Doctor says Bush suffers from Dementia.

[Mike L]

The Atlantic

Letter to Editor

EXCERPT:

I, too, felt that something organic was wrong with President Bush, most probably dyslexia. But I was unaware of what Fallows pointed out so clearly: that Bush's problems have been developing slowly, and that just a decade ago he was an articulate debater, "artful indeed in steering questions and challenges to his desired subjects," who "did not pause before forcing out big words, as he so often does now, or invent mangled new ones." Consider in contrast, the present: "the informal Q&As he has tried to avoid," Bush's recent faltering performances," "his unfortunate puzzled-chimp expression when trying to answer questions," "his stalling, defensive pose when put on the spot," "speaking more slowly and less gracefully."

-------snip--------

Slowly developing cognitive deficits, as demonstrated so clearly by the President, can represent only one diagnosis, and that is "presenile demential"! Presentile dementia is best described to nonmedical persons as a fairly typical Alzheimer's situation that develops significantly earlier in life, well before what is usally considered old age. It runs about the same course as typical senile dementias, such as classical Alzheimer's--to incapacitation and, eventually, death, as with President Ronald Reagan, but at a relatively earlier age, President Bush's "mangled" words are a demonstration of what physicians call "confabulation," and are almost specific to the diagnosis of a true dementia.

— Joseph M. Price, M. D.


http://www.susanohanian.org/show_letter.php?id=383

[NMDemDist2]

1. won't be the first time the repubs have propped up a puppet n/t

[Mike L]

5. True. Strom Thurmond was out of it most of his last term.

[soothsayer]

23. Tru,poor raygun lost his mind while in office, and that didn't bug them

a bit.

[Mike L]

2. Hummmmm....................

Rove would circulate this story if the tables were turned.

I think it's 'Rove-time'.

[madaboutharry]

3. This is so disturbing

What is wrong with our system of government that, if true, this is being covered up? Oh, I just answered it myself.

[Booster]

4. He had me up until the

"that Bush's problems have been developing slowly, and that just a decade ago he was an articulate debater". Now I don't think the man knows what he's talking about.

[Mike L]

6. Shrub did pretty well against Ann Richards.

[Demoiselle]

18. I seen clips of the Richards debate...He was better, cognitively.

There is such a thing, after all, as coherent bullshit. And he used to sling it around a lot better. He was more coherent in 2000, too.
His performance last Thursday astonished me. It was quite frightening.

[BuelahWitch]

7. He was articulate on the Alexandra Pelosi documentary

"Travels with George." I couldn't believe it was the same man when I saw it. That was just four years ago.

[dennis4868]

8. I watched Bush's debate....

with Ann Richards and I must admit he did pretty well...how a decent command of the facts and was articulate actually...i really do brelieve something is wrong with Shrub now....he is nothing like he was back when he was destroying only Texas....

[yardwork]

9. This is exactly what I have been saying.

A dear friend and former co-worker was recently diagnosed with frontal lobe dementia. It has been heart-breaking to watch this formerly intelligent, quick-witted person disappear into a person I don't even recognize anymore. The changes started gradually ten years ago or more, and accelerated in recent years.

He has every one of the symptoms that I see and hear in W everytime W is on TV or the radio.

I am certain that W does and says many bizarre things that we never hear about. His handlers and staff are keeping this a secret. I am certain that Rove and Co are terrified every time W has to go out in public.

It's only a matter of time before W does something so bizarre in public that the secret can't be hidden any longer. At that point Dick Cheney will become president. If Dick Cheney were to have another heart disease or other event and become incapacitated, the presidency goes directly to the Speaker of the House. At this time that is Dennis Hastert.

[Mike L]

11. It probably explains all the "love" misspeaks he makes........

"OB-GYNs can't practice their love with their patients." The debate's crazy statement about "it's hard work to love someone when...."

[NMDemDist2]

27. it's must be a fundy thing

:shrug:

[Tansy_Gold]

14. There have been a few posts over the past week or so

regarding the failure of boosh to have his "annual" August physical. But I haven't seen a full thread on it or any major headlines.

Is there anything to this story? Is he required to take the physical, is he required to take it in August?

I didn't watch the debate last week -- I have high blood pressure -- but the few clips I've seen were startling. Dismissing all the joking around, I thought he looked really confused, lost, out of it -- not the way someone who is merely angry and vicious and incompetent looks, but, well, more like someone whose mental health isn't all it should be.

It's one thing for the freepers and the GOP to "spin" boosh's poor performance into a draw or a win or a whatever, but I would think even they would have more concern for him as a person and for the country under the leadership of a person who might not be "all there."

[Mike L]

32. Tansy,

" I would think even they would have more concern for him as a person and for the country under the leadership of a person who might not be "all there." "

Don't kid yourself. These bastards only care about making money. They can do that as long as Bush can win and give speeches. Big Dick will do the "hard work".

[gauguin57]

10. Go buy your copy of F-9/11 tomorrow, and check out the clip

of Bush talking about having access to his father as president of the United States. The guy sounds like a whole different person. Not that I'd call him "articulate," but he spoke smoothly, plainly -- without that deep-fried corn-pone accent of his. Seriously ... something has definitely degraded in that guy's speech center since then.

[speedoo]

12. Don't discount the fact that he has never had to defend a record...

before.

And a totally failed record at that.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

13. He sure sounds nuts

“Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we.
They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and people,
and neither do we.” - GW Bush

[seabeyond]

15. he takes two pills a day, and hasnt told us what for

i want to know

[grace0418]

16. It still doesn't explain other aspects of his

personality. The inability to admit fault, hearing "God" talk to him, claiming that God speaks "through him," absolutely no understanding of consequences or feelings of remorse (at least no evidence of this), feelings of entitlement, reckless disregard for others. In fact, based on the way he mocked that woman on death row, he seems to gain some pleasure at the suffering of others.

I'm not a trained professional, but these don't sound like dementia. These sound like the traits of a sociopath or someone suffering from schizophrenia or both.

[yardwork]

20. Actually, many of them can be symptoms of dementia

But I agree with you that W has many personality disorder traits. I think he comes closest to narcissistic personality disorder as described in the DSM-IV.

Personality disorders are caused by abusive, neglectful, and/or non-affirming childhoods. W's childhood sounds like it was definitely the latter two at the very least. As a result, he grew up to be a bitter, angry, insecure person with a very poor self-image. To compensate he views himself as superior to everybody. It masks a deep sense of insecurity. Many people with personality disorders self-medicate with drugs and alcohol. It numbs the inner pain and anxiety.

The personality disorder doesn't explain why he can't talk, can barely walk, and can't think coherently. That's the dementia kicking in.

[CityHall]

17. Simpler explanation

He's been under enormous pressure the past four years, constantly having to fake and bluff his way through meeting with people vastly smarter than he is. He's handled it by retreating into a fantasy world of fundamentalist dogma and authoritarianism where no one is allowed to question him and his pronouncements are treated like revealed truth.

I see him as the retarded Hapsburg cousin that some ambitous advisors championed for the throne, but I don't think he's gotten worse in an organic sense. He just displays the same dyslexic tendencies as Quale did, and the rest is that he's been living in a Potemkin villiage created by his cabinet.

The "practicing love" has to be some sort of evangelical thing. That he uses it in public just shows that he can't get his head around the idea that the people who respond to that sort of thing are already in his corner, and everyone else is just baffled by it.

[colonel odis]

25. that's what i think it is, too.

though it certainly could be the onset of a disease i wouldn't wish on anyone -- not even bush -- i think it's the result of stress on someone who's in way over his head.

presidentin' is hard work, ya know!

[carpetbagger]

19. That guy (Price, well Bush too) is nuts.

Google him. (Make sure you get the one from Michigan).

[yardwork]

22. The guy who wrote the letter may be a nut - but the fact remains

that chimpy shows clear signs of dementia. A lot of people are starting to notice this. Sooner or later something is going to happen in public that can't be explained away.

If chimpy is president when that happens, then Dick Cheney immediately becomes president.

[Deja Q]

21. Sad if true

* is still a human being.

But he is in no condition to lead. Nor is Trickey-tickey Dickie Cheney.

[DeepModem Mom]

24. kick

[ThePhilosopher04]

26. Must be the crack finally getting to him! nm

nm

[bigpathpaul]

28. Great. So now I'm supposed to feel guilty about this stuff?

The full flyer, as well as others, can be downloaded at http://www.bigpath.net

[johnnie]

29. He is a self-proclaimed recovering alcoholic

Most people who abuse drugs and alcohol have a bit of a problem coping with reality and use mind altering substances to cover up their inability to do so.
I think that being president is just way too much for bush and he is now on heavy meds to help him cope. Looking back on his past it is easy to see that this guy has never really had the ability to do anything that takes a fair amount of responsibility. I honestly believe that george doesn't have the mental makeup to be in the position he is in. Even though he obviously doesn't run the show, his self-important attitude must make it extremely difficult for him to cope with it all. He is just medicated up these days and that is why he sounds so much like a bumbling idiot.

[ScreamingMeemie]

30. My husband has dyslexia and you will never see him act as unintelligent

as Mr Bush has. Dyslexia does not affect speech patterns. It affects my husband's ability to read smoothly and process information, but otherwise, he is capable of conducting intelligent conversations and, more importantly, thinking for himself. :hi:

[npincus]

31. serious question: does Alzheimers run in the Bush family?