The Hideous Horrors of the "Hero"

(-: Happy Halloween :-)

Isn't he scary?

Campaigns Concentrate on Collapse Concerns

The messy meltdown at the New York Stock Exchange that rocked bourses in Europe and Asia, has not only made the economic situation the most critical issue in the campaign; but has also unmasked how the Republicans wrecked the economy. The chilling impact of the collapse of Lehman Brothers also removed much of the glitter in the skin deep appeal of Sarah Palin, as Americans have been awakened from a spell by the reality of very hard times in the immediate future. The generally accepted perception that the US is taking the wrong route has been reinforced, and John McCain will have greater difficulty extricating from the failures of this administration.

McCain sunk deeper earlier when he echoed the White House line that the economy was fundamentally sound, and praised the government for not wasting taxpayer's money on another bailout; but reversed himself later in the day saying the economy was in crisis. Perhaps he was fundamentally sound asleep in the earlier statement, but it reflected how fundamentally out of touch he was. He passed the task to Palin to blame Washington and Wall Street's liability for the financial carnage, with undertones of retribution for those responsible. However, Palin's empty bravado was gigantic in words but lilliputian in substance.

Senator Barack Obama described the Lehman debacle's impact on consumers contrasted against the profits to the top management of such companies which sacrificed the middle class Americans. However, he did not endorse any solution or new policy, nor oppose the actions of the US Treasury and the Federal Reserve. Either he failed to seize the momentum or he may be ill-equipped to understand how to untangle such a financial mess. While polls show that Democrats are more trusted with the economy, Obama has to present a concrete and substantive vision that will take America out of this predicament, to establish his advantage. As things stand, the American public remains disadvantaged as always, while Obama plays safe.

On Tuesday, the Federal Reserve announced the bailout of AIG fully supported by the US Treasury, who said it was done to protect taxpayers. This appears to be the reason for McCain's reversal - foreknowledge of the AIG bailout to support the Administration's decision, and to make him appear like he knows the means by which to restore stability in the economy. But this reverses the Republican position of less government and allowing free market forces to take its course. The administration spin on the bailout purports to alleviate the burden to taxpayers by saving the economy, without clearly stating why or how. The argument that AIG's collapse would have more disastrous consequences because of its varied investment activities globally than Lehman's may have some validity, but why the situation reached this point has not been answered nor has anyone been charged for anything. Who will Sarah Palin prosecute in Washington for this tragedy? Her tragedy is that she barked and growled for nothing. Like a mad pitt bull.....with lipstick.

The shift from individual buyers losing their homes and crushing their dreams to the biggest institutions like Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, and now AIG (being taken over 80% and given $85 billion over a 2 year period) elevates the problem to a worldwide concern. They can now be forgotten because the focus is on a larger scale - plus they should be thankful they are still being saved - from heavier taxes should these monoliths be allowed to crash. It would be so unpatriotic to complain when they are being rescued from potentially bigger tax burdens. But these bailouts will cost them nonetheless, as it will increase the national debt which will be paid through taxes, together with inflation and dollar decline that will further erode their purchasing power.

Analysts in Washington and on Wall Street contend that the economy will recover strongly by next year which would reduce substantially the country's budget deficit. These are statements meant to restore confidence in the financial markets. It comes with the hope that these announcements, attributable to their equally worthless reputations, would be forgotten should it remain unchanged or gets worse. More realistic assessments indicate that the crisis will continue well into 3 years since no one can predict how deep the effects on the economy are, as well as how much the cost of the bailouts will actually be.

With all the global problems facing the next President, why anyone would seek the office and bludgeon himself further with this winless economic mess for several years defies comprehension. It would be idealistically immature to think that the winner will work as nobly as he would profess considering the nature of politicians and their ilk. But the need for a leader to inspire, protect, and restore America remains, and it falls on the shoulders of two men; one of whom is being positioned as a lameduck on his first term. Is it power and prestige? Or, our turn to be filthy rich and obnoxiously wealthy? These two go together well and are logically founded reasons.

Could it be messianic complex? Or pure altruism? Would it not be insanely unrealistic to seek the position solely for these reasons? If whoever wins does half of what he promised, or accomplishes a fourth of what is required, then the voters would have been only half as crazy or a quarter foolhardy electing him. Idealism is not dead, it is only gasping for breath.

Haaaarrrrwwwwwk...Twooooooph...Ting!

Palin and the Prophecy of the Pig

The incoming US President, faced with very serious problems on the national and international levels - including a possible collapse of the country's banking system by the first week of November- remains a toss-up between two candidates undergoing a rigorous election campaign, debating the critical issue of lipstick on a pig. Barack Obama's quote of this old adage has been connected by the John McCain camp as a slur on Sarah Palin, and the Republicans have prophesied this incident to be the cause of the GOP victory and the demise of the Democrat's candidacy. The prophecy may be fulfilled when pigs fly.

John McCain has been enjoying an enormous piggy back ride on the popularity of Sarah Palin, whose own stretching of the truth about her refusal to accept congressional earmarked funds; the "Bridge to nowhere" story; and the pipeline for natural gas; are subtle fairy tales meant for a wolf to lure the 3 little pigs. Truth is, she accepted $27 million in congressional funds while mayor of Wasilla; the natural gas pipeline was just signed two weeks ago which is viewed as unfeasible and will cost $40 billion, not $27 billion; and the infamous bridge she fully supported, then opposed when the earmarked funds were already removed . But the funds were given to Alaska which they used for other projects. To date, she has requested $167 million in earmarked funds from Congress.

The elasticity of the truth seems to be limitless as far as these politicians are concerned. Like the Obama campaign's statement that a technologically challenged President is not suitable for the office - referring to McCain's inability to operate a computer or send e-mails, when he is obviously a disabled veteran. All innuendoes, half truths, and stretches must be categorized for what these are: LIES! But the swine herd mentality of the campaign continues to pursue the heaping of mud on one another, thereby muddling the issues that matter most in the lives of the people. It's as plain as a pig on a sofa, the campaign by both parties is shallow and senseless, supported by sound bytes that` are in a pig's eye.

Both candidates are sweating like pigs trying to outdo one another, and are conducting their campaigns as clumsily as hogs on ice. They both seem to be packaging themselves with heavily over extended storylines to create a persona with the oratorical and inspirational skills of Kennedy or Reagan, a protector from America's enemies like Eisenhower and Roosevelt, a geo-political master like Nixon, a tough go-getter who can manuever Congress to pass important legislation like Johnson, the star quality of a decent man like Carter, and the economic savvy of a Clinton. These elements are being lumped in a single package - to attract the voters - minus these men's achilles heels of course. But this packaging is slicker than a greased pig, because such a person with all these qualities does not exist.

America is $9.3 trillion in debt, it is involved in wars on practically 3 fronts, it's banks are teetering from the mortgage crisis, its obligations in health and social security amounting to trillions of dollars more are forthcoming, and its economy is staring at a recession so deep it will give the incoming President a nightmare worse than working knee deep in mud, inside a sealed pig sty. And the campaigns by both parties choose to make a pig's ear of the debating process. Voters should heed the biblical proverb "Do not cast your pearls before swine" before deciding to vote. This election and its ghastly conduct may leave them squealing like a stuck pig after.

American voters must be perceived as ignorant by the candidates should this trend continue. Voters must refuse to be a party to this charade of silly attacks and demand a focus on issues that affect their future as a people and as a nation. It was Churchill who said " Dogs look up to man, cats look down on man, and pigs look at man in the eye and see an equal". If Americans allow themselves to be seen as simpletons, then they can expect their country to be mired worse than a pig pen - together with the hogs they elected into office. That is the only real prophecy that has any possibility of fulfillment in this election.

Haaaarrrrwwwwwk...Twoooooooph...Ting!

Pig Image with lipstick from Mick Coulas

Election Euphoria and the Economy

America's two major political parties have both concluded their grand extravaganza - the culmination of the campaign's circus roadshow that would formally launch their respective choices, which they hope to inflict on fellow Americans and the rest of the world. The nominees have received their affirmation and adulation, as well as their financial support - reciprocating the gesture by way of declarations of hope, change, patriotism and victory; including the obligatory attack on their opponents that were lapped up by their respective hooting throngs.

The nominees acquired a boost of adrenalin, energized to fight on by the overwhelming acceptance bestowed by their party's delegates. In their massive numbers, the delegates have gained renewed confidence that their party will be victorious, they have screamed themselves hoarse and were totally absorbed by the euphoria of the political rally that may have blurred the true state of their economic existence. The hall is silent, the floor is littered, the balloons have popped, and the delegates are tired. But the frenzy of the convention lingers in their consciousness, and as they rest their tired bones and quivering muscles, they lie daydreaming of a better future away from the present that lulls them to sleep; without being aware that when they finally wake up after the elections, there is no future to look forward to.

While they were deliriously dreaming, America lost another 84,000 jobs. And with the upward adjustment for June and July, the nation has lost a total of 605,000 jobs in 8 months. The crippling downturn in the housing market and the credit crunch has affected all sectors, and employers have reduced their payrolls and production capacities for 8 continuous months. The Federal Reserve says the economy remained weak. In fact, it is deteriorating. It is faced with the twin threats of weak growth and rising inflation. The White House has lifted its deficit forecast for 2009 to $482 billion, and the stimulus package of $130 billion is expected to add to the deficit because of the economic decline. The White House figure does not include the $84 billion for the costs of its wars. The saddest cut of all is that while household income continued to decline, the Economic Policy Institute study cites that those at the top 10% of the income distribution ladder tripled their incomes in the last 2 decades.

This miserable situation is far from the bottom of the pit. The crushing blow will be the humongous bailout for Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae who hold mortgage guarantees up to $5.3 trillion, plus the retiring 78 million baby boomers beginning 2010 with the attendant costs of Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid; all unfunded Federal Obligations and the National debt, brings the total Federal burden to a whopping $ 53, 000,000,000,000 (53 trillion) or, $175,000 for each American citizen.

Regardless of what growth the economy does in the next few years which could add several billions in taxes, under present laws, these are already pre-allocated. There can be no funds available for programs that would alleviate poverty, nor improve health care, create jobs, and improve the educational system. It effectively removes democracy from the hands of citizens, especially the younger workers who will be saddled by priorities they had no voice in selecting. Yet they will be burdened with higher taxes and lower wages, in addition to the higher costs of living. This is the future both candidates of the major parties cannot be honest about, for fear of being punished by the electorate. It would be worse if they were both ignorant of these facts, but that is unlikely. Their only concern is winning and locking their hands on the reins of power.

All the rhetoric, the attacks, fighting slogans, promises of change and monopolies on patriotism are mere distractions. Barack Obama and John McCain have reduced the elections - one of the most sacrosanct elements of Democracy - into a battle of personalities that belittles the discernment capabilities of their countrymen, transforming it into a popularity contest comparable to selecting Mr. Alaska, or worse, Mr. Wasilla. Both candidates are involved in a cover-up if not deception, and are cloaked with heroism or reform. But underneath, they are similar entities carved out of the pied piper, who will use their trumpets to lure the American voters to drown in the murky river of debt.

Haaaarrrrwwwwwk...Twoooooooph...Ting!

Digital Distance of the "Decider"

It was an unnatural and eerie spectacle for a two-term President to be delivering a keynote address to his party's National Convention via a remote video telecast. Beamed at the St Paul Convention Hall on a video screen was George W. Bush, asserting rather feebly that the man he defeated 8 years ago for their party's nomination should succeed him; and averred that he is ready to lead. His physical presence detached from the proceedings and his image standing at the Presidential lectern all by himself, speak volumes about his negative impact on the efforts of his party to win hearts and minds of the electorate this November.

Where the norm would be that a sitting two term President would be hailed by his party's rank and file, and be regarded as one of its most prominent and influential leaders; the McCain camp and other party bosses opted to cut his speech time in half and pushed his presence out of the Convention Hall so as not to dampen the electrifying introduction of their sensational Vice Presidential candidate. It was an affirmation that George W. Bush would be an un-entertaining and tedious baggage to their show and an effective counter argument to their hyped up rhetoric. It could be an ominous sign that John McCain, if he wins the election, will have to exert extra effort to erase the memory of the embarrassment that was George W. Bush. And this President Bush will be regarded as a forgettable malignant aberration that is best exorcised and surgically removed.

There is no doubt that George W. Bush still enjoys a high rating among party loyalists, but would perhaps choose to express this in private, or better yet at a safe distance. For all of John McCain's pronouncements of comradeship and brotherly affection for Bush, he believes that his success is hinged on an effective de-coupling from the President, to engineer a removal of their knotted umbilical cords; and eradicate the notion that his election is a third term for Bush. While no one expressed a sigh of relief that Bush agreed to a digital divide between him and the party's convention, it surely relieved the McCain camp as if a 4 foot rusty sword was pulled from their backs. Now, they would want that video moment forgotten to raise the excitement for the entry of Sarah Palin, and move George Bush to the unlamented list of pretenders of the GOP.

Surprisingly, George Jr's progenitors were there, and even more astonishingly, received resounding cheers and applause as they took their seats at the Convention Hall. They should take a considerable amount of the blame for inflicting such a congenital malady on America and the rest of the world. But it seems that the enormous volume of disingenious errors and carefully crafted deceptions have blurred their collective memories that George Sr. and Barbara Bush gave this planet the ever un-funny and shamefully ridiculous George Jr. For John McCain to say that he supports the policies of George W. and pursue an unlimited war in the middle east would be, at this point, political suicide.

That is not the sort of demise expected of him by the Republicans. They expect him, shortly after the elections, to commit himself to a natural spiritual freedom from this earth, so that their runner-up beauty queen can reign over the land as Mrs. America.

Haaarrrrrrwwwwk...Twooooooooph...Ting!

GOP's Gender Gambit

After 8 years of making the office of the Vice President the de facto President with Dick Cheney, a maneuver stealthily undertaken by Cheney and David Addington; the Republicans are now proposing to transform the same office into an apprenticeship program for the highest office of the country. George W. Bush was rendered a puppet President by the previous alteration that became so obvious he had to declare himself the "Decider" (sic). Now, the GOP hopes to make the office of the Vice President a scholarship project with experiments in gender acceptability and suitability.

The selection of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is undoubtedly a brilliant move. She will add luster to the boring campaign of John McCain and energize the tired and geriatric appearance of the GOP Presidential candidate. No sooner than her selection was announced, the Republican propaganda machinery headed by Fox network, expressed public opinion influencing statements extolling her qualifications and background. The media machinery of the GOP has been busy promoting her and creating news stories that step over the main candidate. Conservative bloggers who had previously rejected McCain but consistently bashed Obama are all praises for theVP nominee, and state that they will now vote for McCain because of Sarah Palin; who is a stunner and a former beauty queen.

They have now changed their minds because of a woman, after trashing Hillary because she was a woman. If Hillary had been a beauty queen, could they have accepted her? There is also the angle that Palin is not a lawyer which is ideal as far as they're concerned. Perhaps Hillary should have had 5 children too and perhaps played hockey? The conservatives have thrown their conservatism out the window because she is a Republican. And one with a lot of spunk, charisma, and a successful track record in governance and administration for at least 2 years. The Republicans have chosen someone better looking than Geena Davis to take over the Presidency as Commander-in-Chief. Strategically, her selection is a brilliant move. It is however, a gambit that is not foolproof.

The Republicans hope that Palin's youth would provide sustainable cover for the alzheimeric age of John McCain, rally the young voters to their ticket by her vibrant personality and younger than Obama's years factor, win over Hillary's supporters disgruntled by her failure to capture the DNC nomination, attract those voters who want a woman in the highest echelons of government, and provide a beautiful face for America in the global stage. Experience is her biggest drawback since 2 years as governor may not be sufficient exposure when transposed to the concerns of America today and in the next 4 years. So too would be her total absence of foreign relations and foreign policy expertise. Her role as facilitator for the President with Congress, Washington lobbyists, and power brokers could be detrimental to her longevity if she pursues her former tack. Her acquiesance, on the other hand, could transform her into a Washington type politician in a very short time.

The empowerment of women and their involvement in the highest positions of the country must be supported and advanced, provided this is not a ploy against all women aspiring for higher position. If elected and she is led to fail in this post, it would take a whole generation before another woman could be trusted with such a post or higher. America is late in this development and it has taken a long struggle to get to this point. If she is merely a smokescreen to get McCain elected to continue the policies of the Bush Administration, then this could be damaging to the idea of having a woman President in the next 2 decades.

What American voters should bear in mind is the fact that if the Republicans win, it will be McCain who will be President, not Palin. And if the expectations of the GOP about what they hope to achieve with Palin as McCain's running mate are true, then they consider Republican supporters and American voters at large as an entity with a ridiculous incapacity for logical thinking, blinded by party loyalty that discriminates against the interest of the country as a whole. Party bigwigs and strategists most probably see American voters as manipulable, gullible, and possessed with brains that are valued in the organ donor market for their slightly used or mint condition.

On the other hand, all the enthusiasm and jubilation at the appointment of the sensational Sarah Palin may be appropriate and timely. McCain, who pales in comparison to Palin, could really use the sizzle she could bring to the campaign. The GOP could truly want both their nominees to win and would want Palin to be prepared immediately for the highest post, because, shortly after the election, they expect McCain to die.

Haaarrrrwwwwwk...Twoooooooph...Ting!

McCain's Mountain is a Molehill

Apart from exposing how out of touch he is with the current voter's pulse, presumptive GOP Presidential Nominee John McCain also gave an indication of the relatively meager campaign funds he has at his disposal. An indication of inadequate support or interest for his own quest. By creating an image of his opponent going back on his word about accepting public financing, he portrays Barack Obama as a flip flopper, and suggests that he can't be trusted. Clearly, it's an attack that flopped.

It's a non-issue among voters who have gone out in support of the Democrat nominee since the primaries, raising a total of $265 million in small donations to McCain's $97 million. The publicly financed campaign would grant taxpayer's money to each candidate up to a little over $80 million, but Obama's camp believes it will limit their capability to counter special interest groups from smearing and attacking their candidate through "independent political advocacy groups"; who purchase issue ads independent of presidential campaigns - the so-called 527Groups. These groups spend millions of dollars in unlimited donations, which the Obama camp charged as being allowed by McCain to go on unchecked.

The 527 groups operate under Section 527 of the IRS tax code. These are organizations operated by interest groups and used to raise money to spend on issue advocacy and voter mobilization outside of the restrictions on Presidential Action Committees. Since these groups do not make expenditures to advocate the election or defeat of any candidate, they avoid regulation by the Federal Election Commission. However, the line between issue advocacy and candidate advocacy is the source of heated debate and litigation. Creating issues that favor one candidate , or those that demean another, is readily accomplished through such groups. The FEC ruled in 2004 that the law does not cover 527 groups, but it has fined several groups in 2006 and 2007 for direct advocacy for particular candidates - only after the damage has been done.

By agreeing to use public financing, Obama believes he will be at the mercy of the 527 groups supportive of the GOP. They also cited the Republican Party's and McCain's acceptance of lobbyist money, to illustrate the credibility of the person and entities casting doubt on their trustworthiness. Obama said that the public finance system is broken, and run by people who have become masters at gaming this broken system. He urged his supporters to declare their independence from it. The Obama camp believes that they have more than realized the objective of public financing, by setting up a system that raised awesome amounts from small donations over the internet.

By opting out of the system, Obama has evaded a trap to limit his campaign spending and to refrain from using all donations received directly from supporters. By using the small donations, he encourages involvement and commitment to his campaign. McCain's attempt to limit Obama while allowing 527 groups to proliferate ( since republicans do have deeper pockets) failed, and it gave Obama an opening to hint at McCain's hypocrisy since the system favors the GOP. In addition, McCain's push to discredit Obama's trustworthiness crashed coming as it does from someone who has lobbyist skeletons in his closet.

Unless Senator McCain moves out of the molehills he is wasting his efforts on, he will never dig himself out of the hole he's in - a lackluster campaign that generates no commanding presence, stymied by meager funds, a tired image, unfocused direction, and unresponsive to voter's current issues and concerns.

Haaarrrrwwwwk...Twooooooph...Ting!

Barack Breaks Barriers

The Democratic primaries took the longest route out of what was a foregone conclusion as early as February 5. An acrimonious and discordant contest taken to the edge of a fatal schism along generational, gender and racial divisions that would require much care and attention to consolidate and unite. The seemingly unending struggle, propelled by Hillary's unrelenting sense of her own destiny, proved that she's a formidable opponent; but that Barack Obama's message was more compelling. He has won a historic moment, but his struggle to win against an entire nation's history of cultural and attitudinal orientations has just begun.

Disbelief among the more senior African Americans that one of their own has a genuine opportunity to become President of the United States may be prevalent, and even Obama and his team would reflect now and then on the forceful symbolism of clinching a major party's nomination. But he must surely know that he is just in one of the stages of a long journey where long rests are not advisable. He should also realize that he must see the journey to a successful conclusion, not only for claiming the title but living up to the promise. Otherwise, no African American would venture out as far as he had come today in a long time, nor would any be allowed to.

To achieve these, he must first deal with his rival who will use all that she has mustered out of the contest to lay out her terms of surrender. Hillary could opt for an elective position as his running mate, or a cabinet post, or as Senate Majority Leader; which would have repercussions on his Presidential Campaign in November, or his would-be administration's capability to govern harmoniously. He would also have to convince Hillary's supporters and/or his own campaigners, why his decision - whatever it may be - will be the best for the party and for the benefit of America. The nature of the compromise will reveal the integrity of his vision, or the pragmatism of his personal ambition.

Obama would then face the entire electorate and prove that he would be the better man against the enduring, even if aging hero, John McCain; by transcending all the bias and prejudices about his associations, experience, background and race. He must carefully, forcefully and clearly define the vision that would transform the country's crumbling economy, its lagging competitiveness, its decaying social order, and its declining military reputation, into a nation worthy of global leadership by its adherence to peaceful coexistence and equitable sustainable development. He must change the face of America and its actuations in many parts of the world to one that is honest, sincere, and mutually beneficial.

Apart from Hillary Clinton's desire for respect, the only thing that stands in the way of Obama's mission is the color of his skin.

Haarrrrwwwwk...Twoooooooph...Ting!

The Space Station Stinks

For all its technological wizardry and space age capabilities, NASA's International Space Station is now comparable to a third world country's rural toilet facilities - it stinks. The space agency has verified reports that the facility has failed, adding that the astronauts have an urgent need for spare parts. NASA may have hit the technical need fully, but missed the human need completely. The immediate need is actually for a working urinal so they could relieve themselves. Otherwise, they would be quivering out there in space for want of getting their bladders emptied.

The problem lies with the fan that draws liquids into the waste chamber before it is ejected into the atmosphere to burn. Thankfully, the Russian made toilet can handle solids, but disposal of liquids is proving impossible. Waste disposal has always been a problem in space because gravity fed systems do not work in orbit. Air pressure is used to suck waste from the toilet. At the moment, one can only imagine days old urine floating inside the space station, and no one should be having diarrhea until the system is fixed.

This problem with orbital plumbing happened once in 1984 when Shuttle astronauts had to urinate on plastic bags and store them on board. The malfunctioning toilet developed urine icicles that were damaging heat resistant tiles. No one was reported to have mistaken these for popsicle treats though. But it is inconceivable to think that man goes out into space exploration with all the sophistication he can muster, yet fail at the most ordinary system that would serve the astronauts needs. And what will astronauts do when the solid waste disposal malfunctions too, hold it all in?

This fantasy with space stations, involving tons of physical and financial resources when these could be used to solve the many problems we still face on earth, seems rather senseless. The rationale for exploration is to conduct scientific research that cannot be done on the planet, or a place for business to produce materials in better forms, or as staging points for expeditions to other planets to build colonies and cities to reduce overpopulation on earth. But all these are only for the moneyed class who are a tiny minority. The rest of the world will not be able to afford such dreams. By the time they accomplish these, Earth's deprived resources and damaged systems would have obliterated half the population.

What follows exploration? Conquest? If there are beings in other parts of the universe as the Vatican implies, are we going on a Crusade against them? Can we be victorious or will it only succeed in bringing them here to annihilate all humans? If the program of colonization can be achieved in 30 years, we should make John McCain commander of the flagship spacecraft. He would be more than willing to extend the space war for a hundred years. Provided, he is not shot down and breaks both his arms and a leg as he ejects. They will probably torture him with young maidens without any provision for viagra.

Haaarrrrwwwwk...Twoooooph...Ting!

The Medically Mended Maladies of McCain

Despite a 15 year history of skin cancers, including a minor one last February, precancerous polyps in his colon, cysts in his kidney, stones in his bladder, John McCain's doctors suggest he is as healthy as a horse. He takes several medications for high levels of cholesterol, for kidney stones, and an occasional pill to help him sleep. It is perhaps an occasional pill because he takes it only when he needs to sleep. He also suffers from bouts of vertigo when he abruptly rises from a chair, but it's not connected in any way to a heart condition. And yes, he's as healthy as a horse.

McCain had surgery for the removal of a cancerous melanoma from his left temple, leaving a scar 2 inches in diameter that required the removal of underlying lymph nodes. As a matter of fact, he has had four malignant melanomas removed along with other skin cancers. The most serious one left a depression that exaggerated the jaw muscle, leaving what appears to be a lump on his face that distorts the symmetry of his facial contours. He had surgery on this lump and for some time wore a face mask at night to reduce scarring. This has caused him discomfort and made him concerned about his looks. But he's still as healthy as a horse.

John McCain is a veteran of the Vietnam war who ejected from his plane but broke both arms and a leg in the process. He was captured by the Vietnamese and remained a POW for over 5 years. He was also subjected to torture in that condition, and without medical attention, the arms healed without proper repair. This has caused him difficulty in raising his arms and getting dressed. A salute may also not be possible under the circumstances. Prior to this episode, he was struck in the legs and chest by fragments of a bomb that exploded during a fire at the US Forrestal, where he was at the center of the flames. But he's as healthy as a horse.

The release of McCain's medical records, all 1,173 pages of them to a select group of reporters is to quell all doubts about his capacity to lead as President of the United States. A summary was provided to the rest of the news media. McCain's health records show that he is a medically mended man whose maladies are nothing more than mere scratches in a body that in its younger days had endured and survived more than the average man could. But he's as healthy as a horse.

The life span of a horse is between 20 to 30 years. The current life expectancy average for males in the United States is 73.6 years. John McCain would have lived out 97.82% of his life by the time he assumes the Presidency, should he be victorious in November. But he would still be as healthy as a horse, one that has lived for 29 years and 3 months.

Haarrrrrwwwwk...Twoooooph...Ting!