Bush is wired

We'll visit that subject again this morning, and probably more later, as this story is just going to keep growing, especially since it has been tied to questions about Butthead's health. A diagnosis of pre-senile dementia, which was offered by a physician who has not actually examined Bush personally, but makes his diagnosis from video footage, is following the audio-feed story around the internet - or internets, as Butthead pronounced in his second debate. LaBelle sends a link to a video clip comparing Butthead's speaking ability ten years ago to that of today. It's just one speech they're taking the past ability from, and while it does seem much more coherent than today's stuff, I think there's a very simple explanation. Not that he isn't losing it as he ages, and not that I think he doesn't have something called senile dementia - hell, I think he just has plain old dementia - but a very simple explanation is offered by his alcohol and cocaine use. Although he claims he doesn't do either any more, I wouldn't bet a nickel that that's the truth. Someone who abuses alcohol and drugs for as long as he did has physiological and/or psychological issues that need to be treated.

Alcoholics Anonymous literature makes it clear that the disease does not stop its progression even after a person quits drinking. And, for my money, Butthead is still using drugs - Powell says everybody's on Ambien (perhaps he was including Butthead). Butthead's drugs may well be prescribed at this point, but that could still include some very powerful anti-depressants or even anti-psychotics. If you've ever watched anyone who is being prescribed either of these types of drugs, you've seen behavior, both actions and speech, identical to Butthead's.

Now, for the wiring.....

LaBelle also sends a link to an Atrios post with a picture apparently showing something behind Butthead's tie in the second debate. I had read comments on other blogs that they thought he had something under his jacket in front because he kept reaching in and adjusting it. My reaction to that was that I noticed while watching the debate how often (very) he reached inside his jacket, but since he kept getting up and down from his stool, I thought he was repositioning his tie, in a kind of nervous habit of attending to his appearance. Perhaps he actually was adjusting his tie...after his wire popped loose from behind it. He shouldn't have jumped up so fast in such agitation when Kerry mentioned the administration's current back-door draft.

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.