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Rumours are rife on the internet, in all those highly informed chat forums, that Democrat Senator John Kerry isn't fit to take on the role of US president because he has multiple impairments.

Post Vietnam Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, shoulder issues, general 'mentalness', lots more mentalness, plus - he's a Marfan!

Take a look at this and then weep. Weep for the souls of all Americans who might be led by someone rumoured to have Marfan Syndrome.

So, does he or doesn't he? Marfans are visually characterised by their longer limbs, fingers, toes and face - the original Latin name 'arachnodactyly' suggests (rather unflatteringly) that those 'with' are kinda spidery.

I contacted a colleague of mine who boasts this condition to check out whether or not she thinks Kerry is a Marf. She was very interested and immediately took to the web to check out various photos of the man.

Reporting back later, she said that although his face looks a bit marfy, and he's quite tall, his fingers don't look as if he's one of her clan.

Bush supporters continue to hit out at Kerry, bringing stamina and sickness issues to the fore as a reason why Kerry should not become US Commander-in-Chief. One commentator felt he had political dynamite by reminding us that US intelligence thinks has Marfan Syndrome too. Ooh, so that means Kerry could be a secret anti-American religious fundamentalist who wants all Americans dead, then? Gosh, now the seed has been planted I won't be voting for him. Not that I'm in America anyway.

So Osaama may have it, Kerry may have it - but they also say that celebrated 19th century President may have been Marfan. So you see kidz, you can have it if you're good or bad.