Posted on 07/19/2011 7:39:33 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) suffers from incapacitating, stressed-induced migraines, The Daily Caller reports, questioning her fitness to be President.
The report cites multiple sources close to the GOP presidential candidate confirming the condition, and lists multiple hospital stays and trips to urgent care centers for treatment.
"She has terrible migraine headaches. And they put her out of commission for a day or more at a time. They come out of nowhere, and theyre unpredictable, a Bachmann adviser involved in her 2010 congressional campaign told The Daily Caller.
A spokeswoman for Bachmann, Alice Stewart, confirmed she suffers from migraines and theyre under control with medicine, but said the report that they were incapacitating is wrong.
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
RE: Migranes are often accompanied by bi polar disorder....
Yep, That’s what the left-wing Michele Bachmann researchers want people to conclude.
First, she and her husband are religious nuts who want to “pray away the gay”.
Then, Her husband is a closet Queen.
Then, she gaffes a lot.
Now this... she’s a potnetial psycho (who might push the nuclear button ).
The question of course is -— why of all the GOP candidates do they train their sights on Michele??
That is not what I said I stated a medical fact. Most people who have migranes also suffer from some degree of bi polar disorder (IIRC it is upwards of 80%). If she does suffer migranes it is important to me to know whether she has this disorder too. If you are suggesting it is because she is a woman...I am one too and I still want to know.
Original problem was I was going numb on my left side.
Now that’s one helluva crappy combo - part of you is numb, another in excruciating pain. I’m glad you were able to get past that with surgery.
The original author of the Daily Caller article is Jonathan Strong.
Hotair’s Ed Morrisey asks some pertinent questions:
What are the examples of Bachmann being incapacitated by her migraines? Strong only offers one a missed campaign appearance for then-Rep. Roy Blunt in his ultimately successful Senate campaign. She was treated at a hospital and went home the same day. The only other incidents cited by Strongs report came two months earlier, an episode that caused her to miss er no appearances, although she did visit an urgent-care center, and another event in October of last year, in which she laid down for a while and went to urgent care for treatment later.
The heavy use of pills would be familiar to anyone who deals with migraines, but Strongs description sounds more like someone who actively manages their medical condition rather than being the second coming of Neely OHara from Valley of the Dolls
Her husband (a Doctor) helps his wife manage her medical issues and thats a surprise? Migraines require the kind of review described in this passage, because the conditions shift and medications dont always provide consistent relief.
Shouldnt someone who has migraines be in contact with her physicians to ensure that medication works as it should and that the condition doesnt incapacitate the sufferer? And wouldnt it be more strange if Marcus didnt take a supporting role in that effort?
Bachmann doesnt have a reputation for being a political wallflower. She has tirelessly traveled to Tea Party events, appears constantly on talking-head political news shows, and is perhaps the most prodigious fundraiser in the House. Bachmann didnt do all of that by being incapacitated. Ive known Bachmann for several years, and Im only aware of her missing one event (the Blunt appearance) in all of that time. If her migraines were anywhere near as incapacitating as Strongs piece suggests, we would have known about it a year ago or more.
The sourcing on this story doesnt instill much confidence, either. Strongs cites are:
a former aide says.
three people who have worked closely with Bachmann
an adviser to Bachmann who was involved in her 2010
congressional campaign.
The former aide says
the adviser says.
Strong writes that TheDC agreed to provide the sources anonymity because they were providing information only a select group of people could know, at great professional risk. Im not an idealist that says that anonymous sources should never be used, but in this story, anonymity is extremely curious. It doesnt protect whistleblowers calling attention to corruption or wrongdoing; its protecting people who didnt like working for Bachmann.
If the former Bachmann aides fear for the Republic, why arent they openly speaking out? The great professional risk appears to be that politicians wont hire people who are disloyal and stab people in the back, anonymously or not.
Opioids are given routinely for severe migraine and once the migraine is a bad one, opioids are the only thing that works. More than your average toothache dose too.
That said, we do not know how serious this problem is. If it is as serious as described (plausible), her health is not up to the task.
My sister would get these migraine/cluster headaches about 3-4 times a year. She would be down and in the dark...taking 10-15mg of oxycodone every three hours...for at least one full day, sometimes up to 2 days.
She is a nurse.
She told me she was lucky as she had met people who get it that bad 2-3 times per month.
It's a legitimate health concern for the CinC. She would not be fit to command a warship at sea if as chronic as described. Nor would she qualify as a Brigadier in the Army...probably not Battalion CO.
It has nothing to do with her capabilities when well.
Little Andy Sullivan is now wearing his Dr.’s cap. He’s going to get to the bottom of Michelle’s migraines. After all, people who suffer from migraines often are not the mother of their own children. They fake pregnancy alot!!
Probably the stress had something to do with her fund raising numbers, I would be stressed also
What about Tylenol 3 with Codene (narcotic)?
And a mild narcotic at that. If she can suppress the overwhelming pain of severe migraine with T3, more power to her.
But, she needs to be asked pointedly and repeatedly until such time as she answers thoroughly: What meds do you take to suppress the pain, in what doses and how often? And, will you release all of your medical records?
Of course all of us would BALK at such a question. But all of us aren't running for POTUS.
The only answer I can think of that would get her off the hook is: I will release all of my medical records when Barak Obama releases all of his.
And, I'm curious enough to want to see them BOTH. In fact, it should be the cultural norm that all voters demand to see such records...school records...military records...everything that would be discovered in an FBI Special Background Investigation to determine whether one is fit for a TS clearance.
Post #9...{applause}
Good answer for...when Obama turns over his! However what if the question was asked at a GOP debate? (not that it would be) but if it was, other candidates might say, I will turn mine over without BO turning his over,then they go down the line,then the answer is not good enough.
Just sayin....
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2751423/posts
The lesson is as I said yesterday. Don't believe any negative story about any conservative candidate until you have a solid source and facts to back it up.
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.