07.14.08
McCain: early stages of dementia?
I’ve mentioned it before: McCain’s gaffes are increasingly strange—facts he definitely should know, repeated errors as though he cannot remember his briefings, and so on. And ThinkProgress has this note:
During a press availability today, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said that he’s been concerned by “a couple of steps that the Russian government took in the last several day,” including “reducing the energy supplies to Czechoslovakia.” But, as TPM’s Greg Sargent points out, Czechoslovakia hasn’t existed in 15 years. This isn’t the first time McCain has made this mistake. At a debate in Oct. 2007, McCain said that America needs to “have a missile defense system in place in Czechoslovakia and Poland.”
Update: Sargent notes that McCain also made the Czechoslovakia mix up about three months ago on Don Imus’s radio show.
Keep in mind that one of McCain’s claims is that he’s “ready to go” as President because of his extensive foreign-policy knowledge.
Frank said,
14 July 2008 at 2:44 pm
This is a responsible post.
It’s not irresponsible or anything, like propaganda would be.
Keep up the consistent work!
LeisureGuy said,
14 July 2008 at 3:19 pm
Assuming that you’re not being ironic, thanks. As the campaign goes on, assuming that McCain stays in the public eye, we should have a better idea, but some of his comments are strange. For example, when asked about Iran as a threat (a drum he’s beat continually—remember “Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran”), he said, “I don’t know the progress or the significance or the nature of the threat [from Iran].”
And it’s a question, not a statement. In view of his age, it’s a reasonable question, given the nature of the context.
donstuff said,
14 July 2008 at 7:32 pm
I have a very good friend who worked for McCain years ago (in the Navy, not by choice). From what I have heard, I could not – ever – in good conscience vote for McCain. I have always felt that he is condescending, but that (as they say) is barely the tip of his iceburg. This may come across as propaganda, and I’m not comfortable telling someone else’s story, but just to be clear – I’d never vote for McCain. You could run Ronald Reagan’s buddy Bonzo against McCain and I would vote for the monkey.
I realize that your post is about possible dementia, but his character flaws frighten me more than his possible incapacity (or maybe the possibility of dementia combined with his lack of character are even more frightening).
And… I don’t vote my party line, I vote for who I believe to be the best candidate. I just cannot believe he is even a candidate.
Thanks for allowing me to rant (I may have even raved).
Barbara said,
27 September 2008 at 6:26 am
Being from a long line of health care professionals, including myself—–yes, he is early stage dementia. I could add more but will let it go at that for now.