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In reply to the discussion: Some people think that Chris Christie is much too out of shape to effectively hold office... [View all]MADem
(135,425 posts)65. He has a bit of a bay window, but he looks like he's got a goodly amount of muscle.
He golfed--enjoyed it a great deal too, apparently--and that was before golf carts:
http://www.thegolfballfactory.com/the-golf-course/hole18/President-Taft-the-first-golfing-president.htm
The American Golfer
August 1911
President Taft says: "My advice to the middle-aged and older men, who have never played golf, is to take it up. It will be a rest and recreation from business cares, out of which they will get an immense amount of pleasure, and at the same time increase their physical vigor and capacity for work, as well as improve their health. This applies particularly to the government clerks, and I sincerely hope that the proposed public golf course will soon be opened, and that men and women of sedentary habits here will be enabled to get this splendid form of exercise."
The American Golfer
April 1913
On PUBLIC GOLF
Ex-President Taft has gone on record strongly in favor of golf, his favorite recreation, when he embodied his views in a recent letter to the Chamber of Commerce approving the establishment of a public golf links in the parks of Washington, D. C. "You know my tendency to golf, my sympathy with anybody who wants to play it, and my desire to spread a love for the game whenever I can. Golf is a splendid recreation which can be enjoyed with profit by the young and the old. It is in the interest of good health and good manners. It promotes self-restraint, and, as one of its devotees has well said, affords a chance to play the man and act the gentleman. It is the game of all classes, not a mere plaything for faddists, nor, as many suppose, a game for the rich man only. FAVORS FREER USE OF PARKS. "I favor a freer use of public parks by the people than we have had in the past. They should be available for tennis, baseball, skating, golf, and like games, under reasonable restrictions. Golf is the least injurious of outdoor games to the landscape features of our public parks. "I think all our parks should be opened for golf unless there is some specific objection in public needs. The use to which they are put should not be confined to driveways, which are a boon to those who own carriages and motors, but should include healthgiving games for the enjoyment of those who cannot afford to develop country clubs."
August 1911
President Taft says: "My advice to the middle-aged and older men, who have never played golf, is to take it up. It will be a rest and recreation from business cares, out of which they will get an immense amount of pleasure, and at the same time increase their physical vigor and capacity for work, as well as improve their health. This applies particularly to the government clerks, and I sincerely hope that the proposed public golf course will soon be opened, and that men and women of sedentary habits here will be enabled to get this splendid form of exercise."
The American Golfer
April 1913
On PUBLIC GOLF
Ex-President Taft has gone on record strongly in favor of golf, his favorite recreation, when he embodied his views in a recent letter to the Chamber of Commerce approving the establishment of a public golf links in the parks of Washington, D. C. "You know my tendency to golf, my sympathy with anybody who wants to play it, and my desire to spread a love for the game whenever I can. Golf is a splendid recreation which can be enjoyed with profit by the young and the old. It is in the interest of good health and good manners. It promotes self-restraint, and, as one of its devotees has well said, affords a chance to play the man and act the gentleman. It is the game of all classes, not a mere plaything for faddists, nor, as many suppose, a game for the rich man only. FAVORS FREER USE OF PARKS. "I favor a freer use of public parks by the people than we have had in the past. They should be available for tennis, baseball, skating, golf, and like games, under reasonable restrictions. Golf is the least injurious of outdoor games to the landscape features of our public parks. "I think all our parks should be opened for golf unless there is some specific objection in public needs. The use to which they are put should not be confined to driveways, which are a boon to those who own carriages and motors, but should include healthgiving games for the enjoyment of those who cannot afford to develop country clubs."
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Some people think that Chris Christie is much too out of shape to effectively hold office... [View all]
MrScorpio
Feb 2012
OP
Taft was up to 400 pounds during his bout of depression after his wife's death.
Odin2005
Feb 2012
#44
This is a world where appearance matters. We can say "awww, that's not nice" but it is reality that
MADem
Feb 2012
#20
I'd say it's a bit of both. Smoking isn't a "lifestyle choice" either, if you want to get down to
MADem
Feb 2012
#22
And bashing Christie for being fat is just like bashing Ted Kennedy for being an alcoholic.
moriah
Feb 2012
#23
So if he was black it would be fine to make fun of him for that? Because he's a jerk...
moriah
Feb 2012
#72
I am finding your racist comments, as well as your false characterizations, very troubling.
MADem
Feb 2012
#81
YOU were the one who brought up "making fun" and "bashing"--not me. YOU made those
MADem
Feb 2012
#92
I'm done with you. I don't care for your racist views, even if they are unintentional. nt
MADem
Feb 2012
#108
If people were making threads to do nothing but poke fun at him for schizophrenia...
moriah
Feb 2012
#68
Showing the effects of meth, yes, I think may be helpful. (Faces of Meth, anyone?)
moriah
Feb 2012
#21
Yep. Very true. It's funny, when we see anorexic women who are literally skin and bones
CTyankee
Feb 2012
#46
Yes, you are right. Anorexia is almost admired by some people who are ignorant about eating
CTyankee
Feb 2012
#79
if anybody doubts that christie's enormous obesity isn't an expression of serious emotional
Gabi Hayes
Feb 2012
#28
He has a bit of a bay window, but he looks like he's got a goodly amount of muscle.
MADem
Feb 2012
#65
It is not trying to shut anyone up, just giving an opinion on whether it matters or not
treestar
Feb 2012
#136
No it isn't. It's a job that requires movement. Just boarding AF1 at Andrews requires
MADem
Feb 2012
#123
Climbing up a long flight of stairs to get on AF 1 is not a major point of the job
treestar
Feb 2012
#137
Pregnant women, unless they have other unusual health problems--and most do not--
MADem
Feb 2012
#152
I think weight as it regards a candidate's LITERAL 'fitness' for office is a valid
renie408
Feb 2012
#40
And is posting threads to make fun of him for it actually discussing the issues?
moriah
Feb 2012
#70
My friend told me last year that they have signs on the beach in New Jersey.
Major Hogwash
Feb 2012
#55
The fact you think it's acceptable to call a politcian a "beached whale" is a sign of your bigotry.
moriah
Feb 2012
#146
And would a person who goes to rehab not be "self-disciplined", or one who takes Antabuse?
moriah
Feb 2012
#69
It's a fair object for discussion. He's a likely candidate for a massive heart attack.
HopeHoops
Feb 2012
#49
Bullshit - please cite the probability of heart attacks for obese people from a reputable source
dmallind
Feb 2012
#61
I agree on that count to some degree. It is still a valid issue for discussion.
HopeHoops
Feb 2012
#96
Never mind that. I want to know if he would fit in William Howard Taft's chair
yellowcanine
Feb 2012
#62
He will probably die young because of his condition, so he'd better get cracking...
Honeycombe8
Feb 2012
#135
He looks morbidly obese - health certainly is an issue in an election
aint_no_life_nowhere
Feb 2012
#154