Son of William F(you) Buckley, and famed conservative writer in his on right, has announced his support for the Democratic candidate for President, Barack ‘Hussyourdaddy’ Obama. In the article, Sorry Dad, I’m Voting for Obama, Buckley lambastes McCain on several points:
John McCain has changed. He said, famously, apropos the Republican debacle post-1994, “We came to Washington to change it, and Washington changed us.” This campaign has changed John McCain. It has made him inauthentic. A once-first class temperament has become irascible and snarly; his positions change, and lack coherence; he makes unrealistic promises, such as balancing the federal budget “by the end of my first term.” Who, really, believes that? Then there was the self-dramatizing and feckless suspension of his campaign over the financial crisis. His ninth-inning attack ads are mean-spirited and pointless. And finally, not to belabor it, there was the Palin nomination. What on earth can he have been thinking?
I have to agree with him on all points. I used to have a begrudging respect for John McCain, back in the days when he’d actually state what he actually believed. He can’t be accused of that anymore, he hasn’t stated a true opinion in over 7 years. It’s too bad. Here in New Hampshire, during the 2000 presidential primary, there had been quite a bit of McCainmania. He seemed passionate, honest, and was by far the best the Republicans had in their field of candidates, but that was before he found out why conservatives wouldn’t elect him. What he decided to do was change every position that he ever held, and then change them again and again. In the end, John McCain has become something of a joke. A sad, angry, old joke that seems to desire violence against his opponent.
Senator John McCain has shown quite a few moments in this campaign season of his muddled thought process. There is the use of tactics that are wishy-washy, and his attempt to take Senator Obama’s campaign slogans (a defensive gesture far too early in the season that confused his own image making process). But one needs look no further than his comments today, a gaffe that goes straight into the befuddled neural pathways of a man that was never ready to lead.
This isn’t simply a misstatement, it’s a warning sign of his advancing confusion. Thoughts colliding in his mind, topics becoming entangled, and reasoning that cannot withstand the in depth rigors of Presidential decision making, all blatantly apparent in this one gaffe.
If one of your friends had made a mistake like this, and didn’t correct him or herself immediately, you’d start to worry about how they were acting, wouldn’t you? I would. It’s not a positive sign, I’ll tell you that.
Recent memory loss. All of us forget things for a while and then remember them later. People with dementia often forget things, but they never remember them. They might ask you the same question over and over, each time forgetting that you’ve already given them the answer. They won’t even remember that they already asked the question.
Difficulty performing familiar tasks. People who have dementia might cook a meal but forget to serve it. They might even forget that they cooked it.
Problems with language. People who have dementia may forget simple words or use the wrong words. This makes it hard to understand what they want.
Time and place disorientation. People who have dementia may get lost on their own street. They may forget how they got to a certain place and how to get back home.
Poor judgment. Even a person who doesn’t have dementia might get distracted. But people who have dementia can forget simple things, like forgetting to put on a coat before going out in cold weather.
Problems with abstract thinking. Anybody might have trouble balancing a checkbook, but people who have dementia may forget what the numbers are and what has to be done with them.
Misplacing things. People who have dementia may put things in the wrong places. They might put an iron in the freezer or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl. Then they can’t find these things later.
Changes in mood. Everyone is moody at times, but people with dementia may have fast mood swings, going from calm to tears to anger in a few minutes.
Personality changes. People who have dementia may have drastic changes in personality. They might become irritable, suspicious or fearful.
Loss of initiative People who have dementia may become passive. They might not want to go places or see other people.
So, how do these relate to John McCain recently?
Memory Loss: John McCain seems to have forgotten that he repeatedly said the fundamentals of the economy were strong. Now he seems to think that he saw the economic crisis coming a long time ago.
Difficulty performing familiar tasks: Senator McCain was trying to get off stage a couple weeks ago, and couldn’t seem to find out how to do it. This is a guy who’s been on stage more than Michael Jackson, for crying out loud. He not only couldn’t remember how he got up there, but he seemed not to know how to go about it. Here’s the video:
Problems with language: Well, the “my fellow prisoners” sure fits this bill.
Time and place disorientation: He certainly can’t seem to find his way to the White House.
Poor judgment: I think Senator Obama did a fine job of calling out Senator McCain on this one:
Problems with abstract thinking: Would understanding that Spain is an ally fit in here? Zapatero-> Spain-> Country -> Europe -> NATO -> Friend -> Happy to see them!
Misplacing things: I’m pretty sure he misplaced integrity and honor about 7-8 months ago (okay, maybe 25 years ago).
Changes in mood: Des Moines Register interview anyone?
Personality changes: C’mon, it’s his whole campaign, I can’t post a video of that! ;-O
Loss of initiative: Wanted to cancel the first debate, suspended his campaign to retreat to his campaign office to call only 11 Representatives (only 4 of whom voted for the bailout package…some leadership), and didn’t want to go see Dave.
The above opinions are mine alone; I in no way am making or inferring a medical diagnosis, and make no claims as to the authenticity of the above medical terminology or those medical statement’s connection with any individual other than in a satirical and hyperbolic nature.
the plaid lemur 