John Glenn for VP.

[DannyRed]

I just stole that Idea from a commentator at DailyKos...http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/3/5/83135/89796


I think it is a very interesting idea...opinions?

Pluses - gravitas, hero status, good politics, science/space/defense, well liked and well spoken...

Minuses - age, interest, geography.

[arcos]

1. I would think geography is a plus..

he's from Ohio, right?

Another possible problem could be the Lautenberg/Mondale spectrum of retired politicians coming back...

[DannyRed]

2. Actually,

that's a good point...

Putting Ohio in play (even more than it already is) would be extremely interesting.

[DieboldMustDie]

3. John Glenn will be 83 years old this July.

I have the utmost respect for him, but do you really think he'd want to take on such a task at that age?

[Dookus]

4. He'd be fine except

he's 82 years old.

[DannyRed]

5. Age is certainly the one big issue...

But how old was Reagan as Pres?

He finished at age 78.

And the real issue surrounding Age is health...and look at Mr. Stent...I mean Cheney?

I think the age issue, unless there are serious health problems there, is not an issue.

in 1998 he was considered fit enough to be launched into space aboard the shuttle!

[Dookus]

6. Going for a ride in a rocket

isn't the same as being the person who takes over the Presidency in case anything happens.

There is no way ANY 82 year old will be chosen. The campaign alone would kill him.

[DannyRed]

7. Ummmm...

Going for a ride in a rocket is one of the most stressful things you can do.

The training, the extremes in environment, and the overall physical battering taken during a trip from the surface to space are extreme...

[Dookus]

8. Not really

he even said it wasn't terribly hard. He didn't have any real duties on the flight - he was a test subject. He trained, spent a few days in space, and came home.

AND... it was 6 years ago.

You're proposing that an 82 year old go on a marathon campaign for four months, then take on a grueling job for four years.

Sorry, but it would NEVER happen. Reagan was considered exceptionally old at SEVENTY!

[DannyRed]

10. Well,

Why not?

If he is fit and hale, he will be a damned sight better than Cheney, who is a whoopee cushion away from keeling over from a heart attack and blowing three or four stents out his chest cavity...

I agree that the age thing is an issue - why not give the guy an all around physical and decide afterwords?

Just consider it.

The guy is in fine shape as of now, as far as I know.

[Dookus]

12. sigh

the number ONE job of the Vice President is to be ready in case the President keels over.

Americans don't want an 83+ year old man in the White House. Hell, my dad's 75 and I don't like him driving a car!

Even if he were Jack LaLanne, he couldn't withstand the rigors of the campaign.

Look, I love John Glenn. He's a great American and a great Democrat. But I guarantee nobody is going to pick an octegenarian running mate.

[DannyRed]

13. Sigh....

How do YOU know what "Americans don't want"??

Look, All I was doing was making a suggestion, and pointing out the possible benefits - I acknowledged the age thing up front.

I think it is an interesting possibility, and one that should not be immediately dismissed out of hand simply because "you don't think so".

Cheney is half-dead already.

Bentsen was damned old.

Frankly the job of president is not all that - look how much time off Bush is getting.

Say Kerry is elected, keels over, and Glenn is top-dog...

So?

Anyway, your opinion is registered, I understand your objection and have some agreement with it...mostly I am reacting to your tone and language...so, have a nice day.

[Dookus]

14. LOL

my tone and language? I can't find anything remotely objectionable in what I said. Sorry if anything came across wrong - I was merely arguing my position.

Lloyd Bentsen was in his 60's and still active in politics.

I'm not trying to be the single arbiter of this, but I have enough sense of history to know that such an old man would drawback on the ticket. As I said, one of the big raps against Reagan was that he was too old (and we now know he was) and he was only 70 when he first ran.

[DannyRed]

15. I think it was

the "going for a ride in a rocket" statement that got my goat.

Dismissive and a bit disrespectful, in my opinion.

Considering that there is such a huge population of 25 year olds who could not even "go for a ride" on a damned BICYCLE...perhaps a bit more credit and respect should be given, eh?

On that note, I am going to go drink some beer, smoke a pack of cigarettes and eat a few supersize value meals!!

:)

[ShaneGR]

24. Well

Glenn ruled this out with comments a few days ago, BUT, if there is any 82 year old man who could do it, it would be Glenn. Heck, the guy is on our Quarter (Ohio's special one, the coin)!

[OhioStateProgressive]

19. John Glenn is a physical specimen

Spend a few minutes talking to him sometime, you will forget how old he is.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

9. In hindsight

I think we were right to worry that Reagan was too old to be President. 83 just seems like too much. Other than that I think he'd be perfect image-wise and geography... I don't know his politics.

[DannyRed]

11. Well,

If Glenn has Alzheimers or is at risk for such kinds of degeneration or senility...then of course he should not be considered...

But there are many 80+ year olds who are completely fine...fit, cognizant, alert, and energetic.

Image-wise and geography-wise he is a lock.

Policy and politics wise he is a hard-nosed liberal pragmatist.

There may be some "keating five" nastiness that should be vetted before passing him through on the political front, however.

Anyway, it is just a suggestion, and even at 82, he would be a better choice than Gep, Edwards, or Graham...in my opinion, of course.

[xchrom]

16. as long as he's in good shape

sharp, like any one else, his age doesn't bother me.
with america getting older it's reasonable that some of the folks representing us should be chosen with that demographic in mind.
i'm not saying it should be glenn -- just that it's not unreasonable.

[Darth_Kitten]

17. Sexist, hypocritical.........

apparently when old goats like him go out in space it's fine, but when women joined the space program. hmmph.

sexist, hypocritical old goat. Bye Johnny....feel what it's like to be discriminated on based on who you are. :eyes:

[ShaneGR]

25. Eh?

Was ist den loss? Was du sein sagen?

[OhioStateProgressive]

18. well

As a relative of John Glenn, I would put aside my anger at Kerry and gladly pull the lever, if it were true.

[AntiCoup2K4]

20. If I were going to nominate anyone over 80, it would be Robert Byrd

At least someone on the ticket would have stood up to Bush.

[OhioStateProgressive]

21. no way

Robert Byrd is a great man, but he is also a former KKK member, and that WILL NOT sit well.

[ShaneGR]

26. While I have a lot of respect for Byrd, the KKK stuff would kill us

The last thing we need is a controversial figure.

[Ficus]

22. they do look good together...

[ShaneGR]

23. Since I'm from Ohio I'll comment

First off, even though I want Edwards to get it a Glenn pick would LOCK Ohio up and give us the election without NO DOUBT. National hero. Statesman. etc. etc.

But, when asked about it by the Ohio press he laughed and said forget about it.

[GBD4]

27. If you want a former astronaut (albeit one with way way less stardom)

Bill Nelson's your man!

[JohnKleeb]

28. if he were younger it would be more likely

I want him out there campaigning in Ohio. Hes a great man.

[DaveSZ]

29. LOL

My grandpa is 82, and I'm trying to imagine him campaigning.

There's just no way.

[JohnKleeb]

30. my grandpa is 75 and was gonna go to an anti war rally

Glenn it seems is an active man. He was in space just a few years back, surely John can campaign.