Reader Responses

As an Independent voter, I do not especially care for either McCain or Obama. I wish that someone else were running on the major party tickets. Having said that, I am somewhat pleased (and also somewhat concerned) that Obama selected Sen. Joe Biden as his vice presidential running-mate. On the bright side, Biden is clear and carries himself well. However, Biden had a brain aneurism several years ago and on several instances he has been accused of plagiarism. I feel those two factors are big hurdles for him to overcome with the voters.

After the choice of Biden was announced, I phoned a cousin of mine who herself suffered a brain aneurism several years ago. She told me that in her case, her mathematical skills were irreversibly impaired by the aneurism. America has endured the delicate health scares of current Vice President Dick Cheney. Cheney's age and his health caused him not to run for office again. Biden may do well on the floor of the U.S. Senate and I wish him well there. However, I'd prefer that he not be vice president or president of this nation. Obama should have chosen someone slightly younger than Biden - a man who had a clear health history with a healthy brain, and who hasn't presented others' thoughts as his own.

James A. Marples
Longview