At the risk of being all serious and stuff, is there any sort of maximum height for pilots of the type of aircraft McCain flew? I did have a friend in high school who was told he was too tall to be a fighter pilot with the RAF, a career he was considering.
I know! Austin and Phoenix are really close together. They are practically neighbors, like Boston and Atlanta.
I feel like the Queens-born mafia don’s daughter in “The Freshman”, who said to Matthew Broderick, “So, I hear you’re from… Montana?” "Vermont, he corrected.
But I do hear some similarity between southwestern accents and southern ones. Less than I do between Boston and Atlanta.
Anyway, my original statement appears to be irrelevant: wiki says Navy brat McCain attended twenty different schools total. The family settled in northern Virgina when McCain was 15. So I don’t know what kind of accent you’d call his.
And therefore, Democrats should use it. He’s Shrimpy McCain in my book now.
Here you’ll find a comparison of major party candidates’ heights. You’ll notice that no candidate has overcome a 7 inch height differential in at least over 120 years, possibly not since 1852 (and Winfield Scott was very tall). Also, the growing trend since the 20s seems to be that the taller candidate usually wins.
I found this site that talks about qualification factors for naval aviators in the US. I don’t know how relevant this would be to Vietnam-era pilots. Currently, there are height limitations, as well as other body measurements.
Not an expert here by any means, but as I understand, shorter people (this means women as well) are less likely to pass out at the G-forces withstood while performing maneuvers in fighter planes. Something about the length of the blood vessels between the heart and the brain - an extra centimeter or two there makes a big difference in blood pressure while performing the Valsalva maneuver to maintain consciousness.
The maximum height comes in, when your qualified fighter pilots are all under 5’7" you don’t build your cockpits to fit the guy who’s 6’4". So even if he could manage to qualify by being able to stay conscious under the required conditions, he wouldn’t fit inside the planes anyway.
<edit> I see ** Waenara** covered the actual height and other body size requirements, if that’s more what you were asking. I just figured I could provide info as to why they exist.
You didn’t go far enough: Shrimpy McSame
Or maybe “Papa Smurph” would be better since it highlights the fact that he is both short and old.
If only there was a nickname that would highlight all three: short, old, and the same as Bush.
Democrats need a Rush Limbaugh type on their side. I’m sure he would come up with something funny/sarcastic/denigrating that hit the spot.
The most interesting thing about King Charles I is that he was 5’6" tall at the start of his reign, but only 4’8" tall at the end of it.
-Monty P.
As opposed to Democrats who fly around with their little angel wings while they campaign…
:rolleyes:
They have Keith Olberman…
I don’t think he’s as good at what he does as Rush is (or was; not sure how influential Rush is any more)
You noticed them too? I thought I was the only one who could see them. 
Every time you shop with a reusable bag, a Democrat gets his wings.
It’s not something you point out. It’s something you let people observe and draw their own opinions about. If you point out that McCain is so short claim that this reduces his suitability to be present, people–even if they are inclined to agree–will then actually think about it, and if they think about it they are likely to decide that that assertion is stupid. Letting it go unremarked is the better strategy.
You guys seriously need to sign up for my Evilitude Seminar.
It’s the great secret. John McCain can only possibly tower over Tom Cruise. I never thought about it, but pilots typically aren’t tall people.
I’m rather excited at seeing the two candidates together. They are exactly the same height difference between each other as my husband and I are from each other and well, it is a big difference.
Apropos of nothing: Auntbeast, I am pleased that you have returned to us.
Yeah, nobody say anything. At the debate, Obama should just pat him on the head. Or lean on him.
Seriously, I think seeing the two of them stand next to each other will accentuate McCain’s age in a very striking way.
So McCain’s too short.
Sheesh, I knew Obama had a bad week but you guys must really think he’s in trouble to resort to this.
I don’t recall anyone saying he is too short. I’m certain his feet touch the ground.
It is remarkable that he is so tiny and so little has been made of it. Hell, look at the flack that Tom Cruise gets and it isn’t like he is running for president. Although, he also was known as Maverick.
I’m just sayin’ in my perspective, having a President that is shorter than me is kinda, well…odd.
And thanks Skald, it is good to be back with a voice. 