The Smearing Of Joe Biden Part 2: Biden And The "Dementia" Conspiracy

[Celerity]

We spoke to an actual neuroscientist who specializes in cognitive aging and asked for a professional opinion on Joe Biden's cognitive health.

https://thebanter.substack.com/p/the-smearing-of-joe-biden-part-2



I have watched two grandparents descend into clinically diagnosed, vascular dementia. Over the years, they began withdrawing from family life, became confused when doing simple tasks, developed acute anxiety, and could not effectively organize any aspect of their lives, including feeding and washing themselves. Dementia feels more like a death than anything else. It is a cruel, unstoppable process of erosion that chips away pieces of personality, drains vitality, and ends intimate relationships with everyone around the person suffering. A once vibrant, autonomous person becomes completely dependent on others and incapable of navigating social relationships. I remember having to come to terms with the fact that my grandmother, whom I was particularly close to, simply wasn’t “there” anymore. She looked and sounded like her for the most part, but she stopped remembering things about my life; whom I was dating (or now married to), what I was doing for work, and where I was living. When a friend or family member becomes incapable of giving back in a relationship, the loss is painful. My grandmother passed away recently, but in truth she hadn’t really been “there” for many years. From first hand experience, I know how serious dementia and other degenerative cognitive health conditions can be. They require expert diagnosis to be treated properly, and no one suffering should be put in any position of power or authority.

Joe Biden’s Cognitive Health

I have watched Joe Biden closely during this election cycle and have seen a clear decline in his energy levels and physical appearance. Biden occasionally loses track of thought, makes routines gaffes, and has stumbled in a few interviews where he appears to not be able to find the right words. At 77 years of age, Biden would be the oldest President in US history, and it is right to ask questions about his fitness to serve in office. Gaffes and stumbles aside, Biden has been overwhelmingly coherent during his time on the campaign trail. He has shown an ability to parse complex questions and give thoughtful answers, remember intricate policy details from decades ago, and debate intensively over several hours. I have no expertise in cognitive science or dementia, but there is nothing I see in Joe Biden that reminds me remotely of my grandparents — even in their early days of decline. Joe Biden is still very much Joe Biden. He is acutely aware of who he is, his surroundings, and other people. Thus when activists on the far left and far right began circulating rumors that Biden “has dementia”, I feared the worst: a new politically motivated conspiracy theory aiming to smear the former Vice President and scuttle his chances of winning the 2020 election.

Pro Trump Media Fuel The Conspiracy

The right’s attempts to diagnose Biden have been blatant, forgoing the term “cognitive decline” in many instances and outright accusing Biden of being senile, or having full blown dementia. Reported Politico:

“Fox News’ Sean Hannity, who often speaks with Trump, said it is “a legitimate question” whether the former vice president has “the stamina and the strength, the mental acumen and the focus required to serve in what is the most difficult job in the world, period … Without a doubt, Biden is struggling…Carlson, who also speaks informally with Trump, said Biden has “clearly lost it” and “is noticeably more confused now than he was even last spring when he entered the race.” Radio host and author Ann Coulter said that “no Republican with that level of senile dementia that Biden has” could run for president because they would be savaged by the media.” “I think the guy may have dementia, or early onset dementia" said Trump loyalist Mark Levin on his show. Rudy Giuliani has also claimed that claimed that Biden is showing “obvious signs of dementia,” and Brit Hume stated that Biden, “like so many people his age, is losing his memory and is getting senile.”

The Far Left

While Bernie Sanders extremists like Matt Taibbi have called Biden a “corpse” and a “neurological glitch”, smears on the far left have generally been more subtle, but no less dishonest and equally scurrilous. In an astonishingly deceitful piece (even for him), Glenn Greenwald claimed “establishment Democrats” are responsible for the rumors about Biden’s “serious cognitive decline”. As evidence, he posts multiple links of politicians and commentators questioning whether Biden is up to the rigors of presidential campaigning. That includes Democratic Congressman Tim Ryan saying that some Democrats are concerned because “there’s sometimes a lack of clarity,” and Cory Booker wondering whether Biden has the ability to “carry the ball all the way to the end line without fumbling”. This, according to Greenwald, constitutes ironclad proof that Democrats secretly believe Biden is mentally incapacitated and incapable of functioning as a president. “It is visible to the naked eye that the 77-year-old six-term Senator and two-term Vice President is in serious cognitive decline,” wrote Greenwald. “Biden’s cognitive decline is visible to the naked eye and it is incredibly reckless and repressive to demand that it be suppressed,” he continued. His evidence for this “Orwellian”, nakedly self serving suppression? Anyone pointing out the very obvious fact that the attacks on Biden’s cognitive health are coordinated, and a couple of tweets from a former Julian Castro staffer and a fringe Democratic consultant asking people to stop spreading conspiracy theories:

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

This, according to Greenwald is evidence of “Democratic operatives,” trying to “impose a ban on speaking ill of him while deceitfully pretending they and their clients never did so for fear that it could cost them future consulting or political gigs within the Biden-controlled Party.”

snip

much more at the link

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

1. KNR...for visibility....nt

[marble falls]

2. Why are these guys carrying water for Russian Troll farms and the GOP?

[TwilightZone]

3. Greenwald has turned into a stereotypical conspiracy theorist.

Maybe he always was, but the "the absence of actual proof is proof itself" silliness is a hallmark.

[Wounded Bear]

4. I've been hearing a lot of that shit from Trumplodytes on my other board...

To think that Joe is somehow incoherent and Trump is rational is bullshit I just can't fathom.

[Kingofalldems]

5. So you post it all here?

[Celerity]

8. post all what?

[Gothmog]

6. I have met Joe Biden twice in person

Joe was very sharp both times. The first time, Joe took my iPhone from me and took better selfies that I could have managed and was much faster that I would have been. This meeting was just after the Houston debate and Joe was very sharp and gave some great comments. The second time that I met Joe was at a fundraiser where Joe was again on top of his game. I heard the story about Joe being applauded at an international meeting while Pence was in effect met with silence by our allies. I got to get some photos with Joe and we discussed stuttering. I got a famous Joe Biden hug and we compared notes about stuttering.

I am a firm believer in Joe and think that he is the best person to undo the damage done by trump. This will be a major job and I think that Joe is up to the job.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

7. My late mother had dementia

Trump's behavior is more like hers was.

[Celerity]

9. this great debunking article has now been made free to access in its entirety

link

https://thebanter.substack.com/p/no-joe-biden-does-not-have-dementia