Althouse: "I give my ER patients a cognitive exam to assess for dementia. One of the questions is 'Who’s the President?'"

September 21, 2016

"I give my ER patients a cognitive exam to assess for dementia. One of the questions is 'Who’s the President?'"

"Many people voluntarily add who they’re supporting for President in November. So far the pattern is that the depressed people are voting for Hillary and the alcoholics are voting for Trump."

37 comments:

Meade said...: I'll take the dementia, thank you.; 9/21/16, 9:01 AM
Left Bank of the Charles said...: Could Trump be a secret lush? I know he says he doesn't drink, but his face says something else.; 9/21/16, 9:01 AM
Curious George said...: "I don't know if this is true ..."

It's not.; 9/21/16, 9:02 AM
SteveR said...: In my sample, its the alcoholics for Hillary.; 9/21/16, 9:04 AM
Life in the Fifties said...: My mom had a stroke this summer. She would purse her lips and refuse to answer the presidential question. Not a sign of dementia.; 9/21/16, 9:05 AM
Bad Lieutenant said...: Could Hillary be a secret lush? Or is it more open in her case?

I suppose drugs or alcohol could trigger her strabismus, or at least decrease her ability to compensate. If it was just strabismus, though, it's an easy operation and she could readily hide for a day or two till signs were gone.

But it's not. There is something wrong with her brain.; 9/21/16, 9:08 AM
holdfast said...: So which way does the causation run?

Are Trumpkins drinking to kill the pain of being Trumpkins, or did they make their choice while under the influence?; 9/21/16, 9:11 AM
exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...: I'm sure a lot of conservatives have increased their alcohol consumption over the past 8 years. Unfortunately or fortunately, my system doesn't seem to tolerate anything more than 2 glasses of wine these days. It's like a Mother Against Drunk Driving has taken up residence in my liver.; 9/21/16, 9:14 AM
Eric the Fruit Bat said...: Any person who actually cares about this election is unworthy of the status of being classified as a depressive or an alcoholic.; 9/21/16, 9:14 AM
Big Mike said...: So are they depressed because they've concluded that they are voting for Hillary?; 9/21/16, 9:16 AM
Hunter said...: Tangentially, the author of that piece has a blog, slatestarcodex, which is possibly my favorite blog besides Althouse.

His pieces are long, like really really loooooooooooong. But they are often great, fascinating reads. He is a leftie, but he dives deep into evidence when trying to find the truth of some issue, and works hard to be fair and rational even when the conclusion is not what he might prefer.; 9/21/16, 9:20 AM
David said...: "Who's the President?"

Of what?; 9/21/16, 9:22 AM
Sebastian said...: "So are they depressed because they've concluded that they are voting for Hillary?" Works like this: Finally, the first female president, and this is the best we women can come up with. Depressing.; 9/21/16, 9:22 AM
Anonymous said...: Clip-clip.

Pay me.

I'm a writer.; 9/21/16, 9:22 AM
Qwinn said...: It makes sense. You virtually have to be a nihilist to remain a lefty these days. And I can't think of anything more depressing than nihilism.; 9/21/16, 9:23 AM
David said...: "I'll take the dementia, thank you."

Less dangerous, that's for sure.; 9/21/16, 9:23 AM
mccullough said...: The people who don't volunteer the info are the mentally healthy; 9/21/16, 9:24 AM
Bad Lieutenant said...: Jeffrey, I find Althouse objectionable on many grounds, but it's not like she changed styles all of a sudden, is it? And Instapundit is the same.

If you want an actual writer, try Richard Fernandez.; 9/21/16, 9:25 AM
Crimso said...: How about the depressed alcoholics? Probably Johnson.; 9/21/16, 9:36 AM
lgv said...: Mere mention of the president and the upcoming election makes me depressed and want to drink.

I am not voting for Hillary. I may vote for Johnson, which will make me less depressed than voting for Trump. Regardless, heavy drinking is still on the table.

Our current president is sliding into retirement. He has done almost nothing in the past year. This is a good thing. People have fond memories of the Bill Clinton presidency. This is mostly due to his second term being mired in the impeachment process and a Republican congress. He accomplished almost nothing, the mark of a good presidency.; 9/21/16, 9:44 AM
FullMoon said...: When asked that question in the late '90's, an elderly relative replied. "I don't recall his name right now, but he is in a lot of trouble for messin' with that young girl, Monica".; 9/21/16, 9:45 AM
Bob Boyd said...: In another informal ER doc poll:
People injured in a mugging supported Trump.
Those needing a foreign object removed from an orifice favored Hillary.
Those who had been dragged into the ER against their will by well-meaning friends preferred Johnson.; 9/21/16, 9:46 AM
traditionalguy said...: That makes perfect sense. The politically correct are depressed because they can never express their true thoughts in public. But the alcoholics can't stop their blunt, courageous talking without fear, until they have to sleep it off.; 9/21/16, 9:48 AM
mockturtle said...: Bob Boyd at 9:46: Very good! :-D; 9/21/16, 10:05 AM
Brando said...: What about us depressed alcoholics?; 9/21/16, 10:13 AM
Birches said...: The alcoholics have lost their inhibitions. They would not admit it in polite company if they were sober.; 9/21/16, 10:14 AM
JPS said...: This reminds me of an old line I saved from James Lileks:

"It’s odd: the hate-mail I get from the far right always has the flavor of someone who is half in the bag and having fun hating my guts; the far-left hate mail sounds like it comes from people who are miserably sober and bitterly regretting the fact that they have to waste time flaying my boil-flecked bodkin, but if they don’t, the planet is DOOMED."

Quinn:

"And I can't think of anything more depressing than nihilism."

Nihilism? F^&* me....You know, say what you want about the tenets of National Socialism, Dude, at least it's an ethos.; 9/21/16, 10:19 AM
JPS said...: Darn autocorrect. Sorry, Qwinn.; 9/21/16, 10:22 AM
Anonymous said...: Bad Lieutenant,

Agreed. She hasn't changed her blogging method, but her desire for remuneration has been steadily growing over the years -- to the point now where everywhere you look on her blog you see her hand stuck out for cash.

I read Belmont Club before he made his name public. And yes, Fernandez is a good example of what I'm talking about, a real writer, along with others from that first generation of bloggers, like Bill Whittle or Michael Totten.

Of course, I'm having a bit of fun here. I have no problem with Ann running a clipping service for us. I do object, however, if she starts to think of herself as more than a clipper and demands cash payments for knowing how to use a scissors and glue.; 9/21/16, 10:23 AM
Darrell said...: Trump never drank, never smoked.
Too many people have said it as a slur for it not to be true.; 9/21/16, 10:26 AM
PB said...: The latest sign of desperation will be Hillary announcing a program to make alcohol free to win the alcoholic vote because it is a civil right. Why should the rich only get the best single-malt and champagne?

The media and Democrat faithful will drone, "Hillary Clinton is the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I've ever known in my life."; 9/21/16, 10:27 AM
Robert Cook said...: I guess this means the mentally healthy people are voting for Jill Stein!; 9/21/16, 10:48 AM
Michael K said...: In my ER most would provide the name of the Mexican president, Nieto.

I would count that as a Trump vote.; 9/21/16, 10:49 AM
Gretchen said...: Maybe they are drinking because Obama is the president?; 9/21/16, 11:35 AM
Bob Boyd said...: "I guess this means the mentally healthy people are voting for Jill Stein!"

According to my alternative ER doc poll:
People needing stitches and a Rabies shot preferred Stein.; 9/21/16, 11:39 AM
buwaya said...: "If you want an actual writer, try Richard Fernandez."

A great blogger. Kababayan ko 'yan.; 9/21/16, 11:52 AM
Mick said...: If it starts with a reference from "Slate" then it is nonsense.; 9/22/16, 6:05 AM