Old People Are Cool.

"I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book." -Groucho Marx

I have to disagree with Groucho ever so slightly. Since I'm only around a tv every couple of months I find these rare encounters both educational and thought provoking. For instance, I still wonder how this GEICO insurance company is able to market its 'product' by depicting a pretty girl on a date with a pig.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2uXyyLvvkY

Another commercial that really opened a Pandora's box for me is a little older than that one and you've all seen it hundreds of times - the LifeAlert ad featuring former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5cpFXf1IEg

I remarked to my viewing companion "Do you think it's kind of offensive that they are still using that guy to sell their gizmo when he's been dead for, like, 20 years?"

"C. Everett Koop died?! When?"

"I don't know. Let's look it up."

"...reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated." -Mark Twain

Well, guess what? Not only is he not dead, he's not a lot of other things as well. He's not single - he remarried in 2010 after the death of his first wife of 68 years, Elizabeth, in 2007. He's not retired - he currently serves on the Director's Council of Firestorm Solutions (http://www.firestorm.com/about/who-we-are/c-everett-koop.html). And he's showing no signs of retiring despite his 96 and 1/2 years on earth.

Which brings me to everyone's favorite 'old guy,' another doctor by the name of Paul, and the alternate title for this article: Ron Paul Mulls 2028 Presidential Bid.

I don't know if Ron Paul was serious when he told Jay Leno he was getting ready for a 2016 presidential run. And I'd be perfectly fine with him not ever running for any office again. He's stated in many ways that this country is ours to reclaim, and all accusations of hero-worship aside, it is never wise or healthy to put ones faith in a single man, when we should have faith in ourselves acting with the grace of God to take back our government.

"I'll be mellow when I'm dead." -'Weird' Al Yankovic

But I wouldn't be surprised either if Ron Paul did decide to run again in 2016. Or 2020. Or 2024. Or 2028. After all, he did previously take a dozen years off from his congressional career before reentering the arena in 1997. He'll absolutely have the support of the people in that 2028, the 40th anniversary of his first presidential candidacy and 50th anniversary of his political career. And he won't even be that old, either. Like George Burns, like Jack LaLanne, like my dearly departed granny, and like America's doctor C. Everett Koop, he'll still be going strong, doing something important and relevant, well into his '90s.

Ron Paul, too old? Ha! Ask him how he feels in 15 years...