Thanks to Crooks and Liars for the video from WMUR.
So a New Hampshire high school student asks John McCain, perhaps a little inelegantly, whether he's too old to be president.
New Hampshire Kid: If elected, you would be older than Ronald Regan, making you the oldest president. Do you ever worry that you might, like, die in office or get Alzheimer's or some other disease that might affect your judgment?
McCain gives a fairly standard answer about how he's still physically active and works hard on the campaign trail.
(I wouldn't have minded if he'd reminded the kid that we do have a Constitutional amendment that provides for the succession and replacement of presidents who are unable for whatever reason to discharge their duties. But he's a Republican, so the idea that we have a constituional democracy is probably not something that he wants to go around reminding people of.)
Then he finishes with a flourish:
"Thanks for the question, you little jerk."
That's OK. If you look at the video, he's joking. Then, way after the laughs have died down:
"You're drafted."
Hmm. Interesting system you've got there, Mr. McCain. Of course, I'm sure that such a remark, smacking of royal hubris and the viewpoint that the military is a cesspool for the rogue elements of our society, will be jumped on by our media stars. Because we can't have any kind of insinuation that our troops are less than the best and most committed America has to offer.
Right?