Something to think about during the VP debate

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jmq
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Something to think about during the VP debate

Post by jmq »

According to the actuarial tables of life insurance companies, there is a roughly 1 in 3 chance that a 72-year-old man will not reach the age of 80, which is how old McCain would be at the end of a second presidential term.

The odds of a 72-year-old man living four more years, or one full White House term, are better. But for a man who has lived 72 years and 67 days (McCain's age on Election Day this year), there is between a 14.2 and 15.1 percent chance of dying before Inauguration Day 2013, according to the Social Security Administration's 2004 actuarial tables and the 2001 mortality statistics of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

And these stats don't even factor in McCain's medical history, such as his battles with stage 2a and 3b melanoma.
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soxfan22
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Post by soxfan22 »

It is disturbing that you guys have sunken to these levels. Truly sad.

Not to mention that his Mom is 150.

Hey maybe we should, as concerned tax payers, demand that a pulmonary functioning test be performed on Sen. Obama - what with his 25 years of chain smoking and all.

Or, we should have an echo done on his heart to make sure there is no residual scarring leftover from his cocaine days (self-admitted, read his book).

This stuff is crazy, and you all should be ashamed for rasing it as an issue.
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Lulu76
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Post by Lulu76 »

I think age and health has to be an issue when people are voting for the most important person in the world. That's why the president takes an annual physical and the media report on the results of that test.

Ronald Reagan had Alzheimer's when he was president. John F. Kennedy was hopped up on drugs because he had a disease that would've eventually killed him if Lee Harvey Oswald hadn't (maybe not in office, but Addison's disease can be fatal).

That being said, I think anything could happen to any president at any time, and it's just something the country has to be prepared for. That's why the vice president should truly be the second-most-important person in the world.
jmq
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Post by jmq »

I apologize. This age and health issue should never have been raised as something to consider while watching the VP debate. Thanks for setting me straight!
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DaveS007
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Post by DaveS007 »

And if he dies? We get Palin. We give her a flame thrower and send her to Washington. It could be worse, NObama.
jmq
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Post by jmq »

Again, sorry for citing the actuarial data. Because of the field I work in, sometimes I cant help myself from considering all kinds of quantitative risk factors when making an important decision.

Palin will actually do really well tonight. She is much better on offense than on defense, and she will be able to deliver zingers unfettered - unlike Biden, who will come off as either patronizing or bullying if he does the same.

Speaking of zingers, how come Obama doesn’t get the fact that a debate is more of a joust than a lecture? Like the next time McCain says “Senator Obama doesn’t understand”, maybe Obama should reply “Honky, please!”
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aroobagirl
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Post by aroobagirl »

JMQ- Racism is ugly. Terms like "honky" are just offensive.
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pipanale
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Post by pipanale »

Wow...this is turning ugly. I'm getting my popcorn. I need some good entertainment!
jmq
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Post by jmq »

Its just an absurd joke that Bill Maher used on The Daily Show last night that really made me laugh. Sorry if it offended you. Guess you're not a fan of George Carlin or Chris Rock either.
Last edited by jmq on Thu Oct 02, 2008 10:38 am, edited 1 time in total.
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flip-flop
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Post by flip-flop »

JMQ - Cheney's been dead for years but he's still running the country just fine. Don't worry :oops:

I should be and am ashamed of myself.
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aroobagirl
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Post by aroobagirl »

JMQ - I guess it is a matter of context. If I was watching a comedian I would expect it and "get it". If it is a personally held value, whole different scenario. There are many racially charged views and words which promote stereotypes.
I guess that is a danger of these types of posts - intent. Thanks for letting me know yours it provided perspective.
jmq
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Post by jmq »

No worries. My bad - I should've attributed it to him up front rather than just stealing his material! His other suggestion was for Obama to reply "there you go again Grandpa". I thought that was pretty funny too.
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soxfan22
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Post by soxfan22 »

jmq wrote:Its just an absurd joke that Bill Maher used on The Daily Show last night that really made me laugh. Sorry if it offended you. Guess you're not a fan of George Carlin or Chris Rock either.
Um, there is nothing about Bill Maher that reminds me of George Carlin or Chris Rock. Two legends of comedy vs. one bitter, bitter man.
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Teresa_Rae
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Post by Teresa_Rae »

I think everybody, including McCain himself, expects that if he wins he’ll only serve one term as President. Having a 14.2% to 15.1% chance at death between now and 2013 isn’t too bad considering he’s got an 84.9%-85.8% chance that he’ll live.

Here are a couple other lines from the article you cited:

Actuaries are quick to point out that mortality statistics describe broad population trends. They insist the models can’t necessarily be applied to individual people.

“Actuarial models are good for estimating the average future lifetime of, say, 100,000 50-year-olds, or how many out of 100,000 50-year-olds will survive to 60, but are lousy at estimating about one particular 50-year-old,” explained Jim Daniel, a professor of actuarial studies at the University of Texas.

The odds, then, that McCain will reach the age of 76 or 80 may be considerably higher than in the population at large


John McCain’s got a mother who seems pretty spry at 96, so I’m not too worried about him making it to 76. He also beat the odds and came out alive after 5.5 years of being held captive and tortured as a POW, so I think he’s pretty tough.

I don’t think that McCain is the perfect candidate, but his age is not a concern of mine.
Let us live so that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry.
- Mark Twain
jmq
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Post by jmq »

Sox - I only mentioned them because of the similarity in the TYPE of taboo subjects they tackle (race and religion).
Yup, Maher is bitter but often pretty darn funny too.
When we come to place where the sea and the sky collide
Throw me over the edge and let my spirit glide
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