Clarification/Follow-up by SCOOBY on 08/01/04 10:18 am:
I understand that people involved in war zones are damaged emotionally and mentally and so I wonder why anyone would consider John Kerry for president.
Clarification/Follow-up by excon on 08/01/04 10:24 am:
Hello again SCOOB:
I think your understanding is incorrect!
excon
Clarification/Follow-up by SCOOBY on 08/01/04 5:35 pm:
I'm pretty sure I'm right, but then I just remembered that we've had a president that had mental problems before--President Reagan. That's why he always had to read (with great difficulty) his speeches. I remember he was addressing Michael Jackson one time and he forgot who he was. That's what happens with alzheimers--they forget who people are.
Presidents have their staff to remind them of meetings and to help them keep track of what day it is, etc. And to tell them what it is they are signing, etc.
Clarification/Follow-up by CeeBee on 08/01/04 9:36 pm:
SCOOBY -- Alzheimer's is a physical, organic disease, not a mental illness. Reagan was not mentally ill. His second term as President ended in 1988-89, but he didn't become ill with Alzheimer's until 1994 when he made the public announcement.
My boss is 45 and needs a secretary to remind her of meetings and keep track of stuff. There's nothing wrong with her mentally or physically. She is just a very busy person. I check my calendar every day to see what I have planned but that doesn't mean I am missing a cog or two.
Clarification/Follow-up by SCOOBY on 08/01/04 9:52 pm:
CeeBee
The symptoms of alzheimer can present themselves 60 years prior to it being diagnozed. You might need to do some research on the disease. It is a disease that affects the mind. Patients loose the ability to recognize people and their surroundings, etc.
And you are right, office staff is very helpful allowing people to be able to hold employment.
Clarification/Follow-up by CeeBee on 08/01/04 10:21 pm:
SCOOBY -- Alzheimer's is not a mental illness. Schizophrenia is, manic-depressive illness is, OCD is...but Alzheimer's is not. I have researched Alzheimer's; friends and relatives have died while suffering from it. Yes, Alzheimer's affects the mind, but it is not a mental illness.
And when a ten y/o forgets his math paper and leaves it on the kitchen table, is that Alzheimer's, a precursor to what will happen to him at age 70...or what?
Clarification/Follow-up by SCOOBY on 08/01/04 10:29 pm:
Yes, CeeBee that is a good example.
It may not be classified as a mental disease, but it is still a mental illness. Maybe it is not classified as a mental illness so they can put them in Long Term Care Facilities instead of mental institutions for financial, insurance or government research grant reasons.
It is a good question.
Clarification/Follow-up by tomder55 on 08/02/04 6:28 am:
your concern about emotional damage to a person in a war zone is one of the reasons I would prefer that the war records of the candidates did not play a prominent role.Eventually statements by his former wife that Kerry occasionally wakes up experiencing 'nightmares and flashbacks'(according to Tour of Duty: John Kerry and the Vietnam War by Douglas Brinkley,William Morrow)will become the issue ;deflecting from the important matters that needs to be debated in this election.
Clarification/Follow-up by excon on 08/02/04 10:00 am:
Ok, SCOOB.
I'll admit it here for the first time. My war time experiences screwed me up so bad, that I had to commit felony's. Viet Nam made me do it.
I'm actually a caspar milktoast.
excon
Clarification/Follow-up by SCOOBY on 08/02/04 10:23 am:
Hello excon
You can't be that bad off if you still have your sense of humor.
I don't know what caspar milktoast is, but it sounds really funny.
Clarification/Follow-up by excon on 08/02/04 10:35 am:
caspar milktoast = wuss
Clarification/Follow-up by HANK1 on 08/03/04 2:42 pm:
SCOOBY: I just read a post on another Board. The Expert posted an URL that told me Kerry was in VietNam for only 4 months.
