Age and the presidential pressure-cooker

Posted on Monday 21 January 2008

Chuck Norris is worried about John McCain’s age:

Norris, an ardent supporter of Mike Huckabee, told reporters he believes serving as president accelerates the aging process 3-to-1.

“If John takes over the presidency at 72 and he ages 3-to-1, how old will he be in four years? Eighty-four years old — and can he handle that kind of pressure in that job?” Norris said, as Huckabee looked on.

Polimom’s Respected Mother mentioned something about this the other day also, and between the two of them they’ve made me curious. How old would everybody else be when/if they take office?

For the Democrats:

Hillary Clinton — 61

John Edwards — 55

Barack Obama — 47

For the Republicans:

Ron Paul — 73

John McCain — 72

Fred Thompson — 66

Rudy Guiliani — 64

Mitt Romney — 61

Mike Huckabee — 53

You’ll find birthdates and more candidates at this site — several of whom I’ve never heard of (good luck with that!).

But if Chuck Norris has a point about the incredible stress of the executive office, then I have a question about Mike Huckabee:

In 2003, at the age of 47, Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee was diagnosed with type II diabetes. His physician warned him that he probably had—at most—another 10 years to live. Heeding that warning, Gov. Huckabee underwent a dramatic program of diet, exercise, and supplements, losing more than 100 pounds and completely eradicating his diabetes and related health risks. Now, transformed by this life-saving experience, Gov. Huckabee is aggressively working to change the health of Americans through targeted initiatives that emphasize prevention.

Good for him! Type II diabetes runs in Polimom’s family, and it’s radically affected both lifestyles and expected life spans for some of my nearest and dearest. I know what it can do, and I also know that it can be contained. Stress, though, can be an aggravator, and I wonder how Mike Huckabee would do in that very same pressure-cooker?

7 Comments for 'Age and the presidential pressure-cooker'

  1.  
    January 21, 2008 | 11:13 am
     

    […] If one is interested in the age issue, Polimom has the ages of all the candidates for your review (more specifically the ages they will be if they are sworn in January of 2009). […]

  2.  
    belloscm
    January 21, 2008 | 12:38 pm
     

    Isn’t 72 the new 55?

  3.  
    January 21, 2008 | 3:52 pm
     

    LOL!!! I certainly know quite a few 50-somethings who tell me so!

  4.  
    January 21, 2008 | 5:23 pm
     

    Of course, if Hillary gets elected, by the end of the first term she will be 29! ;-)

    It’s good to see you back, Polimom! All is right with the world once more.

    Well, not exactly. But it is good to see you back in action, anyways.

    ~EdT.

  5.  
    January 21, 2008 | 5:29 pm
     

    “If John takes over the presidency at 72 and he ages 3-to-1, how old will he be in four years? Eighty-four years old

    Me thinks Mr. Norris needs to get a new battery for his calculator - or else a math tutor! Old math or new, or even “fuzzy”, 72+4 != 84

    ~EdT.

  6.  
    January 21, 2008 | 9:24 pm
     

    Thanks, EdT. I was pretty verbose today for a change, cuz I was awakened early (4:30 am!) by AC’s cell phone ringing in the center hall… which amplified it enormously. Evidently, there are some kids who have nothing to do but make prank calls with their little electronic toys.

    So I chattered and chattered away here at the blog until noon, and passed out for awhile. Just like old times, eh? :>

    But you lost me with your math. The original computations looked okay to me…?

  7.  
    January 22, 2008 | 12:46 pm
     

    Hmmm… I remember back when my phone used to ring at like o-dark thirty in the morning, and whe I answered it (it was my sister calling) nobody was on the other end. It turned out the cat was walking on the phone, and hit the speed dial key to call me - TWICE!

    ~dT.

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