Update: McCain Selects Gov. Sarah Palin as Running Mate

I have been very impressed by the number of conservatives who have opposed the Palin nomination on grounds of principle, stating the obvious: that she's not qualifed to be next in line for the most powerful office in the land, behind a 73 year old with a shaky health history and sealed medical records. Smoot, do you disagree with this?

For the record, McCain has made gaffes just as boneheaded as those you mentioned - for example confusing Sunni and Shiites - and has not been taken to task by the media either. I don't think there is a media conspiracy against Palin here. She simply doesn't know what she's talking about. There is no other way to spin it.

I have been very impressed by the number of conservatives who have opposed the Palin nomination on grounds of principle, stating the obvious: that she's not qualifed to be next in line for the most powerful office in the land, behind a 73 year old with a shaky health history and sealed medical records. Smoot, do you disagree with this?

For the record, McCain has made gaffes just as boneheaded as those you mentioned - for example confusing Sunni and Shiites - and has not been taken to task by the media either. I don't think there is a media conspiracy against Palin here. She simply doesn't know what she's talking about. There is no other way to spin it.

Well, I've said she wouldn't have been my choice. And I don't think she was MCain's first choice as well. And it bothers me that the Republicans have become so concerned with appeasing the pro-lifers (even though I am one, I don't think it's quite as important as say economy, education, foreign policy) that it seems like he was forced to select her. That said, I just don't think she's the complete idiot she's perceived to be. I hope people here sit and watch the whole debate on Thursday, and then start to make some judgments. Don't wait for a 1 minute YT clip.

As for McCain, I think the issue of his age is exaggerated. As for his sealed medical records, didn't know they were sealed but I have full faith in his doctors.

Well, I've said she wouldn't have been my choice. And I don't think she was MCain's first choice as well. And it bothers me that the Republicans have become so concerned with appeasing the pro-lifers (even though I am one, I don't think it's quite as important as say economy, education, foreign policy) that it seems like he was forced to select her. That said, I just don't think she's the complete idiot she's perceived to be. I hope people here sit and watch the whole debate on Thursday, and then start to make some judgments. Don't wait for a 1 minute YT clip.

As for McCain, I think the issue of his age is exaggerated. As for his sealed medical records, didn't know they were sealed but I have full faith in his doctors.

And what do you base that on?

And what do you base that on?

With all due respect, let's not pretend like you care...anymore.

I have been very impressed by the number of conservatives who have opposed the Palin nomination on grounds of principle, stating the obvious: that she's not qualifed to be next in line for the most powerful office in the land, behind a 73 year old with a shaky health history and sealed medical records. Smoot, do you disagree with this?

For the record, McCain has made gaffes just as boneheaded as those you mentioned - for example confusing Sunni and Shiites - and has not been taken to task by the media either. I don't think there is a media conspiracy against Palin here. She simply doesn't know what she's talking about. There is no other way to spin it.
What are McCains health issues and who said his health records are sealed? The only health issue I know of with McCain is that he cannot move around so well because of his injuries he had while held captive and his plain crash.

With all due respect, let's not pretend like you care...anymore.


It's a serious question. What gives you the impression that this woman iscapable of being VP and possibly the president?

McCain has released his med records and the Wash. Times says he is pretty darn healthy.
The Washington Times, America's Newspaper (http://video1.washingtontimes.com/joecurl/2008/05/mccains_health_records_1.html)

You want to ask serious questions now? You care again?

What are McCains health issues and who said his health records are sealed? The only health issue I know of with McCain is that he cannot move around so well because of his injuries he had while held captive and his plain crash.

McCain is a recent cancer survivor and has also had several other minor medical maladies most likely attributable to age. Clinical Cases and Images - Blog: Sen. John McCain’s Melanoma History (http://casesblog.blogspot.com/2008/04/cnn-sen-john-mccains-melanoma-history.html)

His health records remain sealed. Numbering over 1000 pages, he made them available for 3 hours to members of the media who were forbidden from taking photographs. While perhaps he is in perfect health, a 73 year old cancer survivor running for president needs to be more forthcoming in my opinion. Why the secrecy right? Marc Ambinder (May 23, 2008) - McCain's Health Records (http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/05/mccains_health_records.php)

And First, with all due respect, there seems to be a lot about McCain you don't know. Maybe you should end your media boycott :)

McCain is a recent cancer survivor and has also had several other minor medical maladies most likely attributable to age. Clinical Cases and Images - Blog: Sen. John McCain’s Melanoma History (http://casesblog.blogspot.com/2008/04/cnn-sen-john-mccains-melanoma-history.html)

His health records remain sealed. Numbering over 1000 pages, he made them available for 3 hours to members of the media who were forbidden from taking photographs. While perhaps he is in perfect health, a 73 year old cancer survivor running for president needs to be more forthcoming in my opinion. Why the secrecy right? Marc Ambinder (May 23, 2008) - McCain's Health Records (http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/05/mccains_health_records.php)

And First, with all due respect, there seems to be a lot about McCain you don't know. Maybe you should end your media boycott :)

After reading the Marc Ambinder link above I feel better about his health now. Thanks for the link. I'm switching my vote from super-healthy Obama to not-so-sickly McCain.

2/21/2006
cancer check
suzanne connolly

"no clinical evidence of recurrence of past malignant melanomas"

6/1/2006
cancer check
suzanne connolly

"continues to have some intermittent swelling of the left jaw area.
This tends to occur especially if he has been up for prolonged periods of time I understand."
no worrisome lesions.

11/17/2006
cancer check
suzanne connolly

"He feels well. Has hiked the Grand Canyon rim to rim in 3 days this august. energy level is good. with the hike, he lost 10 pounds and has not regained it, but he has had no further weight lost."
"doing a very good job of photoprotection."
"he requests a flu shot today. will arrange to have that given."
"no clinical evidence of recurrence of past malignant melanomas"

1/8/2007
saw spot on forehead.
suzanne connolly
"Almost flesh-toned papule, not quite 4 mm in size. ... I do not see any worrisome features."

4/10/2007
comprehensive exam
john eckstein
"Over the years, he has had numerous non-melanoma basal cell and squamous cell cancers excised from various locations. There has been no recurrent melanoma or metastatic disease. His chest x-rays and liver function tests have always been normal."
current cholesterol: 155
hdl: 34, ldl: 83, tryglycerides: 190

4/10/2007
cancer check
suzanne connolly
"no clinical evidence of recurrence of his past melanomas"

4/20/2007
biopsy of left lateral canthal site
returns: "no skin cancer identified."

8/31/2007
cancer check
suzanne connolly
"actinic keratoses: treated 6 with liquid nitrogen ioncluding that on the left upper back, left midforearm, the one on the right dorsum nose and the very few on the upper forehead. all should resolve."

2/6/2008
cancer check
suzanne connolly
"He has felt well. he has been very busy with his campaign."
"Feels well. He has been very active with campaigning and has lost a few pounds he feels because of that. Energy level is excellent."
right upper shin: biopsy by shave techniue of a portion for diagnosis.
await path before determining appropriate treatment of remnant
squamous cell carcinoma in situ

3/10/2008
comprehensive exam
john eckstein
"His weight decreaed from 169 to 163 pounds in the past year and attributes this to his long days and frenetic pace."
alcohol: very infrequent. two drinks per month
blood pressure: 134/84
cholesterol: 151
hdl: 35, ldl: 90, triglycerides: 128
still on vitorin
"he needs to force fluids and decrease his diatary sodium."
because of bladder stone

3/10/2008
radiology of abdoment. CT scan
"no evidence of metastatic melanoma in the chest, abdomen, or pelvis.
metabolically and clinically active stone disease in the right kidney
echo cardiogram
exercised on a "bruce protocol" for 10:0 achieving 145% FAC

3/29/2008
thyroid sonography
ultrasound of a small, superficial palpable nodule in the left periauricular region...
(a small neuroma)

4/1/2008
colonoscopy report
"the colonoscopy showed extensive diverticulosis throughout the colon and a total of 6 colon polyps ranging in size from .3 cm to .6 cm. The polyps were removed from the ascending and transverse colon. All polyps proved to be tubular adenomas without high-grade dysplasia."
Take off of vytorin
switch to simvastatin 20 mg daily in view of the recent ENHANCE study as reported in the NEJM and presented at the American College of Cardiology meeting.