerun on cnn right now.</p>
<p>ff: As a Canadian, my culture isn’t that different from that of a northeastern American. Would I stay and work if I knew I could never be a citizen? Probably. Maybe not, but probably.</p>
<p>But would a Mexican, who is not fluent in English and is essentially not at all American in terms of culture, integrate in the way so many cite as a requirement of an illegal immigration policy, if they knew they would not ever become citizens? I doubt it. That is my point.</p>
<p>Another quick one for the Republicans here:</p>
<p>All the Republicans seem to love the states’ rights argument - or they did when asked if California should be allowed to set its own emissions regulations. How do they square that with their distinctly non-states’ rights point of view about drug policy (other than RP, who is obviously against the drug war)? It seems to me there is no way to reconcile the two without saying “yeah, we only like states’ rights when we don’t care too much about the issues they’re legislating”. Thoughts?</p>
<p>Republicanism means different things to different groups.
Peeve.
Big and small business would love to have less regulatory and tax interference yet when their business is affected they are the first to run to the feds, states, local to modify conditions just for them: Who fights for pollution controls and who fights against controls?; Oregon Death with Dignity affects which groups, the individual & family and big pharma; Free farm marketing vs price and farm supports; Local education control vs NCLB. </p>
<p>We have seen more governmental interference in this administration not less.</p>
<p>“I agree that it was not McCain’s best performance. I heard that he had weather or plane problems causing him to spend 10 hours to get there. Perhaps that plus normal campaign fatigue was a problem. I can’t imagine how any of them can maintain that type of schedule for months on end and still remain semi-coherent.”</p>
<p>It is important that a president have enough stamina to keep up a tough schedule. </p>
<p>It has seemed to me and others who have been watching the Republicans’ speeches and debates, that John McCain may have some real problems with speech and mentation. I thought he called April a “year” instead of a month during the debate. He seems to have problems putting together clear succinct sentences.</p>
<p>It would seem to me that if he is on any medication or has any brain deterioration that requires medication, that he would make this public.</p>
<p>He does not, at least to some people I know who have independently brought this up, appear to be 100% mentally there now. This would make who the VP is crucial, but also require a lot of honesty if he becomes elected as to his physical and mental state during a term.</p>
<p>Romney appears to be all there mentally, for whatever this is worth, and actually it means a lot in running the country. </p>
<p>If it were a choice between Clinton and McCain, I would choose Clinton, as much as I don’t like alot of things about her, because I don’t think that McCain is fit enough, physically or mentally.</p>
<p>Has anyone else noticed this about McCain? It was sort of strange that several people who work in the field have noticed his verbal mannerisms that did not seem “right”</p>
<p>I do not mind an older president, but it is a risk if there are questions involved.</p>
<p>swatparent, I noticed the April-year comment too. </p>
<p>McCain looks like he is slowly losing it to me too. His speech after he won NH was awful too.</p>
<p>His body and mind have gone through an incredible amount of abuse. He is now in his 70’s.</p>
<p>I don’t want him to be president.</p>
<p>I did a search about McCain and senility and also his medical history. It seems like aging and possible senility will be a huge issue if he gets the nomination, as the more speeches he makes and the more errors that are apparent, there will be increased publicity in this regard. From what I can gather, his medical records have been guarded heavily, and I don’t think that they have recently been released. It looks as if more detail will be released if he is the nominee.</p>
<p>I doubt he will get the youth vote, and he makes Hillary look much younger and vibrant, and of course Obama is the youngest. Romney seems like the most viable Republican candidate, but of course he is not in Republican pockets as much as McCain so the party doesn’t throw him huge support. Also McCain doesn’t have the greatest personal background in terms of his first wife and that divorce, so I can’t see him as a darling of the evangelical groups. Although with Romney being a Mormon, they are a bit standoffish as well.</p>
<p>But mostly it’s statements that McCain will say such as the one that “April was a great year” that are scary. Did he also say that Putin is a German? I saw that mentioned online.</p>
<p>When one thinks about aging even in one’s '60s, and then what happens at age 70 and up, I can’t see that this will get any better with McCain. And if nominated and travelling more and sleeping less, he may just go further downhill.</p>
<p>McCain’s had skin cancer (melanoma) twice…probably as a consequence of living in Arizona. Now my late father had that a couple of times and each time it took a greater toll on him, though he did not actually die of it. Both the cancer and the treatments were debillitating. I’ve known quite a few older people who were steaming along just fine until a ‘small’ medical event, which in their youth they might have shrugged off, but in age knocked down their health permanently. If McCain were 100%, I still wouldn’t vote for him since I’m a Democrat to my toes (full disclosure) but I think his health should be a factor in this race if only because who he chooses for VP will be critical.</p>
<p>Who is VP matters because they may inherit the presidency. However, it is far more difficult to ascertain what to do when a president is debilitated, as they may not function up to full capacity. </p>
<p>I think that full disclosure about any medicines that he takes should have been done early on, as to what they and for the possible side-effects.</p>
<p>However, the Democrats should take heart if the Republican Party is pushing McCain, because his gaffes and weaknesses will become more of a contrast to Clinton or Obama. For what it’s worth, I think that Clinton very well could win over McCain. She looks good in contrast, looks very vibrant.</p>