of medical information. She ought to do the same.

thanks for sharing it!

If we can take a break for a moment and just think of Hillary as just another human being, I think it's good that this article focuses on the opinions of two doctors that both HRC and Trump should submit to thorough medical testing, which should be made public. My opinion leans toward thinking that HRC does have neurological problems that are progressing, and the 'conspiracy theory' impasse covered so well by The Hill suggest to me that HRC may be avoiding needed medical care, including the thorough neurological exams the doctors in The Hill recommended. I hope this article will create enough space for this suffering woman to get the care she needs, whatever the consequences to her political career.

The news today covered last night's speech/TV event. I didn't read about that, except to note that one report said she 'spoke haltingly'. Later, at reddit, someone had posted a headline and photo (no link to reporting), saying that HRC was wearing an in-ear hearing aid or sound-transmission device (Like GWB wore during one debate, to be fed answers). The theme in the thread was 'cheat/cheater/cheating/'.

I raised an eyebrow. The picture did show something that looked like a pearl in HRC's ear. 'Is this cheating?' I asked myself, 'Or is this a Reasonable Accommodation that will allow a woman with cognitive deficits do her job of making a speech and answering questions?' (That's the Fair Housing Act term; the ADA term, iirc, is 'Reasonable Modification'. My life has taught me about disability-related civil rights law.)

That thought made me flash back to one video that Alligator Ed used in one of his diaries about the variety of brain dysfunctions that could possibly stem from HRC's concussion in Dec 2014 (iirc). The video was of the incident which was reported as 'HRC's SS agents responded to protesters at event.' The video showed HRC on a stage, speaking before a crowd, over the usual crowd-sounds. A different sound arises off to one side, all heads pivot in that direction (to see the protestors rising to show their signs). Hillary does not move. Seconds go by. The old hand at this does not turn or start speaking again. She stands still, staring emptily, generating small filler-sounds like Ummm, Ummm, Ummm. her jaws champ together several times, then her head swings quickly to the right in a move that looks uncontrolled (to me). As her face swings toward, then past the camera, I see an empty look of complete terror in her eyes. She has not just lost her place in the speech, I realize; she is completely disoriented and doen's know where she is or what she is supposed to be doing except that she is on-stage at another speaking venue and it is her job to be speaking but she can find no words and has no idea which of the many, many earned phrases she is supposed to be saying now, right now. Her husky handler who carries the hypodermic jumps onstage behind her and speaks, quite clearly, the calming words: 'It's okay, you can do this, keep talking, keep talking, we've done this, you can handle this, keep talking, you can do it . . ..' I see a wave of relief and gratitude flood her face as she hears his voice; she seems to draw strength form him and her body straightens, her head lifts as her confidence returns. She finds a word, I think it was 'Well.' The crowd-noise has risen, become a gabble, she has to re-take the stage and the sound-space. She raises an arm, proclaims her word, 'Well!' and takes a step. For three or four moments, until the crowd has quieted, she continues taking a step, arm raised, proclaiming 'Well!', turning, taking another step. (in this interim, the two SS guys jump onto the stage, to one side. This was reported as their 'taking action against a possible threat', but it wasn't. If it had been, they would have moved swiftly into well-practiced positions or actions, purposeful, brisk. This did not happen. Instead, they milled around, indecisive, unsure of what to do, throwing questioning glances at each other that neither knew how to answer, throwing glances at the husky handler looking for clues about what to do. Eventually, iirc, they just got down off the stage, after HRC had reclaimed it.) After several moments of regaining the stage (and her confidence in her body and speech), Hillary was able to stitch together enough of a summary of what had just happened and turn it into a clumsy stab at Trump, HRC was able to regain enough of the thread of her speech to start again. The video ended.

Now look, folks: I've never been a fan of Hillary, and I went through my DemExit (so to speak) in 2014, during the DK flame-wars that precede the Purge the led, eventually, to the creation of c99. Knowing that I would withhold my vote (my only option until Bernie caught my attention), I had ignored the Primary pre-Season until the Ides of March edict happened. Even while ignoring things, I couldn't help but be dismayed by all we were learning about Hillary's character in the last year. I have nary a word of praise nor a recommendation for this woman; but one thing I know is that her kharma will come upon her, and it's best for me to keep my energies clear of that mess.

But I too have a Before and After in my life. In the Before-time, up till my mid-40s, I had a very good, extremely capable, and admirably reliable Brain/Mind. And then I remember how -- early in the After -- I would turn to my Mind expecting it to respond as usual only to find that it was gone, gone, not one word left to find, the concept of 'sentences' remembered but no hope of finding enough words to string together and no ability to string them together right even if a few showed up. And I am here to say that is one goddamn freakin' scary moment, or hour, or day.

So when that woman's empty, terrified eyes swung through my field of vision, my heart turned over. I felt Pity. I know that Terror. I felt Compassion.

Feeling compassion for an injured, terrified woman who appears to be losing mental abilities does not alter my reasoned belief that this neoliberal warhawk who believes it her duty to expand American Empire while walking roughshod over American Law does not deserve to serve one day in the White House.

It just frees me from having to mock her disability or use it against her as proof of her being undeserving of the Presidency. (It may, once established by medical testing, demonstrate her physical inability to fulfill the duties of office. But then again, once the parameters of any possible cognitive defects are clearly known -- what if Reasonable Modifications to her disabling conditions could be found that would make it possible for her to fulfill those duties? That would put me in the uncomfortable position of disapproving most heartily of the woman, her policies, and per positions -- but of also being obligated to defend her civil rights as a disabled person.)

(And just a thought for those who can't feel pity or compassion, who think Kharma is just a bunch of hooey and are quite happy holding on to SchaudenFreude, think about this: Think how much she would hate knowing that you Pity her?)