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If elected, Senator John McCain of Arizona, 72, the Republican nominee, would be the oldest man to be sworn in to a first term as president and the first cancer survivor to win the office. The scars on his puffy left cheek are cosmetic reminders of the extensive surgery he underwent in 2000 to remove a malignant melanoma.
Last May, his campaign and his doctors released nearly 1,200 pages of medical information, far more than the three other nominees. But the documents were released in a restricted way that leaves questions, even confusion, about his cancer.
A critical question concerns inconsistencies in medical opinions about the severity of his melanoma; if the classification of his melanoma is more severe, it would increase the statistical likelihood of death from a recurrence of the cancer. [...]
By not allowing reporters to interview him or his doctors extensively about his entire medical history, he has made it impossible to get a complete picture of his diagnoses and treatment.
I'm not a medical professional, and I think it's safe to assume that John McCain's physical, medical health is at best questionable, but that it's his mental health (especially the use of prescription medications) that they are working to conceal. Yes, the melanoma certainly is worrisome. But his ability to govern because of emotional/psychiatric issues is more troubling still...
As for Sarah Palin, it is of course ludicrous that any woman in active labor after rupture of the membranes (especially an older woman carrying what she likely knew was a Trisomy 21 infant) would get on a plane and fly a few 1000 miles. Unless, of course, she either did not care about the outcome of the delivery, or unless the whole thing was staged from the get-go. It is definitely highly suspicious that an otherwise healthy 44-year old woman would refuse to be interviewed (for what THAT'S worth) or release any documents.
My dad was a vet Scout helicopter pilot. Like most other Scouts, he was shot down several times, but he's a lucky one; just wounded. As a result of wounds, injuries, and the PTSD from constant combat, he is permanently disabled. Being rated 'Permanent & Total' by the VA makes it illegal for him to earn any money beyond his disability.
The prime reason he's not permitted to work is his PTSD. When he gets angry, bad things happen, like most other people with combat PTSD. The VA says virtually every POW has severe PTSD. McCain has denied he has it. That's the definition of 'denial' for PTSD, which makes it more dangerous, since you can't try and stop the anger, knowing the consequences.
My father is not permitted to work, but he wants to be POTUS. What's wrong with this picture?
The man is not well. However this turns out, what we're seeing is more of the same. The same obstruction and refusal to cooperate in affairs that are in the public's interest. We aren't finished with the last eight years and the newest version is in the bull pen. What else will a McCain/Palin administration decide they don't have to submit to? What other subpoena's will they decide they don't have to comply with. What other information will be suppressed, denied or altered to further some secret agenda? Haven't we had enough of this already? I know I have.
Of the four candidates, the records of McCain's health would be most relevant, because of his VP pick, who refuses to be vetted by answering in unscripted settings. But if you think about it, this imprudent action by itself puts in questions McCain's judgement, which is more important than the state of his health. He is unqualified on those grounds alone.
I think the relevance here is that Palin a VP that has incredibly high odds of having to serve as president should her ticket win in this election and as General Colin Powell said today she is not ready to be president or commander in chief. It's just that cut an dried really. McCain made a poor decision in choosing Palin. Palin may have some other role to play in the future of the republican party but being president is not it.
I am glad the NYT is pressing the issue because it is important for people to think about when they vote. They really must consider that they could end up with the co-Presidents of Todd and Sarah Palin running the United States Of American and I find that ludicrous.
I believe both candidates should be more receptive to putting out all of their medical information. However, it is less important than the real issues of the campaign, we should still focus on what they have to say, and less about how well they feel.
McCain's politics are what bother me, not his health, his choice in VP is something that bothers me more than his health. Then again, His VP choice is why his health is important.