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Biden needs a mental cognition test

Biden needs a mental cognition test

I am not the first to suggest that President Biden should take the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) to better determine his mental acuity.  So far, the answer is “no.”  That comes from the White House staff that claims he does not need one. Of course, they are not only not doctors, but they have every reason to conceal any significant health issues with the President.  Presidents Wilson, Franklin Roosevelt and Kennedy all had serious health issues that were hidden from the public.

Today there is more transparency regarding a President’s health.  The results of annual physicals are reported to the public – for the most part.  But even now, major health issues may be concealed.

Ironically, one of the most critical tests – especially for a President – are never routinely given.  And that involves the Commander-in-Chief’s mental health.  Former President Trump took the standard cognitive test – and challenged Biden to do the same.  The latter demurred.

Most folks over 65 have a rather simple cognitive test as part of annual physicals.  It involves recalling three words provided by the nurse practitioner … asked about the day of the week and the date … and being able to draw the hands of a clock to the time requested by the examiner.  (Personally, I think seniors would pass the clock test better than the younger generation who are less familiar with the traditional clock face.)

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) strongly recommends routine cognitive test for seniors – and especially if there are even nominal signs of memory lapses or confusion.  And we have been repeatedly told that Biden follows CDC recommendations.  Not in this case.  The CDC notes that:

“Nearly 90% of Americans say that if they were exhibiting confusion and memory loss, they would want to know if the cause of the symptoms was Alzheimer’s disease. Yet, over half of the people aged 45 and older with subjective cognitive decline have not talked with a healthcare provider about their questions, concerns, and fears. Among those whose memory problems were creating functional difficulties, 42% had not shared these issues with a provider.”

It should not take much debate to agree that the mental condition of a President of the United States is as important as almost any other health issue – short of a terminal diagnosis.  A President can have heart problems and do okay – even Diabetes and do okay.  But mental issues?  Yet, that is the one test they avoid.

Ironically, we are in an era in which many of America’s most powerful leaders are old … period.  They are at the age in which mental acuity tends to diminish for everyone.  Former President Carter said that no person over the age of 80 can carry out the duties of the presidency effectively.  And Biden will be 80 in less than a year.

The need for Biden to take the test is even more critical since he is showing signs of mental decline.  The White House dismisses his verbal gaffes as merely the after effects of childhood stuttering.   But that does not explain the difference in Biden’s public performances in the past as compared to today.  There is a difference between some hesitancy during a speech and what seems more like “senior moments” we have all seen in aging and declining relatives.

On several public occasions, Biden appears to be confused – seemingly not sure where he is or where he is going.  He has exhibited memory failures and exhibited some difficulty in completing a sentence or a thought. In some cases, he never regained his thought – but merely moves on.  On other occasions, he has paused and then reached in his pocket for written notes.

He recently said that he was a professor at the University of Pennsylvania when, in fact, he never even taught a course there.  Was this just an example of Biden’s propensity to habitually lie about his background – or some created memory?  If that sounds extreme, many folks in mental decline not only forget things, but they can believe that something happened that did not.

To see the significant difference in Biden’s performance, just check out the videos from the 2020 campaign – just two years ago.  He is not the same man.

I am not a doctor, but I can observe early warning signs of mental aging.  I cannot make a diagnosis, but I can see the need to have things checked out.  I suspect that Biden’s condition would have to be a lot worse – and a lot more obvious – before any intervention would take place.

I draw attention to the signs, but I sincerely hope that he is okay – and will remain reasonably okay for the remainder of his term.  The thought of Kamala Harris taking over scares me more than a mildly mentally impaired Biden.  Regardless … Biden should assure the nation of his competence by taking the mental acuity test.  Or should he?

So, there ‘tis,

About The Author

Larry Horist

So, there ‘tis… The opinions, perspectives and analyses of businessman, conservative writer and political strategist Larry Horist. Larry has an extensive background in economics and public policy. For more than 40 years, he ran his own Chicago based consulting firm. His clients included such conservative icons as Steve Forbes and Milton Friedman. He has served as a consultant to the Nixon White House and travelled the country as a spokesman for President Reagan’s economic reforms. Larry professional emphasis has been on civil rights and education. He was consultant to both the Chicago and the Detroit boards of education, the Educational Choice Foundation, the Chicago Teachers Academy and the Chicago Academy for the Performing Arts. Larry has testified as an expert witness before numerous legislative bodies, including the U. S. Congress, and has lectured at colleges and universities, including Harvard, Northwestern and DePaul. He served as Executive Director of the City Club of Chicago, where he led a successful two-year campaign to save the historic Chicago Theatre from the wrecking ball. Larry has been a guest on hundreds of public affairs talk shows, and hosted his own program, “Chicago In Sight,” on WIND radio. An award-winning debater, his insightful and sometimes controversial commentaries have appeared on the editorial pages of newspapers across the nation. He is praised by audiences for his style, substance and sense of humor. Larry retired from his consulting business to devote his time to writing. His books include a humorous look at collecting, “The Acrapulators’ Guide”, and a more serious history of the Democratic Party’s role in de facto institutional racism, “Who Put Blacks in That PLACE? -- The Long Sad History of the Democratic Party’s Oppression of Black Americans ... to This Day”. Larry currently lives in Boca Raton, Florida.

28 Comments

  1. Nathan

    His handlers have the perfect puppet. They won’t allow it. Even they know he’s not right. Check out the story on the Easter egg roll. The bunny person and Jill kept him in check and told him to stay put. They wouldn’t dare let him get too close to the kids.

    • Frank stetson

      30,000 lies and you just come up with the need for mental acuity now Larry? Can’t he just use Trump’s doctors? I am sure he could enter the olympics after those results. Oh wait, he’ll do it right after the IRS completes their audit. :-).

      You take the rest first Larry. You still have typos in your bio, the first sign of old-timers! 🙂

      • Paul ritchie

        There wasn’t 30000 lies from Trump. Of course the left lies and smears people who don’t fall in line and kiss commie ass. I double dog dare you to produce 30000 lies from Trump. I’m not saying that he’s never lied. All politicians do to some extent. You and I probably would too if we were president. But mush brain Biden keeps them coming. His biggest lie was swearing on a Bible to uphold the laws and constitution of our country. That’s really working out. Lol. So you and idiot Ben keep your noses up Biden’s ass but come out for air sometimes. Or you might end up with screwed up brains like him. Oh I forgot. You fools support Biden so it’s too late.

        • frank stetson

          You have to be kidding Paul. Are you really that brain dead that you need me to show you? OK, take off the tin foil hat, quit being a Trumpublican sheep for one second, and YES — it’s WAPO, so either you can look at the documented evidence or you came just scream: “MSM fake news” and continue living the dream.

          The lies are documented, with multiple sources, dates, places, all databased for your researching needs.

          https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/01/24/trumps-false-or-misleading-claims-total-30573-over-four-years/

          And yes, all politicians, all people lie upon occasion either on purpose or accidently. But 30,0000 times in four years on the record by a President is probably a new record for an American President, including Bill Clinton who had a lot of personal stuff worthy of a lie for cover.

          How has Biden not upheld the law and Constitution. Easy to say, can you prove it. Or just more hot air?

          • Paul ritchie

            Ok. Ignoring our immigration laws is a start. But I’m not going to fill out an itemized list. I would wear out my keyboard. And how about trying to trample the 2nd amendment? And so many of his lies during speeches and press conferences have to be walked back. His administration is like a tv drama. And the Biden crowd thinks that the red headed bimbo trying to cover for him is helping by crying and slinging snot on tv. Lol

          • larry Horist

            Frank Stetson … just for one. He is constitutionally obligated to protect the border.

          • Joe Gilbertson

            You really assume that the Washington Post is telling you the truth? I glanced over that list long ago. Big nothing burger, mostly cites liberals who are making accusations.

          • frank stetson

            Joe, how are those Ukrainian predictions working out? Has Zelenskyy taken the money and led the military to its doom? Glad you glanced at all 30,000 lies, determined a leftist nothing burger and you are ready for more, better lies in 2024. Top Trump lies include, but not exhaustive:
            – The Big Lie
            – The rain never came (on his inauguration) we should have know then and there on his first lie of the most lies of any Presidency.
            – The virus is like the flu; it’s “totally under control” and is already disappearing.
            – Remember the sharpee defined Hurricane Map nailing Alabama
            – I didn’t pay no Stormy Daniels
            – “You know, under President Obama you had separation. I was the one that ended it.”
            – “I got the Veterans Choice program passed after other presidents tried and failed for years.”
            – “They say the noise from windmills causes cancer.”
            – Healthcare is easy to fix
            – It’s infrastructure week, again
            – I am Michigan’s Man of the Year

            I got many more, but the point is you may think it’s a nothing burger, but words have meaning, meaning changes policy, policy affects people. So, when people flee Alabama’s pending disaster, people get hurt. When you tell The Big Lie, the Capitol gets stormed, over 100 injured, 800 indicted….so far. People got hurt. Not taking prompt action during a pandemic resulted in a higher death risk than 210 other countries and regions. I would say who is better, but basically everyone. And we are talking a whole lot of dead people better. I do not call lies that turn into bad policy a nothing burger. Not to mention the companies he laid waste to with his words, lies often. Or our global relationships needing repair since no one trusts a liar. At this rate, they just avoided him if they could. Lies do matter Joe. Liars are not better than those who try to tell the truth.

            Paul, quit the generalities and pick one immigration law. Since when is “trying to trample the second” not upholding the Constitution. Can you say amendment….it’s a living document made for changes. Not easy, but possible. But trying is not aborting the Constitution.

            Larry, good pick on Ukraine. You might be right at this point, WTF, may never be a better time to take Putin out and be justified. Yes, Presidents are obligated to defense of our nation whether from illegal crossers to covid. Biden’s Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) discretionary budget grew to $15 billion in FY 2021. Trump had wanted 18B. So, less than Trump wanted, more than Trump spent in 2020. How is this negating his Constitutional obligation? Just because you don’t like the results, that does not automatically mean he has voided the Constitution.

    • B4CE

      “Person, man, woman, tv camera”

      “Windmills cause cancer”

      “The fighter jets that took part in the revolutionary war”
      “Tim Apple”

      Just a couple off the top of my head

  2. Ben

    Frank is trying to project Biden as being mentally sound. Why? Does he think that the old man acts normal? Frank loses all credibility by pretending that Biden is normal. This makes me think that Frank might have a cognitive issue

    • frank stetson

      I never said Biden in mentally sound.

      • Mike

        So why do you support him?

        • frank stetson

          I never said he was not mentally sound.

          He has a speech impediment, so he stalls sometimes. He has always gaffed, and this does not help that.

          This is a stupid idea that, if you push really hard, you might get it at the same speed Trump unveils his taxes.

          • Fred ford

            Face it. Trump was a great president. We had a stronger and safer country on his watch. But that’s not what communists want

          • frank stetson

            Why do you call Democrats, Communists?

            And if Communists are bad, why do you support Trump who is married to a woman raised as a Communist that has never said she isn’t. Trump gave her Communist Party Father US citizenship and let him in unsupervised to the Oval Office. How’s that for protecting the border.

            Turnip said: “CHAIN MIGRATION cannot be allowed to be part of any legislation on Immigration!” except apparently for his wife’s family. They are a “clear and present danger,” and should be deported immediately. Through Mexico please.

            So, Fred, if you are looking for Communists, look to Mara Loser where they all hang out.

          • larry Horist

            Frank Stetson. Melannia Trump is not a Communist. And if you apply that to her father’s past history, you should be up in arms over Biden’s appointment of Saule Omarova,, who was a member of a Communist group … and what about former CIA Director Brennan, who voted for the Communist presidential candidate, Gus Hall, in 1976. Hall had repeated called for the overthrow of the American government. And regarding Biden … he is showing signs of advance age. It has nothing to do with his history of stuttering in his youth. It is not a speech impediment. He is having obvious “senior moments.” And generally, the condition is worse than outside individual can observe.

          • Frank stetson

            Larry, As I noted, Melania was raised in a communist party household. Her father was a communist party member. His employment was based on belonging to the communist party. While not rich, they lived an above average lifestyle due to his communist party affiliation which got his job. He became an American citizen shortly before Donald Trump’s ascension to power via chain migration and Melania’s US citizenship which was garnered in a pretty dubious fashion to begin with.

            Frankly, I think that’s a lot closer to being a communist than I ever will be.

            As to your “you should look at the other guy“ communist, I will look that up. Personally, I judge a person on their words and actions, not with some other asshole Branson ass. Melania is a whore, plain and simple.

            Can you point to one of Joe’s senior moments? And since you like comparisons so well, can you compare said senior moment to the mad orangutan that you plan to vote for next presidential election. I mean his last Nixonian-sweat-fest interview with Piers looked pretty crazy to me. He is still advocating the big lie and has not conceded the election. If that’s not crazy, what is. It certainly is unique in presidential history.

          • Frank sTetson

            Never mind the example, I did a reread and it’s in there!

    • frank roselli

      Ben you are SO! Correct! Biden was a weak V.P. now he is a “PRES”?

  3. Will

    You really are a sick man. Where do you get these stupid ideas? Ok. I get it. Reading mother Jones and other commie propaganda

  4. Frank stetson

    Why do you call me a Communist? I just do not understand, seems stupid.

    Where do I get these ideas? Anywhere you look.

    Melania Trump was raised under a communist household, her father was a member of the communist party and even got his job by being a member of the party. Just before Trump was inaugurated, the trumps arranged for Melania’s Parents to become US citizens as part of the Process Donald Trump called “chain migration.” He vowed to end such a policy, apparently except for his own family. Shortly after inauguration, the Trump’s hosted Melania’s parents and gave them a tour of the White House including the oval office.

    Look it up you blithering idiot before you start calling people names and acting like an asshole.

    • Bruce

      So his in-law came to visit the White House. And saw the Oval Office. OMG!!!!!!! Melania isn’t a communist. I don’t know anything about her father. My folks were free will Baptist and I’m southern Baptist. And there’s noticeable differences. Believe me. So there’s no evidence that Ms. Trump is a communist

      • Frank stetson

        Yes, his in-laws came to the White House. He is also a card carrying communist party member. And like other communists Donald Trump invited to the oval office, he was left there unsupervised. I think whenever Donald Trump meets with a communist unsupervised there are national security risks. Heck, he is unclassified classified information on the fly in such situations a number of times. Not illegal, but certainly stupid. Both Melania and her parents became US citizens under dubious situations, the parents most notably used chain migration to get here. She used the visa process and her “extraordinary abilities“ to become a US citizen. Usually, only 2% of such applicants gain citizenship and truly have extraordinary abilities beyond walking the runway.

        You are correct, there is no absolute proof that she is a communist, only that she was raised in a communist household, and as you note the sins of the parents don’t necessarily go to the children.

        More likely, she is just an opportunist that has followed the almighty dollar above all of others. She married a rich guy 24 years of senior that amazingly looks like her father. I mean creepy looks like her father. But all of that is my opinion and we all know what those are. I think she’s a whore.

        But you are right, there’s no proof she’s a communist, there is lots of proof that she was raised in a communist household and has a father who is a member in the communist party, but in truth we really have no idea what Melania thinks. Or does she?

        • Larry kuhn

          You think she’s a whore? Well I think that Kamala Harris is a whore. It’s a known fact that she screwed her way and even the democrats hate her. She only got her job because of voter fraud. And she doesn’t do her job.

  5. Frank stetson

    Larry,,

    Actually, I really have no problem with setting standards for Presidents as well as Congress. I have no problem with setting standards, into law, including release of taxes, putting assets into blind trusts, cognitive test, medical test, etc.

    I think the same test reply to all representatives and senators, not a problem.

    I do a problem with people all of a sudden becoming woke to this after living the last four years with a guy who did nothing but lie, never revealed his taxes, did not put his business into a blind trust, and had most of his medical test done by his paid for doctors. It just seems a bit hypocritical that all of a sudden you become woke to this. That said, no I have no problem with putting these things into law and having them done.

    If the last four years taught us anything it’s that we cannot rely on the good nature and integrity of our officials to do these things on their own even if every president in the past has always done it. We need to codified into law. Good luck.

    • Larry kuhn

      That’s another reason to not steal elections

      • Ben

        All I need is 11,xxx votes…….

        Let’s send our own electors in….

        Mike. You gotta do what’s needed….

        Kill Mike Pence.

        Recount, recount, recount, failed, failed

        Court case, court case, tossed, tossed….

        That’s why more Trumpublican fascists were convicted of voter fraud in 2020 elections than any other party. A party full of frauds and cheats.

        • Kyle

          And again you’re a lying fool. I would love for you to go live in the type of country that you want America to be. You would probably love standing in line for toilet paper hoping you don’t shit your pants before you get it. Or maybe China would be great for you. If your old lady got knocked up twice, assuming that you like women, probably not, the state would take choice right out of her hands and drag her off to the baby murder doctor. And break out talk of wokeness and tell me how that works out. Queers keep their faggot lifestyle to themselves. One good thing is that rioters and looters would be dead. I’ll give them an A+ for that You should be proud of your country. It’s not perfect but I’ll take America over commie shitholes six days from Sunday and throw Sunday in the mix.