I could never see / nor tell the difference???....were they, ever
Posted on 05/22/2008 7:59:40 PM PDT by Free ThinkerNY
Not waiting until the actual Friday release of John McCain's medical records, on Thursday's World News anchor Charles Gibson (who's 65) and Dr. Tim Johnson (who at 72 is older than McCain) speculated about McCain's health. Gibson wondered about “psychological damage” from his POW captivity. Assured there's no evidence of that, Gibson jumped to wonder how much longer McCain has to live, a question which led Johnson to warn, that while McCain may live another 16 years, there's a decent chance he'll develop “dementia.”
Gibson asked: “There's also an enormous amount of medical records involving the time that he was in captivity in North Vietnam to check to see what physical damage he suffered and maybe what psychological damage.” Johnson replied that Navy psychiatrists monitored McCain “for many years after his release. They found no evidence of any serious problem. And he strongly denies any symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.” Gibson pounced with a new line of fear: “But he's 71 years old. What do the actuarial tables say about a man who's 71 years old?” Johnson explained they say he should live to 87, but:
Much more difficult, of course, to predict any change in mental acuity. At age 71, there's about a 30 percent chance of developing serious memory loss or even dementia.
Johnson did at least add: “But experts point out that with aging maybe some skills such as judgment get better.”
The MRC's Brad Wilmouth corrected the closed-captioning against the video to provide this transcript of the segment on the Thursday, May 22 World News on ABC, picking up after a report on the McCain-Obama split on the new so-called “GI Bill of Rights”:
CHARLES GIBSON: While on the subject of John McCain, his campaign will release his medical records late tomorrow, giving a few reporters a limited look at those records. But we've already learned a great deal about what his health records will show. Our medical editor, Dr. Tim Johnson, helps explain McCain's health report.
Tim, let's start with what you see when you look at McCain, a rather large scar on the left side of his face. What was done? And why?
DR. TIM JOHNSON: He had surgery in the fall of 2000 to remove a melanoma from his left temple. It was about the size of a nickel. Then they decided to dissect surgically down his face and into his neck to examine lymph nodes. They found no evidence of cancer. They made the decision not to do any further treatment. So, he had a 2-A stage evasive melanoma. The prediction for such a person is about a 30 percent mortality rate over the next ten years. But the fact that he survived eight years, say experts, is a very good sign. He obviously has careful skin examinations three or four times a year.
CHARLES GIBSON: There's also an enormous amount of medical records involving the time that he was in captivity in North Vietnam to check to see what physical damage he suffered and maybe what psychological damage.
TIM JOHNSON: Well, he clearly suffered many orthopedic injuries upon ejection from the plane. He broke both his arms and a leg, and during captivity, the guards brutalized him. He suffered fractures in both shoulders and many ribs. So he clearly has some limitations of motion, especially in raising his arms. However, there is no evidence that those injuries have affected his activity level or his energy level. Now, the emotional part is harder to assess. He was carefully assessed by Navy psychiatrists for many years after his release. They found no evidence of any serious problem. And he strongly denies any symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.
GIBSON: But he's 71 years old. What do the actuarial tables say about a man who's 71 years old?
JOHNSON: The actuarial tables say that if you make it to 71 in overall good health, your life expectancy is about 16 years. That would be age 87. I think that's surprising to many people. Much more difficult, of course, to predict any change in mental acuity. At age 71, there's about a 30 percent chance of developing serious memory loss or even dementia, but experts point out that with aging maybe some skills such as judgment get better. So, Charlie, the old cliche is certainly true in this case: Time will tell.
—Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center
What if Obama was 71? I’ll bet these two pixies wouldn’t dare discuss this kind of crap.
He can't get it into his head he already lost this one.
Obama and Hillary already have dementia.
Half the Dems in the Senate need to retire tomorrow then.
Move over Dan...you've got company.
Dr. Johnson has been on WCVB in Boston since I was a small girl...Many Moons ago.
Gentle manner... yes.
Fear Monger...
OH YEAH!!!
If he picks a decent VP, the age thing is actually a plus. As much as I dislike McCain, I'm very fond of his mother. The woman is 94 or so and sharp as a tack mentally. If she were running instead of him, I'd have no problem voting for a McCain.
It is damn funny how age is such a big deal with the enemedia unless were are talking about one of their own like Robert Byrd, 89, or Ted Kennedy, 76, then suddenly it is to command respect for their experience.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Juan RINOsa McCainista is the next Bob Dole. Remember Viagra Bob? God help us.
You know, if the MSM & Democrats (but I repeat myself) keep this up, I’ll vote for McCain out of shear spite.
The video at the link below shows McCain as a tottering old guy who stammers and makes significant misstatements even in this short speech.
In politics, one misstatement or misstep can ruin a career. A Lazio encroachment. A Deaniac scream. An Allen macaca moment.
McCain made 2 slip-ups in this single video. He stumbles on the word dispirited and then replaces it with spirited. Then, he stumbles by calling himself a conservative liberal Republican and replaces it with conservative Republican.
Then, McCain ended this short speech by vowing to continue to infringe on and quell First Amendment rights, when he says that 527's should be outlawed.
This is who the GOP is sending to challenge Obama??????
McCain a 'Proud Liberal'? (Video)
Watch this Must See video and then visualize this guy going up against Obama in a series of debates.
God Help us all. Period.
Life is going to be rocky for the next4 .. no matter what.
Given that one of the Democrats’ most senior senators just got diagnosed with a brain tumor after suffering seizures, and another one just might actually be suffering dementia (no big deal, folks, it’s not like he has an important job or anything, he’s just the president pro tem of the Senate, three heartbeats away from the presidency during a shooting war), I don’t think I can overstate what a huge, messy can of worms they’re opening.
Sounds like an idea for a new tagline
So we can’t speak ill of Ted Kennedy’s time in the Senate (no wishes he be deceased, just merely speak ill of his service against America and Mary Jo) but we can have this type of crap posted just because it comes from ABCDisney???
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.