Mitch McConnell freezes up while speaking, escorted away

NxNW · Jul 26, 2023

https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/4121177-mcconnell-freezes-at-briefing-concerning-colleagues/

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) froze for almost 20 seconds while delivering his opening statement at a leadership press conference Wednesday afternoon, prompting murmurs of concern among his colleagues and the assembled press corps.

McConnell told reporters the Senate was on a path to complete work on the annual defense authorization bill and praised what he called “good bipartisan cooperation” before freezing midsentence and staring straight ahead without uttering another word.

public hermit · Jul 26, 2023

For a moment, I thought, "He's having an existential crisis. It just dawned on him the GOP's policies are horrible and cooperation is the only way forward." Poor guy. I hope it's nothing major.

stevil · Jul 26, 2023

public hermit said:
For a moment, I thought, "He's having an existential crisis. It just dawned on him the GOP's policies are horrible and cooperation is the only way forward." Poor guy. I hope it's nothing major.

I don't think we should be joking about it. It does look concerning though, possibly some kind of health issue.

public hermit · Jul 26, 2023

stevil said:
I don't think we should be joking about it. It does look concerning though, possibly some kind of health issue.

You're probably right.

ThatRobGuy · Jul 26, 2023

If there's one thing that's shown me one of the benefits of the more "confrontational nature" (for lack of a better term) of a parliament style system (like Canada has), it's all of the recent "elderly health scares" we've seen with our elected leaders.

Diane Feinstein having to be wheeled in, Biden losing his words and having to be led off the stage, now McConnell having this issue.

If you ever watch televised coverage of Canadian Parliament exchanges, it seems to be more of a "young person's game" with the energetic exchanges you see.

By it's very nature, it prohibits extremely old people from being in it because they simply wouldn't have the energy to "hang" in that environment.

Can you imagine some of the geriatric people we have trying to thrive in this kind of environment where you have to be energetic and quick on your feet?

The average age in Canadian Parliament is 50.

The average age of our US senate is 66, and average age of house reps is 61.

That can't be a coincidence

stevil · Jul 26, 2023

ThatRobGuy said:
Biden losing his words and having to be led off the stage,

When did that happen? I've not seen that.

ThatRobGuy · Jul 26, 2023

stevil said:
When did that happen? I've not seen that.

Video of footage of Biden getting lost in his speeches and seemingly being out of it?

Or him having to be led off the stage and pointed in which direction he needs to go?

Look I get it...he was the guy who was able to beat Trump and get things back to something resembling a sliver of normalcy...that's why I voted for him.

But can we stop pretending that an 80 year old man (who's clearly in cognitive decline) is "the same old Biden he was in 2012"? The Biden we have today as president isn't the same Biden who was able to go toe to toe in a VP debate against Paul Ryan.

It's perfectly acceptable to say that a lot of 80 year old are experiencing mental decline in any other context, as soon as you bring up that Biden (and 80 year old man) may be having some of the same problems that afflict 40% of all people 80+, people act like it's an unreasonable assertion and "ageist" or some sort of "right wing talking point"

Fantine · Jul 26, 2023

Not having witnessed this, I'm not going to speculate. I am sure he is being evaluated medically and getting the best of care.

stevil · Jul 26, 2023

ThatRobGuy said:
Video of footage of Biden getting lost in his speeches and seemingly being out of it?

Or him having to be led off the stage and pointed in which direction he needs to go?

Look I get it...he was the guy who was able to beat Trump and get things back to something resembling a sliver of normalcy...that's why I voted for him.

That first video was interesting, I hadn't seen that before. Biden certainly lost his train of thought there momentarily.
The second video was just Sky News Australia nonsense. Those guys are worse than FoxNews.
That third video did appear to be Biden not being sure where he was supposed to exit the stage. I've seen this type of thing many, many time. It's not uncommon that people get up on stage and arent' sure whether to go left or right to leave.
That forth video was again more Sky News Australia nonsense.
The fifth video was a repeat of the third video.

I don't care that Biden beat Trump. I don't care that Biden is a Democrat. But there certainly is an exaggerated attack on the USA right to try and make out that Biden is senile. There is no truth to it, certainly no evidence for it. He is definitely not a young man, and he does look old.

wing2000 · Jul 26, 2023

That's unfortunate and I'm sure embarrassing for a man whose given thousands of such briefings.

Arcangl86 · Jul 26, 2023

I hope he got evaluated immediately. That looks potentially very serious.

stevil · Jul 26, 2023

wing2000 said:
That's unfortunate and I'm sure embarrassing for a man whose given thousands of such briefings.

It shouldn't be considered embarrassing. Medical issues are what they are. they are unfortunate, but nothing to be embarrassed about.

Always in His Presence · Jul 26, 2023

From the link in the OP

He came back to handle Q and A, which everyone observed was sharp,” the aide added.

Whatever it was seems temporary

Diamond72 · Jul 26, 2023

NxNW said:
froze for almost 20 seconds

This is the way our nervous system works. Our response to perceived threats is to fight, flee or freeze. In some cases like a school shooting, to freeze or play possum could save your life.

Diamond72 · Jul 26, 2023

stevil said:
attack on the USA right to try and make out that Biden is senile.

No more or less than Reagon who later announced he had Alzheimer's Diagnosis. Of course that would explain why his Reagonomics was such a joke.

wing2000 · Jul 26, 2023

Diamond7 said:
This is the way our nervous system works. Our response to perceived threats is to fight, flee or freeze. In some cases like a school shooting, to freeze or play possum could save your life.

What was the perceived threat in this context? The Senate Republican leadership just came out of conference, discussing the Defense bill.
I suspect his mind simply went blank.

Truth7t7 · Jul 27, 2023

NxNW said:
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/4121177-mcconnell-freezes-at-briefing-concerning-colleagues/

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) froze for almost 20 seconds while delivering his opening statement at a leadership press conference Wednesday afternoon, prompting murmurs of concern among his colleagues and the assembled press corps.

McConnell told reporters the Senate was on a path to complete work on the annual defense authorization bill and praised what he called “good bipartisan cooperation” before freezing midsentence and staring straight ahead without uttering another word.

One week prior to this briefing he tripped on a sand bag and hit his head, most likely related to the incident?

Pommer · Jul 27, 2023

Truth7t7 said:
One week prior to this briefing he tripped on a sand bag and hit his head, most likely related to the incident?

He’s 81, these things happen.

Diamond72 · Jul 27, 2023

wing2000 said:
What was the perceived threat in this context? The Senate Republican leadership just came out of conference, discussing the Defense bill.

What is the perceived threat in the Defense bill? Really? You have to ask? How about disruptive technologies like hypersonic weapons, artificial intelligence, 5G, and quantum computing. How about the fact that we have to spend almost a trillion dollars a year because nations want to fight with each other.

Nithavela · Jul 27, 2023

stevil said:
I don't think we should be joking about it. It does look concerning though, possibly some kind of health issue.

Why wouldn't we joke about this? People joke about health troubles of their political opponents all the time.

Remember this from Hillary Clintons presidential campaign?

Mitch McConnell freezes up while speaking, escorted away

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