The most likely conclusion for American voters to draw from the October 2nd debate between the vice-presidential nominees is a general concern for the healthy well-being of the presidential candidates responsible for nominating them.
While there has been a lot of media attention on the relatively scant experience of Governor Palin, Senator Biden has run off at the mouth often enough to create a library of gaffes that have embarrassed his Democratic Party establishment.
The media scrutiny has yielded an unusual focus on both vice-presidential candidates – to the point where their comments and slip-ups are amplified far beyond the postures of the presidential candidates themselves and beyond the considerably larger issues at hand in this important election.
While the focus on the vice-presidential nominees is somewhat unorthodox, it does point to a general unease in both of them – and points also to a lack of confidence in their respective ability to take the helm of the most important office in the country, should the elected president die in office.
This invites the uncomfortable question: how healthy are the presidential candidates?
Roughly four months ago, both candidates released their medical records – and, unsurprisingly, both were deemed to be in good health.
In a letter released by Senator Obama’s doctor, the Democratic candidate was declared in fact to be in “excellent health.” His doctor went on to state that Barrack Obama is “lean and muscular with no excess body fat.” In short, while Senator Obama is still working through a nicotine addiction – and chewing Nicorette to deal with it – he could fit comfortably in superhero tights.
And so we can be comforted that Senator Biden and his often thoughtless oral spillage will likely not be our president in the near term.
Senator McCain does not offer similar comforts. The Republican presidential nominee would be the oldest man inaugurated as president. He has survived four cases of melanoma – and while his records show him to be cancer-free and in general good health, melanoma is hardly a tame animal. Additionally, something is growing under one side of his face – and he is carrying himself about in the manner of a man testing a new spine. However, his doctor said, “I can find no medical reason or problems that would preclude Senator McCain from fulfilling all the duties and obligations of President of the United States.”
Governor Palin carries a shotgun and a surreal Vonnegut-like stature that is unmatched. We may have to get used to seeing her behind the podium. While this prospect may be a boon for Tina Fey’s employment on Saturday Night Live, it is an unsettling scenario for some corners of the American voting population.
So, the VP debate will certainly be informative. The curiosities, however, reside in the legacies that either VP contender may inherit.
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