(no subject)

[apocalypsos]

This spooks me a little. In part because Bush postponed his annual physical this year, and in part because so many of the people on my friends list have mentioned that the left side of his face looked a bit slack at last night's debate. (Not that I'm saying anything's happened to him, but honestly, what the hell?)

The man in that speech from ten years ago ... well, I probably wouldn't have voted for him, but I'd at least have listened to what he had to say.

Comments

[tviokh.livejournal.com]

Last night it looked, at least to me, like he was actually drooling.
Tim thought it looked like he'd had a minor stroke.

There does seem to have been a huge decline in his abilities, which is disturbing.
If he does indeed have early signs of 'dementia', I don't...really...think I want him in office for four more years. Just another reason...

[mayhap]

Good lord. That's disturbing, to say the least.

I had initially written off those bizarre sneers as just the latest in a series of lamentable facial expressions, but now that you mention it ...

[xturtle.livejournal.com]

I'm of two minds on the "pre-senile dementia" thing. On the one hand, calling attention to the fact that something is pretty clearly Going On is a savvy political move. On the other hand, the doctor who made the "diagnosis" via television and sent it in to the Atlantic Monthly saying that the only possible diagnosis is pre-senile dementia destroyed any credibility that I was willing to give the claim. I can think of at least six physical or neurophysical conditions that cause cognitive decline of varying severity and duration -- many of which might be particular hazards for world leaders (ie prolonged lack of sleep, extreme stress, anxiety).

I'm no defender of the president (hell, I'm way to the left of Kerry), but this seems like the kind of thing that, if put forth by republicans, there would be a lot of (rightful) anger over. Then again, maybe reality dictates that both sides hit below the belt. I do wish they'd think about the stigmatizing effects it might have on people who exhibit these symptome who do not have pre-senile dementia, though.

Just my $0.02,
CJ

[ceejayoz.livejournal.com]

Woah, wtf...

[tenebris.livejournal.com]

It's very interesting, the analyses that have been tossed around to explain Bush's "decline"--and looking at that tape from ten years ago was kind of shocking and striking. I'd heard the pre-senile dementia one; another one that's been advanced at the PAD forums is possible effects from alcoholism, sometimes with those effects adding to a pre-existing ADD condition. They're pulling out the DSM IV all over the place.

I dunno if those explain a ten year decline, though they did point out that the President seems to have "addict" thinking, which I thought was neat. As for this speech ability...weird. Maybe that's what having a Cheney hand up your ass does to you...

[wtfbrain.livejournal.com]

Thank God I'm not the only one who noticed it... It looked like there was a fair bit of spittle (drool? foam?) in the corner of his mouth...

[erinlin.livejournal.com]

The left side of his face going slack, I can hadle. No major cause for alarm. But if he starts talking out of the side of his mouth and develops a French-Canadian accent, look out! Then you'll never get rid of him!

[sxyblkmn.livejournal.com]

whoa...

have to Link-Fu that in my journal