Don't Do it, Hillary

Politics aside, if anyone asked me what I would tell Hillary Clinton as she considers a run for the Presidency (and let's face it, she is considering it), I would tell her to forget it.

I can only argue from my own experience, and whether I am average—or is it median?—I am not sure. I am a few years older than Hillary. I can call her Hillary, can't I? But that means she would be 69 when elected and 77 after 8 years in office. Now the Pope is currently 77 and when he took a few days off the other day because he was tired, no one minded. Imagine the President of the United States taking a few days off for that reason. By the way I, who used to be pretty adequate at arithmetic, had a wretched job getting my brain around those numbers. I think I would have a lot more trouble with the budget of the USA. Of course, I was working on this problem as I was lying down for my obligatory afternoon nap.

All this is to say that age IS a factor. I am a great fan of Ronni Bennet and her blog about aging. Some time ago ago she wrote an eye opening post asking when old age actually begins. The comments section is worth reading. The writers differ greatly in their perceptions of old age, both the physical and mental changes they are undergoing. But hardly anyone reaches the late 70's without age rearing its ugly head.

Of course she would have some advantages. Someone to choose and buy her clothes (designer if the occasion warrants), a doctor just outside her door and a hairdresser on hand to help with the scrunchy or whatever she needs to make sure her hairdo befits a President. Imagine being called out of bed in the middle of the night to the Situation Room to deal with a possible Third World War with tousled hair. That's why Margaret Thatcher favored the helmet and hairspray look.

None of those advantages would outweigh having to get out of bed in the first place. Most of us enjoy the occasional sleep in. I suppose this is the place where someone mentions Ronald Reagan. Or someone tells me I am a traitor to my age or to my gender. She would be closely scrutinized because when you are the first to do something, it happens. We have all seen that. So don't do it, Hillary. Enjoy your new grandchild, have nothing to do with ambitious men in navy suits.

Notice, I haven't mentioned Bill once.