Slog News & Arts

Line Out

Music & Nightlife

« The Morning News | Overheard at the UW »

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Hey, Old Man

posted by on August 23 at 8:40 AM

Again, I ask…

Presuming Obama gets elected, gets reelected, and lives to serve out his second term, Biden will be older than McCain is now in 2016, when it’s his “turn” to run for president.

Is Biden going to take the Cheney Pledge, i.e. swear that he’s not going to run for the presidency himself? Or will all the folks on the left making fun of McCain’s age—myself among them—have to eat our words when Biden runs in 2016 when he’s 73?

RSS icon Comments

1

Let's win this one first, then we can noodle this kind of conjecture till the cows come home.

Posted by Jubilation T. Cornball | August 23, 2008 8:46 AM
2

Oh jesus Dan, 73 in straight world is the new 50. It's only with us that 30 equates death.

Posted by Dave Coffman | August 23, 2008 8:53 AM
3

Equals not equates. I haven't had coffee yet.

As for the "Cheney" rule... he had his first heart attack at 37. Then 3 more. I'm really surprised he lived at all, except that evil incarnate has to live somewhere.

Posted by Dave Coffman | August 23, 2008 8:57 AM
4

Yeah, Dan, but how old will YOU be by then?

Posted by Fifty-Two-Eighty | August 23, 2008 9:02 AM
5

To my knowledge, Dick Cheney never made any pledge not to run again.

Posted by hmmm | August 23, 2008 9:02 AM
6

Why don't we see how crazy he is then before we worry about that? McCain isn't too old because he's 72, he's too old because he's senile.

Posted by Chris | August 23, 2008 9:03 AM
7

Senile?

"But I was amazed at how organized the Palestinian election authority was, how competent they were in setting up their polling places and the poll workers they had. "

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/joe_biden.html

Posted by John Bailo | August 23, 2008 9:11 AM
8

Alot can happen in eight years. Maybe by 2016 there will be a viable third party so we we don't have to hold our nose and vote for the lesser evil. Besides if the Mayan Calendar people are right (if pigs could fly) the world as we know it will not be around past 12/23/08.

Posted by Heather | August 23, 2008 9:11 AM
9

Slow down there, Dan. Who told you to make fun of McCain's age in the first place? Not me. Sounds like this is your problem so you work it out. Me, I'm all good here.

Posted by elenchos | August 23, 2008 9:11 AM
10

Dan, why are you so obsessed with age? Are you concerned about getting older? If you're taking care of yourself, which I suspect you are, then you have nothing to worry about.

Posted by Fitz | August 23, 2008 9:18 AM
11

Seriously, Dan? This situation--a vice president serving for eight years as vice president and then being elected president--has only happened once in the past century (Reagan/Bush), and prior to that the only other example is John Adams. I don't think Biden needs to draw comparisons to McCain's startling oldness just to address a once-in-several-lifetimes speculation.

Posted by Sam | August 23, 2008 9:30 AM
12

How do you know anyone will want Biden to run for president in 2016?

You might be one of the loudest voices calling for Hillary to take over by then. She'll still be in her 60s. Just a few years older than you will be.

We should start obsessing now about who Biden will pick for his VP (since it has felt like 8 years have passed while we waited for Obama reveal his unsurprising choice).

Posted by patrick | August 23, 2008 9:36 AM
13

wtf?

VP. he's running for VP. not President of 2016. his turn? stop inventing nonsense.

he's the perfect choice for VP.

Posted by jh | August 23, 2008 9:50 AM
14

Biden is a gaffe machine.

Olympics spoiler!
Out Aussie scores, doesn't choke.
(nice pic)

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/08/23/2344668.htm?section=justin&site=olympics/2008


Posted by chicagogaydude | August 23, 2008 9:51 AM
15

It appears that Obama has picked a working VP rather than an heir or an electoral compliment, a choice that is to his credit. Biden is no great addition to the campaign effort, but he would be extremely useful within an administration. His experience and connections would make him an extremely good vehicle for getting Obama's policies through the legislative process quickly and cleanly. Rather than it being an obvious choice, I think Biden implies a level-headed focus on getting things done post-election rather than an obsession with the election itself.

Lets just hope he is kept far away from any drug policy decisions.

The fact that Biden will be too old to run in eight years also offers solace to die-hard Clinton fans, it leaves her an opening she'd be less likely to have with a younger VP in play.

Posted by Erica T. | August 23, 2008 10:11 AM
16

thanks fornthat diving gold!!! Glad to see the out cutie win. His bf must be proud. They will b having a hot threeway tonite.
Y isn't slog blogging important stories like this?

Posted by troy | August 23, 2008 10:12 AM
17

Mr. Savage, I think this is a problem you've brought on yourself. I'm no fan of Senator McCain, but it's not because he's 72. Lots of politicians and world leaders have served (and served well) in their roles, though they're in their 70s or 80s. The current Japanese prime minister is 72. Shimon Peres is in his 80s, and only a year into his seven-year term as President of Israel. Vajpayee was prime minister of India during his 70s. The list goes on and on. Sure, there are just as many politicans in their 70s/80s/90s who've done terrible jobs, or obviously need/needed to go (Robert Mugabe, Strom Thurmond). But, I don't think you can use age as such a hard-and-fast rule. A President McCain could be perfectly healthy while in office. As could a President Biden.

Besides, I think you're putting the cart before the horse. First, Obama has to win the election. If you have to worry about something, worry about that.

Posted by James | August 23, 2008 10:23 AM
18

One election at a time. This one was waaaaaay too long as it is; do we really have to start talking 2016 already?

@14, 16, that rocked my morning. Thank god we can get CBC coverage here. He was so cute when he knew he nailed that last dive. It's on again tonight on NBC.

Posted by rb | August 23, 2008 10:31 AM
19

His age won't matter and maybe by that time he can run with Barney Frank as VP. That dude kicks ass!

Posted by Jersey | August 23, 2008 10:58 AM
20

Dan, I appreciate your wanting to plan ahead and all, but perhaps we should all focus on winning this election before we start worrying about one that's 8 years away.

Posted by Sean | August 23, 2008 11:04 AM
21

Who says Obama will run with Biden in 2012 for re-election? He could drop Biden from the ticket for someone to be groomed to run in 2016.

Posted by Whitworth Fag | August 23, 2008 11:30 AM
22

Gee all of a suddenthe focus is on winning because talking about 2016 takes up 0.0000000000000000000000001% of our time? Good we should all focus on winning a bit more.

Yes, Dan, when Biden runs in 2016 he will not be too old because he will not think he is too old and guess what? ALL politicians want a promotion. And yes, you will drop your "principled" stand against an oldster very quickly, the same way that many Obama folks seem to be for counting the popular votes as along as that helps Obama, but if you suggest this means the one who came in second with 18 million sort of has earned it through popular support ohmygod all of a sudden the use of this yardstick is silly and offensive.

The real problem is not just winning but winning a huge sweeping change election so that we CAN get stuff passed so that the nation sees that yes, Democrats DO STUFF and make folks' lives better. That's the only way Obama would win re-election and Biden would then be up for his turn.

Otherwise the historical factor of tiredness sets in.

And yes dammit we should be thinking long term. We should be thinking how to win this one and the next one and the next one whicih is why I keep saying we need to put out a narrative that the GOP is full of traitors criminal violators of the const. and their tax and eco policies aren't just wrong they are immoral because they're greedy rich fucks who are ripping everyone off.

You know, as evil as Reagan's imaginative welfare cheats and their out of touch liberal enablers. Just rotten to the core.

I suspect this is an effort that takes more than a few months until the next election.

Posted by PC | August 23, 2008 11:35 AM
23

I think Biden would be the raddest oldest president ever.

Posted by biden is a rad dad | August 23, 2008 11:48 AM
24

More importantly, will Biden shoot somebody in the face on his obligatory bird-hunting photo-op to establish street cred with NRA types?

Posted by RonK, Seattle | August 23, 2008 11:50 AM
25

Is Mr Poe getting fully behind Mr Biden? Is Mr Poe offering to fully service the next Vice President of the United States?

Posted by Whitworth Fag | August 23, 2008 11:54 AM
26

@22

Susan, why do you say "we"?

Posted by elenchos | August 23, 2008 11:58 AM
27

Wow, your conjecture is totally appropriate and timely. I will begin worrying about this right now!

tool.

Posted by Darth Manson | August 23, 2008 1:30 PM
28

I think Biden had already said he wouldn't run again, so Veep sounds pretty good to him. How old will Hillary be in 8 years?

Posted by elswinger | August 23, 2008 1:53 PM
29

Oh for God's sake, Dan. There's a chance that I may get a promotion at work. If that happens, I might be able to build a new deck on my house in a few years. Do you think I should stain it or let it go natural?

Posted by Catalina Vel-DuRay | August 23, 2008 8:41 PM
30

I think Biden knew when he ran for the presidency this time that he didn't have a chance; he was really campaigning for the vice-presidency. Let's not worry about what he will do in 2016 until Obama/Biden gets elected.

Posted by blargh | August 23, 2008 9:32 PM
31

I seen you today Hipster. You had a cigarette in one hand and a Stranger in the other. You smelled like stinking cigarette smoke as you puffed away feeding your loser addiction. Your ear lobes were sagging with ear plugs that went out of style five years ago. And those tats? The colors have faded and they are starting to merge into an ugly blob. Didn't you ever notice what tats look like on older men? You thought those fuckers would forever be in style? Would you like to wear the same fucking shirt every day for the rest of your life? And that tat on your neck-it shouts LOSER to everyone who sees it. But being a loser is your thing right? That's why you read the Slog.

Posted by Fartin' Poe | August 23, 2008 11:57 PM
32

Dan fears fat and old.

Have some sympathy, we all cling to some such shit about other human kind.

But then, Dan IS greying nicely ... poetic justice reigns at last.

Posted by Larkin | August 24, 2008 12:00 AM
33


People age differently. Some people are just plain elderly once they pass 60. Others remain sharp and nimble well past that age.

I stated the opinion weeks ago that it might be really smart for Obama to choose an obviously older man for his running mate--Biden or Wesley Cark--specifically because it could make for a pointed contrast against McCain.

McCain was already an old fuck years ago. Jesus, just compare him to Jane Fonda and Ted Turner, who are both almost exactly his age. Where they appear mature and mellowed, McCain just seems old. Barbara Walters is seven years older than McCain, and SHE makes him look like a mummy by comparison.

So yes, put Biden next to McCain. Biden is vigorous, bright, even athletic and sorta sexy. He's only six years younger than McCain. Biden's youthfulness will highlight the fact that McCain is a doddering, liver-spotted old upright corpse.

Posted by Hoyt Clagwell | August 24, 2008 12:40 AM
34

Biden innoculates Obama to the "too young" debate and makes any age attacks blow back onto McCain/Bush in their search for a third term of really old guys.

Posted by Will in Seattle | August 24, 2008 10:52 AM
35

Hey, old man!
Shut your mouth and listen,
This here's a new regime.

Posted by Mike Rutherford & Paul Young | August 25, 2008 11:36 AM

Comments Closed

Comments are closed on this post.