https://www.yahoo.com/news/mitch-mc...onference-after-falling-silent-190017841.html There is video of the press conference. Something happened to Mitch McConnel where he trailed off and stood silent for a few moments and was taken aside for a moment to return later to say he was fine. I did not see his face droop, but that looks like he had some sort of stroke. It is really sad that no emergency medical care zipped him off as that can make a lot of difference. Just walk that shit off mitch. Anyway, I actually thought I would enjoy this image, but it has just reminded me about people I know here in the elderly communities who have these issues, and my father. I will cheer more later.
Way I look at it, we wouldn't be seeing his public deterioration if he'd just go the fuck away. These fucking people greedily cling to power to the literal death, then we're supposed to get choked up when they crumble to dust in front of everyone. Retire, and fade away with your family around you. Fucking power-monger.
I'm kind of hoping it was Satan telling him his time was near, and showing him the assorted pineapples he had waiting for him. The kind that won't be eaten.
It's been very disappointing to see some people celebrating this. I for one hope he receives medical care just as good as that he fights tirelessly for the wider public to receive.
Yet another argument as to why we need age limits on politicians This motherfucker is 81 years old for crying out loud
As shitty a human being as McConnell is, the next senator from Kentucky will doubtless be far shittier.
In Mitch's defense, it seemed like a pretty mild incident. They will probably put him on some blood thinners and he will be fine without losing much cognitive function. I would not say this impairs him like a Diane Feinstein, but he should get out. Of course we should seek to have people who are below their seventies do this job, but I will say Mitch is probably just as able to fuck us all over today as he was yesterday.
That was crazy… when I saw it, I thought it might be something called a transient ischemic attack, which is low blood flow to the brain and could be a warning sign of an imminent stroke, but when I think a little more, it could be a petite mall seizure. He definitely needs a full work up and I’m sure he’s got one by now. As much as he’s ruined the Senate and political discourse in this country, I’m sort of mad at myself for hoping he gets better soon.
We're running a Senior care center in our government, and these people get to make decisions that will affect all of us. There needs to be limits. If you're 70, in good mental health, and able to do your job, sure, that's awesome, you can be in office, but if you're 80 years old, taking Alzheimer's medications, having mini-strokes due to advanced age and deteriorating mental faculties, then it's time you go out, Democrat, Republican, doesn't matter. Out. Retire. Rest. Let go of the goddamn reins.
Honestly, if their term takes them past the age of retirement, have them finish it out, then forcibly retire them. Let them have a pension or whatever benefits. And I think that should apply to the other Branches as well.
There's a problem with pegging it to a particular age, though. After all, while we might agree that as you get older your brain power goes down, where should we draw the line when people in their thirties can show signs that indicate they will develop early-onset Alzheimer's? You can't even run for President until you're thirty-five. If folks are unfamiliar with Oliver Sacks' work (the Robin Williams movie "Awakenings" was inspired by one of his books) you need to check it out because he talks a lot about how weird our brains can be.
Well, I was just using example ages there. If you're 40, 50, 60 and already experiencing mental deterioration, it's a kind but firm boot out the door. I actually like @Bickendan's idea better. Retirement age, you step down. You get your pension, your accolades, your free secretary, and you go and live your life however you want, but it's out of public office.
Again, how do you define mental deterioration? We really don't have a lot of ideas about how the brain works on certain levels, so our ideas of what constitutes that have to be constantly changing as we start to figure this stuff out. I mean, I would think that we both agree someone who has a stroke while in office and loses the ability to drive because of it, shouldn't have to step down. Yes, they are not as physically capable as they once were, but they do recognize that fact, so they can bring something to the table when it comes to political discussions that might not otherwise be heard. Now, how is that different from a politician who has a stroke, loses the ability to understand math, so they turn such matters over to a trusted aide who will find a way to explain it to the politician that doesn't involve math? Is that really different than the politician hiring a driver? I don't know. And we may find out that having a stroke that impairs your motor skills does worse damage to your overall cognitive ability than losing the ability to do math. What then?
Honestly? Probably the same way heavy equipment operators are tested. If you're impaired to the point where you can no longer perform your function satisfactorily, and there are tests designed to assess that, then you step down. It would have to be tailored for political work, but it could be done.
We do have a new cognitive test that could be effective. Do you believe the 2020 election was stolen? If the answer is yes then we fire them. Also, checking the republican box should be clear evidence you are mentally and ethically unable to perform any government duties.