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EvC Forum Side Orders Coffee House The Trump Presidency

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Author Topic:   The Trump Presidency
Percy
Member
Posts: 22391
From: New Hampshire
Joined: 12-23-2000
Member Rating: 5.2


Message 1516 of 4573 (824925)
12-05-2017 11:07 AM


Is Trump Suffering Cognitive Decline?
After listening to Trump recently (I do this as little as possible), I began to wonder what explained his strange, disjointed and fragmented style of speaking. So of course I looked it up on the Internet and found this interesting article:
Trump used to express himself clearly and in an organized fashion, speaking in not only complete sentences but complete paragraphs that communicated complex and subtle thoughts. No more. What explains the change?
This article proposes a number of possibilities, among them normal aging (he's 71), stress, fatigue, frustration, anger, a desire to communicate with his base in a style they'll appreciate, neurodegenerative disease and dementia.
--Percy

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Stile
Member
Posts: 4295
From: Ontario, Canada
Joined: 12-02-2004


Message 1517 of 4573 (824930)
12-05-2017 11:34 AM
Reply to: Message 1516 by Percy
12-05-2017 11:07 AM


Re: Is Trump Suffering Cognitive Decline?
Percy writes:
This article proposes a number of possibilities, among them normal aging (he's 71), stress, fatigue, frustration, anger, a desire to communicate with his base in a style they'll appreciate, neurodegenerative disease and dementia.
My guess would lean on the "stress" side of things.
Although cognitive decline certainly can't be ruled out.
A few (weak) defenses I can think of:
In the past, Trump's always been able to hire only "yes man" people to help him prepare/deal with interviews and public speaking.
Now, (I'm assuming?) there's at least some people he's forced to have around him that are not specifically paid by him who influence his public speaking.
In general, televised interviews are not as pre-planned or strict or polished as they were 20 years ago.
I think things (in pop-media... where Trump wishes he was) have moved more along the lines of admiring 'off the cuff' statements from celebrities (which Trump thinks he is).
I'm willing to entertain the idea of cognitive decline. It's only natural, really.
But this article seems a bit more along the lines of sensationalism than evidential.
I completely agree with the article that Trump's writing/speaking has declined.
I just don't see any evidence for saying this decline is due to cognitive decline rather than something like stress.
We KNOW Trump is under stress. He's not built for this sort of thing. He's feeble-minded.
It's POSSIBLE for Trump to be undergoing some sort of cognitive decline... because he's old.
To move cognitive decline up the list and say that's affecting him more than the other factors (or more than normal... aren't most congress-related-people old?) would take some more evidence than this article seems to provide.

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NoNukes
Inactive Member


Message 1518 of 4573 (824986)
12-06-2017 7:21 AM
Reply to: Message 1517 by Stile
12-05-2017 11:34 AM


Re: Is Trump Suffering Cognitive Decline?
To move cognitive decline up the list and say that's affecting him more than the other factors (or more than normal...
More than other factors really isn't the issue. You can recover from stress with some time off. You cannot recover from aging, and we are in uncharted territory with Trump. No older man has ever taken the office. Trump is a year older than Reagen was when first elected, and we know how that turned out...
Not evidence? You are right. The article puts forth very little, and I offer even less. But the idea is still worth watching out for all the same.

Under a government which imprisons any unjustly, the true place for a just man is also in prison. Thoreau: Civil Disobedience (1846)
I was thinking as long as I have my hands up they’re not going to shoot me. This is what I’m thinking they’re not going to shoot me. Wow, was I wrong. -- Charles Kinsey
We got a thousand points of light for the homeless man. We've got a kinder, gentler, machine gun hand. Neil Young, Rockin' in the Free World.
Worrying about the "browning of America" is not racism. -- Faith
I hate you all, you hate me -- Faith

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jar
Member (Idle past 394 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


(1)
Message 1519 of 4573 (825049)
12-06-2017 7:46 PM


How many groups can you piss off at once contest:

  
Percy
Member
Posts: 22391
From: New Hampshire
Joined: 12-23-2000
Member Rating: 5.2


(1)
Message 1520 of 4573 (825068)
12-07-2017 7:41 AM


Liberalism Contains the Seeds of its own Demise
There's a long and thoughtful editorial in today's New York Times (Liberals Need to Take Their Fingers Out of Their Ears) describing why liberalism stimulates the very responses that eventually marginalize it. It's a worthwhile read.
--Percy

  
Percy
Member
Posts: 22391
From: New Hampshire
Joined: 12-23-2000
Member Rating: 5.2


Message 1521 of 4573 (825073)
12-07-2017 11:21 AM


The Process Begins
Yesterday representative Al Green (Dem-TX) introduced two articles of impeachment on the House floor. They were voted down 364-58. I'm frankly surprised that it got 58 votes. I would have expected more like 10. I agree with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's joint comments with Minority Whip Steny Hoyer:
quote:
Legitimate questions have been raised about [Trump's] fitness to lead this nation...right now, Congressional committees continue to be deeply engaged in investigations into the President's actions both before and after his inauguration. The special counsel's investigation is moving forward as well, and those inquiries should be allowed to continue. Now is not the time to consider articles of impeachment.
Article here: Democrat Pushes Vote On Trump Impeachment. It Didn't Succeed
Anyone recognize this:
quote:
Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.
Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty-eight hours for that purpose if not in session. If the Congress, within twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session, within twenty-one days after Congress is required to assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the President shall resume the powers and duties of his office.
It's Section 4 of the 25th Amendment to the US Constitution. Apparently not only can the cabinet remove an unfit president, so can Congress: "...or of such other body as Congress may by law provide...". Representative Jamie D. Raskin (Dem-Md) has written a letter proposing a committee be formed to study the president's fitness to serve. It has 50 House co-sponsors. Read about it here in this Jennifer Rubin editorial in the Washington Post: And about the 25th Amendment
Lastly, here's a YouTube video of Trump announcing the move of the American Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. This video includes the first 30 seconds of the speech, during which Trump speaks clearly, and then skips to the last 30 seconds, during which Trump appears to have increasing difficultly enunciating his words clearly, and then at the end completely slurs the concluding words "United States":
Looks to me like Trump is having trouble with a dental appliance or dentures.
--Percy

Replies to this message:
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 Message 1523 by Heathen, posted 12-08-2017 1:53 AM Percy has seen this message but not replied
 Message 1527 by jar, posted 12-08-2017 9:35 PM Percy has seen this message but not replied
 Message 1537 by caffeine, posted 12-11-2017 1:15 PM Percy has replied

  
ringo
Member (Idle past 411 days)
Posts: 20940
From: frozen wasteland
Joined: 03-23-2005


(1)
Message 1522 of 4573 (825075)
12-07-2017 11:45 AM
Reply to: Message 1521 by Percy
12-07-2017 11:21 AM


Re: The Process Begins
Percy writes:
Looks to me like Trump is having trouble with a dental appliance or dentures.
Thank God he didn't show a nipple.

This message is a reply to:
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Replies to this message:
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Heathen
Member (Idle past 1283 days)
Posts: 1067
From: Brizzle
Joined: 09-20-2005


(1)
Message 1523 of 4573 (825098)
12-08-2017 1:53 AM
Reply to: Message 1521 by Percy
12-07-2017 11:21 AM


Re: The Process Begins
His human suit has clearly malfunctioned...

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1521 by Percy, posted 12-07-2017 11:21 AM Percy has seen this message but not replied

  
frako
Member (Idle past 305 days)
Posts: 2932
From: slovenija
Joined: 09-04-2010


Message 1524 of 4573 (825104)
12-08-2017 4:57 AM
Reply to: Message 1522 by ringo
12-07-2017 11:45 AM


Re: The Process Begins
Thank God he didn't show a nipple.
Given how his dementia seems to be progressing i dont think we are too far off from him searching for the newspaper delivery naked on the white house lawn.

Christianity, One woman's lie about an affair that got seriously out of hand
What are the Christians gonna do to me ..... Forgive me, good luck with that.

This message is a reply to:
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Replies to this message:
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Pressie
Member
Posts: 2103
From: Pretoria, SA
Joined: 06-18-2010


Message 1525 of 4573 (825105)
12-08-2017 6:11 AM
Reply to: Message 1524 by frako
12-08-2017 4:57 AM


Re: The Process Begins
Please spare us from having to witness that. Those 71-year old testicles covered in orange hair dangling between the knees...gravity sucks.
Edited by Pressie, : No reason given.

This message is a reply to:
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Percy
Member
Posts: 22391
From: New Hampshire
Joined: 12-23-2000
Member Rating: 5.2


Message 1526 of 4573 (825143)
12-08-2017 4:50 PM


Reply to Editorial
This editorial appeared in today's Washington Post: Why would we abandon Trump? He’s doing what he said he would do.
It's by Gary Abernathy of The Times-Gazette in Hillsboro, Ohio. It ticked me off and I sent a pretty harsh response to gabernathy@aimmediamidwest.com. Here it is:
quote:
Hi Gary,
Just read your editorial in today's Washington Post, "Why would we abandon Trump? He's doing what he said he would do." About this part:
> A year removed from our newspaper’s endorsement of Donald Trump
> for president, the most frequent question I get in emails and
> letters are from Trump critics asking whether I regret the
> endorsement.
>
> I find it an odd question.
> ...
> Trump has remained as constant as the northern star. Has Trump
> really behaved in some new manner that wasn’t on full display
> during the campaign? The outrageous tweets, the bluster, the
> self-aggrandizement, the insults Trump the commander in chief
> is virtually identical to Trump the neophyte candidate.
So you knew that during the campaign he was putting on display the truly despicable person he actually is, that it wasn't just some campaign persona invented to convince people he would really shake up Washington, and you endorsed him anyway. I'm not sure what's worse, this admission of complicity, or the naivet of many Trump supporters who thought he wasn't really the person he seemed to be. His continuously declining poll numbers tell us that increasing numbers of prior supporters are recognizing his unfitness on many levels, so for you to ask the question, "Why abandon Trump?" hints at some kind of obliviousness that seems much out of place for a newspaper editor.
Or maybe you know exactly what you're doing and you're just advancing the cause and to hell with the truth, much like the president you profess to like so much. And for you to brag you knew the real Trump and to support him anyway, both before and after the election, denotes some especial moral numbness of conscience.
I'm an independent. I was against Bill Clinton and couldn't decide between W and Al Gore. I vote for the person best able to lead the country with integrity, honesty, honor, fairness, compassion and competence, qualities that as a candidate and a president have never visited Trump's doorstep. Trump is loyal to no one but himself, so as long as it's to his advantage to be loyal to his base that's what he will be. But as soon as his base no longer advances his goals you'll be as out in the cold as everyone else. And then you'll realize you knew who Trump really was all along, but by then it will be too late to act on the knowledge that there is nothing more risky than being a Trump friend.
Looking at some of your older editorials makes me wince. "Trump struggles with empathy. So what?" I'm guessing that you live in a region of the country that could use a little presidential empathy, but I'm not very familiar with Ohio. I know a little bit more about West Virginia. You probably believe Trump's doing your neighbor West Virginia a solid concerning coal, but there's nothing Trump can do about the realities of coal. There is no silk purse in the sow's ear of coal. Use Google Maps to do a satellite view of West Virginia. The whole state. You'll be able to pick out the environmental disaster that is coal mining without even zooming in. And the environmental disaster of burning coal for energy is equally disastrous, just not so visible to the eye as Google Maps.
If anyone needs help it is the people of West Virginia, not its coal companies. The coal, and print news media too, are dinosaurs, there's nothing that can change that, and it is the people employed in such industries who need help, not the industries themselves. Inevitable progress takes yesterday's dominant industries and turns them into today's dinosaurs. Nothing can change that. Doubt me? Where's Kodak today? Pay phones? Walkmans? Stage coach manufacturers? Whaling ships?
Well, keep up the good work. Your editorials in the Post only mobilize anti-Trump sentiment.
If you've got a true reply then it is more than welcome. If you've just got a form letter, please don't bother. By the way, email? Also dying.
--Percy

  
jar
Member (Idle past 394 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


(1)
Message 1527 of 4573 (825156)
12-08-2017 9:35 PM
Reply to: Message 1521 by Percy
12-07-2017 11:21 AM


The silly Jerusalem gambit.
The funny thing is that historically Jerusalem was NEVER the capital of Israel. Even during the period of consolidated Kingship Israel and Judah were still independent Nation States much like England & Scotland under James I & VI.
Jerusalem was the capital of Judah.

My Sister's Website: Rose Hill Studios My Website: My Website

This message is a reply to:
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Minnemooseus
Member
Posts: 3941
From: Duluth, Minnesota, U.S. (West end of Lake Superior)
Joined: 11-11-2001
Member Rating: 10.0


Message 1528 of 4573 (825215)
12-10-2017 12:04 AM


A dream...
Something e-mailed to me. Probably because I'm not a Facebook member, this doesn't play well for me, but I can see where it's going.
Update Your Browser | Facebook
Moose

Replies to this message:
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nwr
Member
Posts: 6408
From: Geneva, Illinois
Joined: 08-08-2005
Member Rating: 5.1


Message 1529 of 4573 (825243)
12-10-2017 12:38 PM
Reply to: Message 1528 by Minnemooseus
12-10-2017 12:04 AM


Re: A dream...
..., this doesn't play well for me, ...
Maybe the youtube version is a tad easier to follow.

Fundamentalism - the anti-American, anti-Christian branch of American Christianity

This message is a reply to:
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dwise1
Member
Posts: 5930
Joined: 05-02-2006
Member Rating: 5.8


Message 1530 of 4573 (825247)
12-10-2017 1:56 PM
Reply to: Message 1528 by Minnemooseus
12-10-2017 12:04 AM


Re: A dream...
It's been a while since I've watched the first season of Daredevil on Netflix, but I think that's where this footage is from. Matt Murdock's efforts in uncovering Fisk's (here portrayed by Trump) massive corruption of the NYPD in Hell's Kitchen results in these multiple arrests by the FBI. Fairly decent pasting of faces over the original -- as I recall, in the original Comey was black.

This message is a reply to:
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