What is really wrong with Fetterman (Woo, how much time do you have?)
Democrat Lt. Governor John Fetterman is running against Dr. Mehmet Oz for the Pennsylvania Senate seat being given up by Republican Patrick Toomey.
On the eve of the primary, Fetterman had a stroke. He won the primary from his hospital room but spent weeks away from the campaign trail to recover – at least somewhat.
Before getting into the Fetterman case, I should mention that I have had some experience with a stroke. I had one a couple of years ago – a mild one. I have a numbness that runs from the left side of my face, down through the shoulder to the left hand. But … It has zero impact on my mobility, strength, skin sensitivity, and intellectual functions. Just a slight feeling of numbness.
Fetterman is said to have had a mild stroke, too. I guess the difference is how one defines “mild.” Fetterman had a prolonged stay in the hospital. I was discharged the next morning. Fetterman had a weeks-long home recovery. I was back to writing – and tennis, bowling, and jumping out of airplanes – immediately. Fetterman had prolonged therapy – which is reported to be ongoing. I needed none.
There are two types of strokes – those caused by a blockage that prevents blood from flowing to a portion of the brain and those caused by ruptures in which blood flows into the brain. I had the former, which is the less dangerous.
We do not know what Fetterman suffered or the impact on his physical or mental abilities because the details have not been reported to the public.
We have heard that he has “communication” issues. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ran an article under the headline, “John Fetterman has lingering speech issues after his stroke. What’s the impact on his Senate run?” While Fetterman is officially back on the campaign trail, his public appearances are few and far between. He walks with a limp that seems to have been a result of the stroke – and has some speech issues.
The stroke may also have affected Fetterman’s ability to process verbal language. His team has requested that debate questions be displayed on a character generator as well as spoken. He has also backed off on his challenge to a large number of debates – possibly agreeing to one near election day, when more than half of Pennsylvania voters will have already cast early ballots.
I think it is safe to say that Fetterman is more seriously impaired that he is revealing to the public. Based on what little we do know, his debility will have some impact on his duties. It has already impacted on his ability to campaign. Whether it is sufficiently serious to impinge on his ability to give full service to the citizens of Pennsylvania is uncertain – at least from a public perspective. It is serious enough for voters to take a good hard look at the situation – learning whatever they can.
Of course, all this deals with his physical condition. What is REALLY wrong with Fetterman are his outrageously radical left-wing policies. But that will be for a future commentary.
So, there ‘tis.
I think Fetterman should be more honest with the public about his condition and ability to meet the challenges of the office. Strokes can change the way people think. Maybe the stroke made him a Republican now?
How honest does he have to be? It’s public knowledge he had a stroke. He’s talked about it, and shown a clean bill of health from his doctor.
Just because TV-doctor/quack/huckster Oz says “he shouldn’t have eaten X” (while telling people to eat all kinds of dangerous things in his little infomercials) doesn’t mean that Fetterman’s stroke was a personal failure, or that OZ is right, or that Fetterman will die in 30 days, or even that Oz is healthier than Fetterman. It’s a disgusting attack on an opponent’s health. It’s the kind of attack you make when you don’t have any policy positions to defend.
Listen to Fetterman talk – nothing has changed. His positions on the issues haven’t changed. He’s got a sense of humor, is self-aware, and baits the hell out of creepy Oz, who constantly puts both feet and an arm in his mouth.
Hello Bro … Fetterman has not released his medical records or explained the therapy he is still taking. The Post-Gazette did an entire article on his “speech problems.” He has requested closed captions for the debate and an unprecedented rehearsal time with panelists. Granted … he is not laying in bed with half his body paralyzed, but it is obvious that he has not fully recovered — and has some residual issues. That should be obvious to any fair-minded person.
It’s legal isn’t it? Isn’t that good enough?
Maybe if Republicans had a decent candidate, this would be more of an issue. As Republicans are so apt to say: it’s legal. :
Who is “Woo?” Bad rendition of The Who song: Woo are you? Woo, woo….
Yeah, Fetterman may have issues, then again, he may be on the mend. But face it, do we really want Congress to look like Oz?
Perhaps Larry is tiptoeing around the concept of a Congressional competency test, but Republicans should be careful what they ask for when it comes to Congressional competency. Think they take the cake when it comes to low IQs. Which is why Larry is not asking for it outright. But I wouldn’t worry about Fetterman fitness, he will be lightyears ahead of some of the Republican rocket scientists prowling the halls of Congress. Under the moniker, strange but true, how about……..
Marjorie Taylor Greene comes to mind, she might think this test will unleash the “gazpacho police,” those cold-cop tomato-troopers from Nazi Germany or Mexico City, whatever. She is also terrified of being fed “fake meat” burgers grown in “peach tree dishes,” by Bill Gates. MTG feels Democrats are “forcing communism through the corporations.” Most people might wonder how a corporation could ever be communist, and vice-vera but Greene doesn’t understand the oxymoron concept. She thinks Army Intelligence makes sense and that a “free gift” is better than just a gift.
Or maybe Lauren Boebert’s telling of those terrible “wanton killings” in Democratic controlled cities is bound to scare the dim sum right out of you. This is the same confused Boebert who called for Biden’s impeachment for treason for colluding with the Taliban. This was after she complained that he was not leaving fast enough. Later, she praised those treasonous Taliban-ers for “building back better.” Totally disoriented, her site proclaimed: “IMEACH BIDEN!” Oh yeah, she’s a smart one, that one.
Yeah, these rocket scientists are not only brain dead enough to spew these things, but they are apparently too stupid to even know it’s wrong. Then again, both have stated, on the record, that they believe that Democrats are part of a satanic cult of pedophiles who eat children and that California wildfires are caused by Jewish space lasers. So, perhaps an IQ of 70 or more is needed to be in Congress after all.
But wait, there’s more: Elise Stefanik lavishes praise on Medicare and Medicaid protections for millions while warning that: “To safeguard our future, we must reject Socialist healthcare schemes.” This is a Harvard grad so we might conclude she either believes her constituency is really this stupid, or she really is this stupid. Bush was Harvard, right?
Or how about Rep. Louie Gohmert. He warns that the Green New Deal, something that is not even a policy yet, is already ushering in an imaginary avian apocalypse. “Birds that aren’t killed by windmills are spontaneously combusting while flying over solar panels.” He calls them “flamers,” a new term that’s far too close to home with it’s old meaningt. Gohmert at least knows that people think he is “the dumbest guy in Congress,” quote the tard himself. Yeah, he said that.
Madison Cawthorn tweeted that “1984 is a great fiction novel to read.” Anyone ever read a nonfiction novel? Now Trump has entertained us with fictional history, but that’s another story. I am guessing Madison does not read anything anyway.
Ron Johnson said he would support vaccine mandates when “there’s some incredibly dangerous disease” just after they announced 700,000 Americans dead. He then introduced the Prevent Unconstitutional Vaccine Mandates for Interstate Commerce Act. I am sure he will explain why a law is needed to stop something that he says is unconstitutional to begin with.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn warns that a “socialistic government” won’t “allow women … to be on stage, or entertain.” Somehow the communists have magically merged with the Taliban becoming Democrats in America. Sure, anything can happen if you believe.
Josh Mandel, just a lowly Republican nominee tweeted: “You can’t spell panDEMic without ‘DEM.’ Is this a coincidence?” And god spelled backwards is dog, so cross yourself when you see fido coming.
Yes, Larry, we should have a competency test. I think the Democrats will fare OK on that one. And the current crop of maga extremists trying to win the midterms are even stupider. I might covert them next, if I can stomach the stupidity. Walker alone might fill a book.