Anyone else notice: McCain doesn't moved his head left or right.

[Liberal_in_LA]

He holds his back really stiff and never turns his head. Noticed it on the bike rally videos. McCain turns his entire body to look to the side.

He's wearing dockers in an attempt to look outdoorsy but I wonder if he needs help getting dressed. He moves so stiffly.

[Sadie4629]

1. Injuries suffered as a POW

left him unable to lift his arms above his shoulders. I heard that he needs help putting on shirts. Who knows how such a disability would affect the way he moves his entire upper body?

If you are trying to make a point about fitness for the presidency, I think you need to find a different one. Slamming him for injuries suffered while enduring torture in a Vietnamese prison camp is probably a losing issue for Dems.

[cayuga]

18. Crashing five planes during his less-than-stellar naval career were responsible

for his disabilities.

[Liberal_in_LA]

24. I wasn't slamming him for his injuries. Just wondering how much injury or pain he's hiding or

attempting to minimize during the campaign.

[PatSeg]

2. I've also noticed

that he reads from the teleprompter very awkwardly, then when he's done he smiles a phony smile and blinks like crazy. It looks like reading the script is very difficult and stressful. This man has really deteriorated dramatically since his 2000 presidential run. It is uncomfortable to watch.

[magellan]

4. Deteriorated dramatically since his 2000 presidential run

Yes, he has. It's quite marked. I think the campaign has really taken a lot out of him.

A few months ago I posted a similar comment as the OP about his stiff arm and was not so gently reminded that he's a POW. Like I didn't know, when I was simply asking because it was suddenly so noticeable.

For the record, after returning from Vietnam and much physical therapy McCain was in good enough condition to return to flying for the Navy. And the requirements for flight status are pretty strict.

A good part of the physical state we see him in now is no doubt due to his torture as a POW, but it was not until recently it became so evident.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

7. Requirements for flight status may be negotiable

if your father's an admiral, and your grandfather's an admiral. Can you do a good job flying if you can't raise your arms? Are all controls at chest-level or below? And, can you do a good job flying if you can't turn your head?

Without his connections, he would have never gotten as far as a prison camp in Hanoi. If he didn't flunk out of the academy, he'd have been flying a desk after the first or second destroyed airplane.

[MiniMe]

15. Possibly Arthritis

There is a huge difference between being 64 and 72. In other words, his age is showing. After what he went through as a POW, not worth getting on his case for it. What bothers me more is the mental deteriation since 2000.

[XemaSab]

5. Every time he grimaces and blinks he looks like he's in pain

I really wonder how much pain he's in, and what meds he's on for the pain.

And I'm not sure which is more worrying, an overmedicated president or an undermedicated president. :(

[zanne]

9. The more coverage I see of him speaking...

The more I think "Why isn't the media commenting on this? He forgets things, he stutters..."

[ForrestGump]

12. Because, after eight years of the clueless fratboy,

we're pretty much used to that.

The bar's pretty low.

[Truth4Justice]

3. Its that damn bamboo pole the VC stuck up his @$$.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

8. Yeah, someone should remove that.

Any volunteers?
:rofl:

[woodsprite]

6. If he has any arthritis based issues, they can be made worse by stress

and lack of sleep. My dad had arthritis in his spine and hips. McCain's movements are just like dad's were, so I didn't think anything of it. I think a Pres. campaign will age anyone. It's amazing to look at before/after views of the past Presidents.

[Blue Belle]

17. The Presidential campaign doesn't age anyone nearly as fast as...

being the actual President.

[summer borealis]

10. He's got a VC pole up his ass

The patsy traitor only bends over Bush/Cheney.

[SoCalDem]

11. Arthritis in the old torture injuries, no doubt..

He's never been able to use his shoulders or arms normally..

[SmileyRose]

13. He DOES need help getting dressed, brushing hair etc

POW wise, he was damaged in that he can't lift his arms above shoulder height comfortably or at all for more than a couple of seconds. Physically, he would probably qualify for disability. On this particular score I do admire McCain. My husband has similar disabilities and fights to stay as independent as possible too. It IS a constant daily battle and takes a heck of a lot of grit.

On pretty much everything else, McCain is a putz.

Edit to add - McCain mentioned his disability in an interview I saw in 1999. He has both neurological and orthopedic damage in many places.

[Virginia Dare]

22. He should just go and enjoy Miss Cindy's money.....n/t

[eShirl]

14. as a former massage therapist, I am amazed he is able to move as freely as he does

after what we all know he has been through.

I think FDR's movements were a little stiff as well.
(Not to say I think they are politically similar or anything.)

[kskiska]

16. * couldn't figure out why McCain turned down

an invitation to work out with him.

[Marrah_G]

19. He has permanent injuries from his POW days.

He cannot lift his arms up high either

[Virginia Dare]

21. He needs to retire....n/t

[Marrah_G]

23. I agree- but that's up to him or his constituants

I personally believe his days as a POW make him far less qualified mentally to lead this country.

[Virginia Dare]

20. He looks and acts creepy and weird...

I'm sorry if this is the result of his injuries in the Navy, but that's what it is. He laughs like Steve Urkel. He looks like the crypt keeper. He has absolutely no personal appeal whatsoever.

[roody]

26. Bush and his campaign have done some damage

to McCain.

[upi402]

25. clearly a space alien n/t

[Bluebear]

27. I do notice he shuffles in circles a lot at his little "town hall" meetings

Maybe it's the only way he can address a crowd, by shuffling into their view?