Biden Should Submit to Neurological Examination
This deliciousness from Hoover Fellow (and physician) Henry I. Miller, writing today in Forbes:
Biden should submit to a thorough neurological and psychiatric examination, with special attention to whether he is experiencing “transient ischemic attacks” – marked by impaired blood flow to the brain – small strokes, seizures, or suffers from a brain tumor. After all, we often demand to know whether a candidate has recovered from open-heart surgery, cancer or a stroke, and many states require elderly drivers to be re-licensed.
Aren’t the vice-president’s highest-level security clearance and his influence on public policy as important as the ability to drive a car?
An exam by an expert offers an assessment of cognitive abilities, memory and quality of thought processes. It includes assessments of alertness; speech; behavior; awareness of environment; mood; affect; rationality of thought processes; appropriateness of thought content (presence of delusions, hallucinations, or phobias); memory; ability to perform simple calculations; judgement (“If you found a letter on the ground in front of a mailbox, what would you do with it?”); and abstract reasoning.
Don’t voters have a right to know whether Biden is ill or merely unlikeable, impulsive and prone to deceitfulness?
Photograph by Brigitte Lacombe.
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Jan '11
Re: Biden Should Submit to Neurological Examination
If this was a recent phenomenon of his behavior, I'd agree. But he's been goofy for years.
Jun '11
Re: Biden Should Submit to Neurological Examination
Mr Mulville is correct. VP Kinnock has had a long-standing truth deficit disorder.
Dec '10
Re: Biden Should Submit to Neurological Examination
Biden reminds me of Walter from Fringe. "In order to close the bridge between worlds and save the universe, we must...Ooooh, red licorice!" Only problem is that Biden, unlike Walter, is not brilliant underneath the all the crazy and is a real person who could actually end up with the power to save/destroy the world.
Sep '11
Re: Biden Should Submit to Neurological Examination
Seriously suggesting that the 70-year-old Vice President should undergo a neurological exam to prove that he's capable of leading strikes me as a perfect way to thoroughly enrage a lot of senior citizens, and turn Joe Biden from a buffoon into a martyr.
Feb '11
Re: Biden Should Submit to Neurological Examination
I don't think so.
May '10
Re: Biden Should Submit to Neurological Examination
And while we're at it, let's give him the Voight-Kampff test.
Edited on August 20, 2012 at 8:31pmNov '11
Re: Biden Should Submit to Neurological Examination
There are a few MDs here on Ricochet, one of them should comment.
Jun '12
Re: Biden Should Submit to Neurological Examination
I concur.
Also, if there is a medical reason, his buffoonery could be explained away easily by the Obama camp, rather than forcing them to explain why he said what he said.
I'd rather they had to explain.
Aug '10
Re: Biden Should Submit to Neurological Examination
Nah - Let's not insult old people everywhere by blaming Joe's goofiness on age. KC got it right: Biden's been a buffoon for a very long time. Probably was like that in high school.
May '10
Re: Biden Should Submit to Neurological Examination
Wow, look at the way this posting laid out... Biden's eyes are looking directly at the photo of Diane.
Jun '11
Re: Biden Should Submit to Neurological Examination
So, he isn't goofier than a peach orchard boar after all.
Feb '12
Re: Biden Should Submit to Neurological Examination
I think Biden should see an orthopedic surgeon to see if it is possible to remove his foot from his mouth!
Dec '11
Re: Biden Should Submit to Neurological Examination
Diane,
Let me see if I get this straight. The other party is shooting themselves in the foot and you want to take the gun away. This is a lose-lose situation. By suggesting this we look petty and mean. If he took the test and had problems Biden would become a sympathetic figure. Either way we look heartless.
Jun '10
Re: Biden Should Submit to Neurological Examination
I'm not a doctor, but I have a prognosis:
Re: Biden Should Submit to Neurological Examination
A major concern in the '08 campaign was the health and age of Sen. McCain (and whether his understudy was capable of leading). I don't recall mass outrage from seniors then...
Jun '12
Re: Biden Should Submit to Neurological Examination
Diane Ellis, Ed.
A major concern in the '08 campaign was the health and age of Sen. McCain (and whether his understudy was capable of leading). I don't recall mass outrage from seniors then... · 0 minutes ago
Of course not. That was an age-related smear against a Republican.
Such an attack against a Democrat would receive an entirely different response.
Dec '10
Re: Biden Should Submit to Neurological Examination
It's not a matter of age with Joe Biden, it's a matter of his personal history of brain aneurysms. He's had more than one. It's entirely reasonable to ask if he's suffering from a third, or from TIA, or from the effects of stroke -- not because he's old, but because his brain's plumbing is demonstrably poor.
Of course, he needs a third brain surgery like he needs a hole in the head. (Sorry - irresistible.)
May '10
Re: Biden Should Submit to Neurological Examination
Uncle Joe down at the Shady Rest...
Oct '10
Re: Biden Should Submit to Neurological Examination
Let voters judge.
I find it unseemly that people are demanding to see candidates' medical records as well as their tax records.
If his zany behaviour doesn't disqualify him for the office, what effect will a cryptic medical report have?
People get “He's your crazy uncle in the attic”. “Transient ischæmic attacks”, not so much.
And when was the last time the vice presidential pick had any impact on the outcome of a presidential election?
Dec '11
Re: Biden Should Submit to Neurological Examination
Come on guys. We already got punished with Akin for laughing at Joe.....