I have plenty of reasons to vote against John McCain – notably, the issues. But age is not one of them.

Older voters, in polls, have more bias against older candidates than 30somethings or 40somethings. They (we) see the changes in our own razor sharp edge; can't pull up the name of that associate's wife like I used to; that sprain is taking so long to heal, etc. They know from personal experience that fit and lively though they are, there are undeniable effects on mind and body of advancing age.

Well, if age matters, Obama is too young and inexperienced compared to McCain.

LOL, a variant on Reagan's excellent retort during the debates “I will not make my opponent's youth and inexperience an issue.”

Stockboy, I agree about reserving judgment. Frankly I wouldn't be surprised if McCain dumps a huge load of records on May 23, including vigorous mental health screenings, and then stands at the podium and says, “Any questions?” (staying to answer every last one, instead of complaining after eight questions )

It would be just his style, but we'll see. Meanwhile, any speculations are just hot air and attempts to smear by insinuation.

Having said that, being president is a demanding mental challenge and coupled with the impact of his decisions, the bar for being “mentally fit” should be higher than just being “competent”. I would hope that the American people want a president who can exercise good judgement and be able to make sound decisions at 3 am. Obviously the president has to take many considerations into factor when making decisions- whether during a crises or filling empty posts (I'm tired of Bush's incompetent appointees screwing things up) which require a nimble mind.

So I reserve any judgement about McCain's mental and physical health until a full release of his medical records, including a complete mental evaluation, is done.

Well, if McCain has memory or other mental issues which prevent him from remembering or applying his experience to the decisions he makes as president then what good IS his experience?

Many factors are fair game as to whether Obama is qualified to be president, but not his race.

Age, however, is an entirely different matter when combined with McCain’s refusal to share his health records, and these factors demand to be discussed.”

Anything to bash McCain now that Obama looks likely to be the Dem nominee, right? Well, if age matters, Obama is too young and inexperienced compared to McCain.

Wallace, N.C.: Do you think that Ronald Reagan had Alzheimer's during his term as president?

David Shenk: Everyone wants to know that about Reagan, understandably. The short answer is no — he did not have diagnosable Alzheimer's in the White House.

Alzheimer's is a progressive disease that creeps up very very slowly, and it was certainly creeping up on him during the late years of his Presidency. He knew that better than anyone, and joked frequently in speeches and with his White House doctors. But it's clear from looking at the evidence that his memory troubles in the White House were much too slight to be considered Alzheimer's.

I don't disagree with your basic premise, that it could have been a possibility that memory lapses would have affected his judgment. I don't think it would be a bad idea for it to either be required or presumptively required (with pressure coming to bear from voters) for all presidents to be screened before and during the presidency- and with extra emphasis on older candidates as determined by the relative risk factors that the medical experts ascertain. We've pretty much come to expect the reports on the president's annual physical, and perhaps it's time to consider having them get a mental fitness screening too.

Just reading some of he comments on TMV makes me realize that there is almost nothing that won't be spun (and I do mean) spun) out of control.

Language has no more meaning.

What does 'fair game' mean, for example? That everythng about a candidate should be considered suspect until proven otherwise?

Besdies, you can adopt any rules you want, and it's dead certian that every one of them will be broken.