The 2024 Candidate Mental Decline Thread
Figured I would leave this one pretty general and give everyone the chance to contribute. One guideline though - the mentation episode must be from this date forward. Nothing in the past, only current episodes.What's meant by "past"? Are you referring to something new? It's quite challenging; with Biden, it's hard to tell if he's being honest or confused. This could pose an issue. Biden isn't appearing in public much, unlike others who are actively engaging in interviews and press conferences, as Trump is doing today. Perhaps it's necessary to clarify the instructions—like, can we include recent events or just focus from this day on?
Just this day on. We've already seen you post your first-in-college post in multiple threads, so it's not needed here also. Just as my Leticia Jones post was not needed.
I believe focusing on the present is a good choice rather than revisiting the past. Your initiative to compile all aspects of the candidate's cognitive mental decline into one comprehensive case study is commendable. It has the potential to be insightful and engaging.
Complying with subject matter.
While speaking in Milwaukee, instead of saying that the US has one of the lowest inflation rates in the world, Biden said --
“We have the lowest inflation rates of any country in America.” Mark 15.44
https://www.c-span.org/video/?534220-1/ … investmentBiden was on a roll this past week out on the campaign trail. In my view, this will only get worse, if they let him speak in front of audiences.
April 16 2024 -- In the same Tuesday speech in Scranton, Biden repeated his regular promise that nobody making less than $400,000 per year will pay even a cent more in taxes under his proposals. He then added, “I hope you’re all able to make $400,000. I never did.”
Facts First: Biden’s “I never did” claim is false. In fact, his presidential salary is $400,000 per year; the joint tax filings of President Biden and first lady Jill Biden showed $619,976 in income last year, $579,514 in 2022 and $610,702 in 2021. In addition, Biden earned millions in 2017 and 2018, when, during his time as a private citizen following his vice presidency, he and Jill Biden signed a lucrative book deal and he delivered paid speeches. The Bidens’ joint tax filings showed a total of about $11 million in 2017 income and about $4.6 million in 2018 income.
April 16 2024 - Biden’s cap on seniors’ prescription drug spending
In the same speech in Scranton, Biden touted provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act he signed in 2022. He said: “For example, seniors, beginning in 2024, no matter how much their prescription drug costs are, they’ll never have to pay more than $2,000 a year, no matter what.”
Facts First: Biden’s claim is false in two ways. First, the $2,000 cap on Medicare Part D enrollees’ out-of-pocket prescription drug spending takes effect in 2025, not 2024; there is a higher cap, more than $3,000, in place this year. (The White House corrected the official transcript of Biden’s speech to make clear Biden should have said 2025 instead of 2024.) Second, it’s not true that seniors will “never” have to spend more than $2,000 per year on prescription drugs “no matter what.” The cap is indexed to annual inflation in Part D costs, so it is highly likely to be set higher than $2,000 in future years. Also, the cap doesn’t apply to out-of-pocket spending on Medicare Part B drugs like those administered at doctors’ offices. Biden has correctly said on various previous occasions that the $2,000 cap takes effect in 2025, but he has also previously incorrectly said that the cap took effect in 2023 or 2024.
April 17, 2024 -- China’s demographics
In a Wednesday speech in Pittsburgh that was focused on US steel competition with China, Biden said, “I always say to my colleagues — when I meet other world leaders, I say, ‘Would you trade places with China? Would you trade places with their problems?’ They’ve got a population that is more people in retirement than working.”
Facts First: The claim that China has more retired people than working people is false. Fuxian Yi, a University of Wisconsin-Madison senior scientist who is an expert on Chinese demographics, called Biden’s claim “overstated and premature.”
China reported having more than 740 million employed people at the end of 2023, while it also reported having just shy of 297 million people age 60 or above that year. (Sixty is the normal retirement-benefits age for Chinese men; it’s 50 to 55 for women depending on the nature of their jobs.) And some of the 60-plus population is still working.
Yi noted that China’s ratio of working people to seniors is shrinking as the country’s population ages. But Biden’s claim that the number of retirees already exceeds the number of people working is clearly not correct, even if you apply the usual dose of skepticism to official Chinese data.
“It’s certainly the direction they’re heading, but still an exaggeration,” Derek Scissors, a senior fellow at the conservative American Enterprise Institute think tank who is an expert on the Chinese economy, said of Biden’s claim.
April 16 2024 -- Biden’s corporate minimum tax
As he has on numerous previous occasions, Biden cited a 2021 report from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy think tank that found that 55 of the country’s largest corporations had made more than $40 billion in total profit in their previous fiscal year but not paid any federal corporate income taxes.
Biden said in the same Tuesday speech in Scranton: “When Trump was president in 2020, 55 of the largest corporations in America of the Fortune 500 made $40 billion in profit and paid zero — zero — in federal income taxes.” After someone in the audience called that “sinful,” Biden continued, “Well, guess what? I came along and took care of the sin. Not anymore. Thanks to the law that I wrote and signed, big corporations now have to pay a minimum — they should be paying more — a minimum of 15% tax.”
Facts First: Biden’s “not anymore” claim is false — the same exaggeration he delivered in his State of the Union address in March. While the 15% corporate minimum tax he signed into law in the Inflation Reduction Act will reduce the number of big corporations that don’t pay any federal taxes, it’s not true that “not anymore” will any big corporation — such as the ones on the list of 55 companies Biden mentioned — ever do so. That’s because the minimum tax, on the “book income” companies report to investors, only applies to companies with at least $1 billion in average annual income. According to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, only 14 of the companies on that 2021 list of 55 non-payers reported having US pre-tax income of at least $1 billion.
In other words, there will clearly still be some big and profitable corporations paying no federal income tax despite the existence of the new Biden tax. The exact number is not known.
Matthew Gardner, a senior fellow at the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, told CNN in 2022 that the new tax is “an important step forward from the status quo” and that it would raise substantial revenue, but he also said: “I wouldn’t want to assert that the minimum tax will end the phenomenon of zero-tax profitable corporations. A more accurate phrasing would be to say that the minimum tax will *help* ensure that *the most profitable* corporations pay at least some federal income tax.”
There are lots of nuances to the tax; you can read more specifics here. Asked for comment in early 2023, when Biden made a similar claim, a White House official told CNN: “The Inflation Reduction Act ensures the wealthiest corporations pay a 15% minimum tax, precisely the corporations the President focused on during the campaign and in office.”
Billionaires and taxes
Biden delivered another version of a claim he has regularly made about billionaires’ tax rates. He said in the same Tuesday speech in Scranton: “Do you know what the average federal tax rate for a billionaire is today in America? For real: 8.3%.” After some people in the audience laughed, Biden continued, “That’s how much federal ta- — no, I’m serious. Not a joke. Far less than the vast majority of Americans pay in federal taxes. No billionaire should pay a lower tax rate than a teacher, a nurse, a sanitation worker.”
Facts First: Biden’s “8.3%” claim is misleading in the absence of any explanation of what this figure is. As in previous speeches, including the State of the Union address in March, Biden didn’t explain that the figure is the product of an alternative calculation, from economists in his own administration, that factors in unrealized capital gains that are not treated as taxable income under federal law. In other words, while Biden made it sound like he was talking about a federal tax rate, he was actually citing a figure that is not based on the way the US tax system actually works at present.
There’s nothing inherently wrong with the alternative calculation itself; the administration economists who came up with it explained it in detail on the White House website in 2021. (They said the figure was 8.2%.) Biden, however, has tended to cite the figure without any context about what it is and isn’t, leaving open the impression that he was talking about what these billionaire families pay under current law.
So what do billionaires actually pay under current law? The answer is not publicly known, but experts say it’s clearly more than 8%.
“Biden’s numbers are way too low,” Howard Gleckman, senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center at the Urban Institute think tank, told CNN in 2023. Gleckman said that in 2019, University of California, Berkeley economists Emmanuel Saez and Gabriel Zucman “estimated the top 400 households paid an average effective tax rate of about 23 percent in 2018. They got a lot of attention at the time because that rate was lower than the average rate of 24 percent for the bottom half of the income distribution. But it still was way more than 2 or 3,” numbers Biden has used in some previous speeches, “or even 8 percent.”
In February 2024, Gleckman provided additional calculations from the Tax Policy Center. The center found that the top 0.1% of households paid an average effective federal tax rate of about 30.3% in 2020, including an average income tax rate of 24.3%.
Biden and the budget deficit
During the same Tuesday speech in Scranton, Biden repeated a familiar boast about his supposed impact on the federal budget deficit. He said, “A lot more to do, but guess what? During the whole time, I’ve been able to cut the federal deficit at the same exact time by over $1 trillion — $1 trillion.”
Facts First: Biden’s claim leaves out such critical context that it is misleading. While the annual federal budget deficit was more than $1 trillion lower in the 2023 fiscal year than it was in both the 2020 fiscal year (under President Donald Trump) and the 2021 fiscal year (partially under Trump and partially under Biden), analysts have repeatedly noted that Biden’s own actions, including laws he has signed and executive orders he has issued, have had the overall effect of worsening annual deficits, not reducing them. As in past remarks, Biden didn’t explain that the primary reason the deficit fell by a record amount during his tenure was that it had skyrocketed to a record high at the end of Trump’s term because of bipartisan emergency pandemic relief spending, then fell as expected when that spending expired as planned.
“The deficit is a trillion dollars lower, roughly, than when President Biden took office. That’s true. But that’s driven not because he ‘reduced’ the deficit by a trillion dollars, but because when he took office it was the middle of Covid and we had been temporarily injecting huge sums of money into the economy,” Marc Goldwein, senior vice president at the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, an advocacy group that promotes deficit reduction and tracks the issue, said in a February interview.
Biden can fairly say that his policies have contributed to a strong economic recovery that has boosted tax revenues and thus eaten into deficits. On the whole, though, Goldwein said deficits under Biden have been “higher than they otherwise would have been because of legislation President Biden has signed into law and executive actions he’s taken.”
Biden made the same claim during his State of the Union address in March. You can read a more detailed fact check here.
Biden’s visits to Iraq and Afghanistan
Biden claimed in another Tuesday speech in Scranton: “I was in, I think, 36, 38 times in Iraq and Afghanistan as a senator and as a vice president.”
Facts First: These figures are false, according to statistics previously released by Biden’s own 2020 presidential campaign. The campaign said in 2019 that Biden had visited Iraq and Afghanistan on a total of 21 occasions, the Washington Post reported at the time.
Biden has delivered similar falsehoods about his travel to Iraq and Afghanistan on various previous occasions — including in the 2019 remarks that prompted his campaign to correct the record — and they have been previously fact-checked by media outlets including CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/19/politics … index.htmlhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GZT4J18Y0w
Apr 22, 2024 #BidenGaffe #Republicans #USPresident
U.S. President Joe Biden speaking at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on April 18 implored his supporters to choose “freedom over democracy”.
Biden (April 16) In an interview with a local CBS affiliate in Birmingham, Ala., Biden said, “I made it clear to the Israelis—don’t move on Haifa”—likely referring to Rafah,Getting hard to keep up with Biden's confused statements. Maybe they could just keep him home...
https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/26/politics … index.html
"Washington
CNN
—
President Joe Biden went on “The Howard Stern Show” on Friday and repeated his familiar story about the time he supposedly “got arrested” trying to defend the civil rights of Black Americans.
As in the past, Biden told the story on Friday while recounting what his mother supposedly said while urging him to accept Barack Obama’s 2008 offer to be his running mate. His mom, he said, did not want him to turn down a man who was vying to become the first Black president.
Biden told Stern: “She said, ‘Joey, let me — remember’ — true story, she said — ‘Remember when they were desegregating Lynnfield, the neighborhood … suburbia — and I told you — and there was a Black family moving in and there was — people were down there protesting; I told you not to go down there and you went down, remember that? And you got arrested standing on the porch with a Black family? And they brought you back, the police?’ And I said, ‘Yeah, Mom, I remember that.’”
Facts First: There is no evidence Biden ever got arrested during a civil rights protest, as The Washington Post and PolitiFact found when they looked into this claim in 2022 — and Biden has at least twice told the story of his supposed presence at this particular Delaware protest without mentioning any arrest, instead claiming that the police merely took him home that day.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday.
The Post noted that in the version of the story Biden told during a public conversation with Oprah Winfrey late in the 2020 presidential campaign, he said the police escorted him home from the protest because they thought he would get in trouble; he did not say they arrested him.
The Post reported that he told Winfrey his mother said: “And there were people protesting and I told you not to go down there and you went down and the police brought you back because you were standing on the step with the Black family. You were standing with them. And the police brought you home because they thought you’d get in trouble.” He told Winfrey that he responded, “Yeah, Mom, I remember that.”
As the Post and PolitiFact also noted, Biden’s 2017 memoir included an abbreviated version of the story about his mother’s 2008 comments urging him to accept Obama’s running mate offer, but it made no mention of an arrest. No other Biden memoir, either, says he was arrested at such a protest.
The Post and PolitiFact did find that there were protests roughly matching Biden’s description in early 1959, when Biden was 16 years old, in communities not far from Biden’s home in Delaware. Crowds protested against a Black couple that had bought a home in a previously all-White community and against the realtor who sold it to them.
But the Wilmington News Journal reported that the four teenagers arrested at the protest at the couple’s home were arrested for possessing fireworks — and that all seven of the arrests that day were of people in the anti-integration crowd outside the home. The newspaper reported that the police on scene were defending the home and the Black couple. It also quoted one member of the couple as saying, “Nobody’s behind us.”
It’s impossible to definitively prove whether or not Biden was present at this protest or any similar protest 60-plus years ago. (Biden’s mother died in 2010.)Or maybe we could interpret the way he recounted the story better.
I think there's some confusion about him claiming something here and him agreeing with a story his mother was telling back to him. The words, 'she said...' seem to be of importance to the meaning. By this recounting, it seems that his mother appeared to believe he was arrested, not that Biden is claiming it.
Does that make sense?
And I will go on record once again taking issue with putting limitations on discussions, though to be perfectly honest, past discretions related to at least two of these three candidates have been documented on this site ad nauseam.
Kathleen, I agree with you. It feels like we've thoroughly explored this topic "ad nauseam", often using the same examples for years. It's become repetitive. However, maybe Val's constraints will push us to discover fresh examples that won't feel like rehashing the old ones. After all, it's Val's discussion, so I'm game to follow his rules. Perhaps sticking to the current material without veering off course could make things more engaging.
This limitation was to avoid redundancy since many of us repeat the same things over and over again, sometimes writing a small book on the things we've argued many times before in the forums. So, only posting the newer material will help keep the conversation fresh.
Listen to some of Trump's speech from last night. The dude cannot process basic words any longer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ld193SuACa0I was mesmerized and watched the whole thing. I bet I know how you were feeling as you watched, a confirmation buzz is a sweet thing.
Considering the available crop of Pres. Biden's speech gaffes, posting this was a brave move.
Don't get defensive, it's not a defense of Trump to say that, so far, Biden is way ahead in this 'processing words' challenge.
GAMesmerized huh?
Here you better watch the last 10 minutes or so of this, start around 20 minutes in. Help clear your yead.
"Exposing Cultural Insanity" | Piers Morgan vs Professor Gad Saad
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt5925p3dgsNah, my head's clear. As mentioned to Valeant, my mesmerization was with the speaker, not the content.
*of course, I will watch, a little affirmation never hurts. ;-)
[EDIT ADDED]
Ok, I didn't make it to the last ten minutes. The professor established his "woke mind virus" mantra several times in the first 1:40. That was enough for me. Even if his points in the last ten minutes were valid his presentation would have tainted them for me. (snicker, snicker "tainted,' ya get it?)
GA
I guess you couldn't read the original post before adding your sarcastic snark about adding things we're all aware of by now - for either option. I sure do miss moderate GA more than this tainted version that tries to lob not-so-veiled insults about.
Geez Valeant. You're so far off-base that I'm starting to think you only read what you expect to be said, not what was said.
There was no veiled insult intended. There was no sarcastic snark intended.
Where was the veiled insult, was it in the confirmation bias reference? That shouldn't be it unless you disagreed with the speaker. Help me out, what part did you feel was insulting, I'll take it back and reword it.
I didn't speak to the content of the Trump clips because that would have to sound like I was defending him. So I spoke to the 'safe' point of your presumed view of the video, as in something that agreed with how you think, hence the reference to confirmation bias. This is something I have mentioned suffering from, also on Sunday mornings, more than once. Usually relative to a Ken posting.
I guess my wording didn't convey the right tone, huh? What part did you read as sarcastic snark? None was intended so I would probably rewrite that part too. (borderline snark, but not across the line ;-) )
You also guessed wrong in that I read the thread before replying, so I did see the OP. My "brave" reference was that the comparison will naturally be in mind regardless of the conditions you put in your OP. (ok, that was a little snarky ;-) ) Surely you don't think we've seen the last of comparable Biden moments?
My 'mesmerization' was with the video's speaker. Watching him was no different than watching the Right-wingers that host comparable Biden clips. It's bull when they do it and it was bull with your link too. Poor guy, at one point, his incredulity that conservatives 'just don't get it that Trump is so bad' was so strong he had to take off his glasses to wipe an eye. I bet he and Don Lemon are best buds. (yep, that was a veiled insult, but not to you)
With sincerity, there was no snark or insults intended in my response so I don't think I'm a new tainted GA, the moderate GA would make the same comment.
GAJust wondering where the bias is in showing a man who is actually struggling with his words. The fabrication of a bias in and of itself is an insult. Instead of rewording, how about just sitting this one out when you have nothing to add to the topic.
I figure with both candidates struggling with mentation, it would be good to have a thread to remain updated on the instances. And Sharlee and I will be sure to post the instances of our opposing candidates when they arise.
And so you admit you read the original post, but then suggested we go back in time to list previous examples that we already have seen, which I specifically stated would not be necessary since we've seen them ad nauseum in previous threads. There are plenty of examples for the two major candidates that we don't need to rehash - just looking for the new stuff.
Instead of attacking me for what you perceive as a confirmation bias, just take in the info for your own educational purposes.So it was the confirmation bias thing that upset you. It must be a bad thing in your mind. Since it's a real human nature thing that applies to all humans I didn't intend it as a partisan or political jab. I even mentioned my bouts with it. You're too damn touchy.
But no worries, you and Sharlee have at.
GANot touchy, just don't appreciate you coming at me instead of contributing anything of value. Your posts used to be funny, now they read as defenses in the name of Trumpism.
This thread has a purpose, and take a second look, it was written in a fairly bipartisan basis for a reason, to encourage updates on the topic from all sides.So you only want new contributions, not comments on contributions?
As noted initially, you read my post the way you want, and your "want" is predictable.
You should chill out. Other than misreading as insulting, the points of my original comment are valid. I would say we all feel a bit of affirmation when we read concurring perspectives. Particularly when the issue isn't black & white and there are other arguable perspectives. Do you say you don't?
I bet the oddsmakers would love to cover a bet that there won't be any more Pres. Biden speech incidents. It's a sure bet, especially if there is a debate. When that happens your Trump clip will look insignificant. That was the "brave" part.
As for the Trumpian behavior . . . simply because I won't criticize him as you do? You take no criticism as support, even though I address very specific issues and typically add a preface that it's not my intention to do so.
A martini or a bowl works wonders for the stressed mind.
(ok, that was a little bit snarky, but it comes with a smile: ;-) )
GA'I would say we all feel a bit of affirmation when we read concurring perspectives. Particularly when the issue isn't black & white and there are other arguable perspectives. Do you say you don't?'
So why come at me with it if we all do it? See why I'm pushing back now? Most people post things from sources that align with their views. That doesn't negate the content of Trump stumbling over his words in his speech - which was the point that relates to this thread. But instead of wanting to talk about that, you went into an attack as a means of deflection to defend Trump. It's the typical behavior we see from the people that have gone full Trumpian - immediate deflection away from an issue when Trump is at fault. So no, it's not the lack of criticism I think is Trumpian - it's the attacking of the source as a means of deflection.
And I'm certain as well that Biden will have mentation issues in the coming months, it's why I posted a photo of all the candidates, to welcome others to post it when it happens to any of them. For us on the left, when it happens to Biden, we might not be aware of it since our media does focus more on Trump than on Biden. As for my Trump clip being insignificant, I imagine it'll be part of a library full of moments that will give more than a few Republican voters as much pause as some Democrats have for Biden currently.
While alcohol or drugs might be your thing for your stress, I prefer healthier options.Nope, I don't see why, but this one has gone far enough.
Ga
GA
It's a gamble, but I'm so willing to wager that oddsmakers would lose if they bet against any further mishaps during Biden's speeches. Biden's latest public appearances increasingly reveal signs of cognitive decline, possibly indicating a deeper issue. Val's thread could prompt discussion and could prompt reflection for those who remain unconvinced about Biden's struggles with dementia. Having it all under one roof will offer a true picture and comparison of which candidate is cognitively unstable. After all, do we want to ignore a candidate's altered mentation?
When Biden is off-chain, he provides fodder for concern, regarding his state of mind.'When Biden is off-chain, he provides fodder for concern, regarding his state of mind.'
You could change the name of Biden to Trump and that statement would also be accurate.I know. Many of us keep noting the inability of Trump supporters to recognize any of the obvious faults he has.
Looks like I struck a chord by highlighting several instances of Biden's struggles in articulating coherent sentences. Remember, this was the task you proposed. No need for hostility. I can only speak for myself; you mentioned "many of us." Anyway, I'll stick to simply presenting examples. It's clear we hold different views, and I prefer not to engage in snide exchanges.
" Many of us keep noting the inability of Trump supporters to recognize any of the obvious faults he has."
This is a very much off subject... The 2024 Candidate Mental Decline Thread --- This is not about Trump supporters, it's about -- The 2024 Candidate Mental Decline Thread LOL
Sort of childish to get pissed when I post an example of Biden's declining mentation -- I mean you posted the thread. I will keep to the subject from here on.
Keep your thread on the subject, Kathleen has certainly veered from the subject... It is clear she picked up on your comment
" Many of us keep noting the inability of Trump supporters to recognize any of the obvious faults he has." Should I report her or will you have her remove her posts?It's not hostile to note a basic denial of reality that Trump struggles with basic words when he goes off-script. And that's very much on subject for this thread. That Trump's supporters cannot recognize his obvious mentation issues is definitely part of this topic.
Again will you ask Kathleen to remove her post or should I report the posts?
https://hubpages.com/politics/forum/360 … ost4328250Why? It's relevant to the topic. That Trump supporters clearly have a blind-spot to his mentation is part of the topic at hand.
The 2024 Candidate Mental Decline Thread
"Figured I would leave this one pretty general and give everyone the chance to contribute. One guideline though - the mentation episode must be from this date forward. Nothing in the past, only current episodes."
Where do you see anything about Trump supporters in your words? You laid down the rules, and you can't follow them... LOL
Your words are clear... From here on I intend to post only examples... I don't play games, period. I find your diversion just another ploy to turn your thread into a place to insult Trumps supporters. That may be a relevant topic, but it was not the topic you put forth.The topic is mentation issues of the candidates. So, if a candidate's followers cannot acknowledge their candidate's mentation troubles, that's absolutely relevant. No need to make threats when people have a difference of opinion about what a thread is actually about. You feel free to post the examples, the rest of us might want to talk about how those mentation issues apply to the upcoming election.
You're adding a new subject. I will stick to the original subject. So very easy to post the problems Biden has with confusion, no words needed but his.
And we disagree that Trump supporters general refusal to acknowledge Trump's mentation issues is part of this topic. Trump's, Biden's, and any other candidate's mentation is the exact subject of the thread, so if a group cannot acknowledge those issues, that's clearly relevant to the discussion.
It's not like we're talking about Palestinian protests in a Trump criminal trial thread when there's a whole Palestinian/Israel thread already out there. And when that happens, I make polite asks to move those posts to a relevant thread, not make threats of banning people. Big difference between us, I guess.
"I know. Many of us keep noting the inability of Trump supporters to recognize any of the obvious faults he has." VAL
The subject has nothing to do with Trump supporters. Read your OP, and title. No mention of Trump supporters in any respect.
"Considering the available crop of Pres. Biden's speech gaffes, posting this was a brave move."
Do you consider Trump's pattern of producing incomprehensible speech, at times, when reading from a teleprompter a mere gaffe? In the same category as failing to recall a name or a country?
It would appear that he has likely suffered some brain damage. Possibly from a stroke or even several mini strokes. I'm not sure what else causes an individual to look at words on a teleprompter and turn them into an indecipherable sentence. I'd be alarmed if any of my family or friends exhibited this action.I will tred carefully. I intend no sarcasm or snark.
My remark about President Biden's gaffes has no political or comparative aspects. My opinion is solely from what I have seen and heard him say.
His age is becoming more of an issue. The physical aspect is obvious. That's just how life works. Comparing one physical impairment against another's has no bearing on the reality of the point.
The mental aspect is a different thing. It's also a thing that is speculative at best. Are Biden's speech gaffes just an older-man version of young Biden's gaffes? etc. etc. etc. Or, is his brain gone and he has to be led around? Almost the entirety of those arguments are political and partisan and I don't want any part of it.
Just as, short of an obvious physical reality, I don't want any part of arguing for or against Trump's speech gaffes. My head isn't in the sand. I am relatively well-informed and aware, so my choice isn't from ignorance.
When I spoke of coming Biden gaffes it wasn't intended as a criticism or partisan jab, it was a a view of reality.
So I won't answer your question. Neither would I answer any similar question about Biden. But I'm grateful for a hook to hang this on.
GA
After listening to the entire rally where Trump spoke. Overall, Trump appeared coherent during the rally, though there were instances where his accuracy regarding numbers was questionable. I didn't fact-check his statistics, but it's known that he can sometimes be inaccurate in this regard. I recommend listening to the video to observe his mispronunciation of words firsthand. I did not find any incident where he mispronounced any words. I listened carefully to the sentence that your link provided for the worst illegal alien, and how he pronounced the words. They were clear and precise. If you want to listen enter at mark 39, shortly the sentence comes up. I also listened to the Cspan video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUbGq4OcPVA
I intend to be very careful not to post anything about Biden that I have not had a long look at and hopefully present it in full context.Yeah, not sure I could sit through the entirety of a lie-fest like that.
Val, I believe you have provided a platform that could prove quite valuable—a space where we can share instances where candidates may have appeared confused or displayed cognitive issues. Some here might not be particularly concerned about the cognitive abilities of the 2024 presidential candidates.
Perhaps due to having already formed their opinions on this matter and don't require further evidence. However, there may be those among us who haven't yet considered the cognitive states of the candidates and would find any examples beneficial.
Some individuals may simply not prioritize the mental capabilities of the person they intend to vote for... Who's to say? Ignoring potential issues may seem simpler than confronting them, leading some to prefer sitting on the fence. I mean to each their own.
Critiquing the examples shared could be quite enlightening. All too often, words are taken out of context, sometimes even skewed or taken out of context.Trump appears to have confused Jimmy Kimmel with Al Pacino in his latest social media post. Kimmel breaks it down in his monologue last night:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtBHDjztb2gFactcheck Politifact Was Joe Biden’s uncle eaten by cannibals after the World War II crash? Experts say it’s highly unlikely. https://www.politifact.com/article/2024 … fter-worl/
Biden telling story in his own words. I won't post anything here that I can't present a quote from Biden. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7obXDOhLLUDid a presidential election hang in the balance because of this statement? Another false equivalency.
"Did a presidential election hang in the balance because of this statement? Another false equivalency."
Kathleen, I don't understand your point, please be more specific.
This thread centers around the mental processes of the 2024 candidates, as outlined by Val in their original post. Val set a guideline that only current events should be discussed, which I adhered to by sharing factual information regarding President Biden's recent statements about his uncle, as fact-checked by several sources. I offer sources to substantiate my post.
I believe Val's thread serves as a valuable platform to evaluate candidates' cognitive abilities, which are crucial considerations in choosing a president. In my view, I believe that assessing a candidate's mentation is important in the decision-making process for voting. Do you feel mentation is relevant when choosing a president?
I don't worry about gaffs. I worry about what some presidents say on purpose.
Valeant: It's not an inability. It's an unwillingness. They would have to admit they were wrong.
Oh, look at Biden, the master of consistency! His campaign trail is like a thrilling rollercoaster ride through Confusionville. It's like watching a deer trying to navigate rush-hour traffic! And oh, that grand finale of his speeches, where he transforms into a yelling, angry emoji... what a showstopper!
April 24, 2024 --- Biden (April 24) Biden appeared to read out loud a direction from his teleprompter to “pause” during a speech before the North America Building Trade Union: “Imagine what we can do next, four more years, pause,” Biden said, before the crowd began chanting “four more years.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2 … 8031f63215
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkRXA0c4ahsBut his brain was able to see the word "pause" and read it accurately whereas Trump seems to see words on a teleprompter and his brain doesn't process them into intelligible speech. I have more problem with someone who sees a word but doesn't know how to articulate that word... That's a neurological issue for me. I think it's a good bet that Trump has had a stroke or some mini strokes.
I've often read that Biden doesn't really rehearse speeches, so this sort of gaffe doesn't really surprise me. It's being unprepared not neurologically compromised. When Trump slurs unintelligibly, that's a different issue.Hey, stop downplaying Joe reading an extra word. It's the end of the world for some on the right.
Trump's speech can be difficult to understand at times, and he sometimes struggles with using unfamiliar words. As for his health, besides sinus issues, high cholesterol, and being overweight, there isn't much information suggesting significant health problems. I prefer not to speculate without concrete facts.
Regarding brain injuries, it's Joe Biden who had two ruptured aneurysms in the past, and currently, he deals with atrial fibrillation, which heightens the risk of stroke and heart attack, as well as dementia.
"As Vice President of the United States under Barack Obama, Joe Biden served 8 years as one of the most important politicians in America. Prior to holding the Vice Presidency, Biden served several terms as a senator representing the State of Delaware. It was during his time as a senator that he required surgery for not one, but two brain aneurysms. The first aneurysm had ruptured, putting him in a life or death situation. Doctors saved his life and the recovery from his brain surgeries is simply astonishing. His ability to succeed at the highest levels of government after these aneurysms is truly inspirational. Below are a few news articles documenting his surgeries:"
https://www.moodyneuro.org/joe-biden-is-a-survivor/
"Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Thursday.
In a briefing from the White House, his physician, Dr. Kevin C. O’Connor, FAAFP, said that President Biden remains fit for duty and able to carry on his responsibilities without the need for any health accommodations.
Overall, O’Connor said Biden is in good health, although he does have a few minor health conditions his physicians continue to monitor, including osteoarthritis and gastroesophageal reflux that causes him to cough and clear his throat.
Biden also has seasonal allergies, hyperlipidemia, and asymptomatic atrial fibrillation — all of which are well-managed with medications."
https://www.healthline.com/health-news/ … nor-issues
Atrial Fibrillation, Cognitive Decline and Dementia
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4988519/
Mayo Clinic A Fib https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-con … c-20350624
Trump addresses questions without relying on prompts, often speaking extemporaneously for extended periods, even at rallies. Unlike Biden, he maintains composure without sudden outbursts of anger. Trump demonstrates emotional control and appropriateness in his speech.
President Joe Biden made an unfortunate gaffe on Tuesday as he tried to slam his Republican rival Donald Trump on stage at a campaign event about abortion care and reproductive rights in Florida.
Speaking to a crowd of supporters, the president slipped up once again as he asked how many more times he needs to prove “we” can’t be trusted.
“Folks, in a sense, I don’t know why we’re surprised by Trump,” he said.
“How many times does he have to prove we can’t be trusted?” he asked.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtqW4uOi_y8But at the end of the day Biden is on the right side of freedom to control your own body and Trump has enabled sadistic laws to be enacted. I'm sure you've followed the Idaho case. I'll be very blunt, these are the actions of sick sob's. An embryo takes precedence over a woman who is incubating it's very survival. Tell me where else does this scenario happen?
"Idaho's abortion ban has already affected emergency care. More women whose conditions are typically treated with abortions must now be flown out of state for care, since doctors must wait until they are close to death to provide terminations within the bounds of state law." AND harm to their organs or damage to future fertility is NOT an acceptable exception to their law... Like I said , sadistic.
Trump did this and Biden confusing pronouns is meaningless to me and many others.Val initiated this thread titled "The 2024 Candidate Mental Decline Thread," focusing on the challenge to present instances of cognitive issues among the four candidates. I'm committed to staying on topic and addressing the subject matter as requested. Which was as follows.
"Figured I would leave this one pretty general and give everyone the chance to contribute. One guideline though - the mentation episode must be from this date forward. Nothing in the past, only current episodes."
I've observed here at HP's an ongoing thread with lively discussions about abortion.Trump created a possibility that SCOTUS might[/i/] take action such that Idaho [i]might create such laws. He did not create such laws himself, he did not even give Idaho the opportunity. Only gave someone else the chance to give Idaho the chance.
“You know, one of the reasons why our economy is growing is because of you and many others. Why? Because we welcome immigrants,” he said. “We look to — the reason — look, think about it. Why is China stalling so badly economically? Why is Japan having trouble? Why is Russia? Why is India? Because they're xenophobic.” Joe Biden
The appropriateness of Biden's comment may be subject to interpretation and context. On one hand, emphasizing the economic benefits of immigration aligns with certain political narratives and values of inclusivity and diversity.
However, characterizing entire nations as "xenophobic" and attributing their economic challenges solely to this factor oversimplifies complex geopolitical and economic realities. It may also risk diplomatic tensions with these countries and undermine efforts towards international cooperation and understanding.Or... one could look at his argument as totally insane.
As much of his policies and rhetoric are.... and have been for 3.5 years.
You can look at Moscow... no homeless camps strewn across their streets as we can see in LA... San Fransisco... NY...
Same can be said for Japan... I don't think you can find a country with so much development and yet such clean streets, crime free, lacking the thousands of homeless tents and camps.
Do you know that the vast majority of homeless in America are Baby Boomers... who Biden could care less about... we are too busy importing and supporting foreigners that contributed nothing to this country... while we ignore millions of Americans over the age of 55 that have fallen through the cracks.
Social Security pays more to non-Americans than it does Americans. And currently the Biden Administration is twisting arms and bending backwards to ensure non-Americans can get social benefits, even jobs... all of which takes away from Americans in need.
There has never been a sicker government than the Biden Administration that clearly hates America and Americans... it is the ONLY thing that explains its efforts.Biden's recent comments and policies, particularly his lumping of ally Japan with adversaries Russia and China as 'xenophobic' nations, are highly inappropriate and concerning. It's evident that his loose cannon approach is detrimental. Meanwhile, countries like India are flourishing economically, showcasing remarkable growth. However, despite this, many American citizens, including those struggling with mental health issues, are being overlooked.
The Biden administration's eagerness to integrate into the global community seems to overshadow its duty to prioritize American interests. This is evident in their approach to immigration, where there's a rush to accommodate migrants from various parts of the world, regardless of whether they share American values or intend to assimilate. This undermines the fabric of American society and contradicts Biden's purported goal of strengthening it. Biden claims " It’s time we began to build this country from the middle up and the bottom out" . What he is doing is tearing it down from the middle class to the bottom-most poor citizens.
It's disheartening to consider that Biden's actions might reflect a disdain for America. Hopefully, the nation will come to recognize this before irreparable damage is done.This is exactly what this administration has done.
It worked overtime to undo ALL that was beneficial to America and Americans by the Trump Administration.
From starting new Wars to Opening the Border (flying in hundreds of thousands because they weren't getting in fast enough at the Southern Border) to Funding Iran so it could fund Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis ... to giving away Trillions more than we take in every year...
And so much more... only an Administration determined to destroy this country could put into effect all the Biden Administration has."flying in hundreds of thousands because they weren't getting in fast enough at the Southern Border"
Can you provide a credible source?Sure.
Anyone can do a Search and find it.
Biden border crisis: 13 million illegal immigrants now in US
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/poli … now-in-us/
A new estimate this week put the growing population of “gotaways” at a sky-high 13 million, more than the population of every state except four: California, Texas, New York, and Florida.
New Records: Biden DHS Has Approved Hundreds of Thousands of Migrants for Secretive Foreign Flights Directly into U.S. Airports
https://cis.org/Bensman/New-Records-Bid … gn-Flights
A little-known part of the Biden administration's CBP One parole program permits inadmissible aliens to make an appointment to fly directly to airports in the interior of the United States, bypassing the border altogether. Partial data on the program, just obtained by the Center for immigration Studies pursuant to a Freedom of Information Act request, reveals that more than 200,000 people from four countries have used this direct-flight and parole program over the past year.
Biden admin flew hundreds of thousands of migrants into US using CBP One app
https://nbcmontana.com/news/nation-worl … ern-border
Forget the millions of migrants who have crossed the southern border illegally. A new report shows the Biden administration has flown hundreds of thousands of migrants from foreign countries directly into the U.S. on flights using an app.
Of course, there will plenty of MSM sources that tell you its misinformation or whatever label they use. Its not. We are spending billions on foreigners coming here and will continue to spend billions as they require support and services as they have no real job skills and no ability to qualify for good paying jobs (nor should they).
Meanwhile, this government debates un-funding Social Security, ignore the millions of Americans homeless, living in the streets, in their cars, etc. while the Biden Administration most certainly is to blame for this debacle, our government on the whole is failing America and Americans.
But first the most important thing is to rid ourselves of the Biden Administration and then try to undo the crippling harm done by them.All misleading and irresponsible journalism.
These stories centers around the CPB One App that is designed to screen asylum seekers and provide a way for legitimate, screened asylum seekers to have their applications processed. The U.S. does NOT fly these migrants. They apply and if approved are told to appear at ports of entry. They pay for their own flights, they are directed to cities that can process their applications. Trump exercised parole authority during his term also.
The whole point of this program is to reduce the number of asylum seekers from flooding the border and overwhelming ports of entry on the southern border.
It's called parole authority and it is absolutely legal under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Spending billions?
"The ongoing surge of immigration to the United States will boost its economy by $7 trillion over the next decade by expanding the labor force and increasing consumer demand, a report from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office found."
This will add an extra $1 trillion in revenue to the government’s coffers, resulting in an annual budget deficit of 7% by 2034, lower than previously expected.
"The U.S. economy has benefited from immigration,” Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said this week, though he emphasized that he wasn’t telling Congress what to do about the border".
Economists have long said that immigration is key to a healthy economy: it can reduce inflation, shore up domestic manufacturing and raise employment rates. As the U.S. population ages, migrants will only become more important. Immigrants will be the key to keeping Social security afloat.
I believe Trump, if elected, wants to deport upwards of 10 million people. What effect would that have on our economy? First of all, the cost of such an action would be astronomical. But what impact would it have on our nation?
The restaurant and hospitality industry would be in serious trouble: a fifth of the country’s cooks and 24 percent of maids and housecleaners are undocumented. So are 22 percent of construction workers, so building across the country would likely grind to a halt. Good luck with the next infrastructure week.
Thirty-six percent of all agricultural workers are undocumented. The farming, meat and dairy industries would be severely crippled.
Immigrants have taken on very tough jobs, very demanding, in circumstances that are harsh. These are people who are so hungry for work that they are willing to do what other people would prefer not to do
https://www.semafor.com/article/02/08/2 … my-by-2034300,000 Migrants Secretly Flown To America [in 2023-2024]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7G1z-JBtrOU
A good report that explains my point.And then the debunking of the gaslighting in that claim...not really a secret when the government is publishing the numbers for all to see.
https://www.snopes.com/news/2024/03/07/ … -migrants/
What are other Nations reporting on Joe ---
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1374040299921112Why do they continue allowing him to appear in public? Every time he addresses an audience, he seems to spin delusional tales. It raises questions as to why he hasn't faced calls for resignation or impeachment from the presidency.
May 8, 2024 "Biden falsely claiming his Catholic school teacher was drafted by the Green Bay Packers -
WASHINGTON — President Biden blurted Wednesday that one of his childhood Catholic school teachers was drafted by the Green Bay Packers — an assertion disproven by a simple check of publicly available NFL records.
The 81-year-old president shared the false claim as he boasted of his connection to Wisconsin sports fans during a trip to the swing state.
“My theology professor at the Catholic school I went to was a guy named Reilly — last name — and he had been drafted by the Green Bay Packers,” Biden said in Racine, south of Milwaukee.
“And he decided to become a priest before that, so he didn’t go. But every single solitary Monday that Green Bay won, we got the last period of the day off.”
According to Pro Football Reference, the Packers have only drafted a single person with the last name “Riley,” “Reily,” or “Reilly” since the NFL began its annual college draft in 1936.
University of Colorado quarterback Maurice “Tex” Reilly was selected with the 202nd overall pick in the 22nd round of the 1947 draft — after his education was interrupted by World Word II, during which he commanded bombing missions over the Pacific, according to a 2002 article in the Denver Post.
Instead of playing professional football, the Bronze Star recipient rejoined the US Air Force in October 1947 as a civil engineer and was deployed to Japan and later Spain.
Reilly also served as an instructor at bases in Ohio and Alabama before retiring as a major general, according to a military biography.
The White House did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
Biden previously told a different version of the Packers story, describing how Archmere Academy’s headmaster, Father Justin E. Diny, would dismiss students early in celebration of Packers victories.
According to Pro Football Reference, the Packers have only drafted a single person with the last name "Riley," "Reily," or "Reilly" since the NFL began its annual college draft in 1936.
According to Pro Football Reference, the Packers have only drafted a single person with the last name “Riley,” “Reily,” or “Reilly” since the NFL began its annual college draft in 1936.
The president has a long record of embellishing stories in an attempt to establish a personal connection with his audiences.
Biden in 2021 told Jewish leaders that he remembered “spending time at” and “going to” Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue in 2018 after the worst anti-Semitic attack in US history, in which 11 people were murdered.
Synagogue officials said Biden never visited the house of worship and the White House later said he was thinking about a 2019 phone call to the rabbi."
https://nypost.com/2024/05/08/us-news/b … y-packers/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmgbwEmGvFA
Oh My Let's get back to the subject of this thread... It has been highjacked! Wonder why?
Anyhow, I am having a hell of a time keeping up with Biden's confused Blurbs! So many, and only so many hours in a day -- LOL Here is what I would call a Hum-dinger!
Biden claims inflation was 9% when he came into office — when it was 1.4%
https://nypost.com/2024/05/08/us-news/b … y-was-1-4/
"WASHINGTON — President Biden claimed Wednesday that voters were wrong to blame him for high inflation because it “was 9% when I came to office” — when in fact it actually was just 1.4%.
“No president has had the run we’ve had in terms of creating jobs and bringing down inflation, It was 9% when I came to office — 9%,” Biden told CNN’s Erin Burnett in a rare interview."
Inflation crept up shortly after Biden took office before surging to rates unseen since the early 1980s, peaking at an annual rate of 9.1% in June 2022 — 17 months after he took office.
Why can't they keep this guy out of the public eye?I guess they should keep Trump away from public speaking as well since he does not appear to know how old his children are.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics … &ei=18Another Trump speech where he glitches, slurs his words, confuses people like Jimmy Carter with Jimmy Connors, and confuses Beijing with Taiwan...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bRj0dDNeX8
And from his speeches, pretty sure he's going to name Hannibal Lecter as his running mate with all the fawning he does. Either that, or he's trying to make cannibalism great again.Trump thinks he told Frank Sinatra that he was a politician. Sinatra died in 1998.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lK-9UqKnb1gThis topic became really pertinent this morning. Pres. Biden has challenged Trump to a debate(s?).
What the hell? I'm stuck with just an 'IslandMom' — all I can do is SMH.
With no politics or partisanship, or issues, or even moral character inferences, Trump will destroy Biden on a debate stage. Not by being right, or 'presidential' or anything rational, but just by being Trump.
This is going to backfire. It will not come off as showing Pres. Biden is still in control and up to the task, it will end up with Biden exploding (or imploding) on stage.
To be clear, that's not something I want to happen, but it is what I think will happen.
GAAnd yet, in 2020, it was Trump that imploded during the debates by showing the American public that he was not, in any way, presidential. He tried to bully, talk over Joe, and show his petulance to moderators. He showed America that he has the personality of a child.
When making the challenge, Biden had this to say:
“I hear you’re free on Wednesdays.”Not really. Trump just likes to exaggerate and gaslight, while thinking that everyone will enjoy hearing his BS. Many Americans have learned to tune him out because they know much of what he says is completely false. MAGA will enjoy hearing Trump shout at the moon, while people that want normalcy will enjoy hearing measured, intelligent answers from an actual experienced politician.
Looking forward to Trump's policy positions - tax cuts, prosecute political enemies, and ignore climate change
I agree about 2020. But this time, I dont think is going to be good, for anyone.
An old and frail man against an old erratic lunatic.
I mean, it should be obvious who's preferable, but it could be a turn off for many (especially younger) voters. LOL
I know why Biden's campaign accepted to do debates, but he should have ignore Trump, just like he did to other candidates during the GOP primary.
"Im the president and you're an indicted criminal. I wont debased myself to debate you."
Shrinking Trump - a pair of psychologists go into the many examples of Trump's deteriorating mental health and a comparison with Biden's:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPo1Z54syJEMemory loss?
Or a case of mythomania?
“You famously said, regarding Hillary Clinton, ‘Lock her up.’ You declined to do that as president,” Fox host Will Cain told Trump.
“I beat her,” Trump responded. “It’s easier when you win. And they always said ‘Lock her up,’ and I felt — and I could have done it, but I felt it would have been a terrible thing. And then this happened to me... And, so I may feel differently about it. I can't tell you, I'm not sure I can answer the question. Hillary Clinton — I didn’t say ‘Lock her up,’ but the people said ‘Lock her up, lock her up,” Trump claimed. “Then we won. And I say — and I said pretty openly, I said, ‘All right, come on, just relax, let’s go, we’ve got to make our country great.’”This is too good. Trump asks Biden to take a cognitive test, and then seems to forget who gave him the test when he calls the dude Ronny Johnson instead of Ronny Jackson.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-challe … 45170.htmlhttps://www.yahoo.com/news/couldn-t-eve … 51036.html
More reports of Trump's failing memory.
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