# Does Biden have early on set dementia? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [March 4, 2020, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-biden-have-early-on-set-dementia/848933 "2020-03-04T18:45:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-biden-have-early-on-set-dementia/848933/121 "2020-03-10T03:49:32Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Even if one is as pessimistic about Biden as one can be, there’s a difference between incompetent and malevolent, on one hand, and incompetent and benevolent on the other. You are in for a crushing disappointment if you think the nature of Trump’s and Biden’s incompetence cancels out. But by all means, resign yourself to your political system elevating incompetent “leadership” to the top, it’s going to work splendidly for the future. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-biden-have-early-on-set-dementia/848933/122 "2020-03-10T05:08:34Z")
> [@Ale](#): > > You are in for a crushing disappointment if you think the nature of Trump’s and Biden’s incompetence cancels out. > > But by all means, resign yourself to your political system elevating incompetent “leadership” to the top, it’s going to work splendidly for the future. Pfffft. You think anyone here buys your all knowing prophet shtick? You are clearly a little clueless on the process when you’re decrying the “strategy” of selecting Biden. It’s a vote. There was never a plan. ---
**Author:** ![Bookkeeper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bookkeeper/32/281_2.png) [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-biden-have-early-on-set-dementia/848933/123 "2020-03-10T05:27:36Z")
I wonder if some of Biden’s odd phrasing comes from realizing partway through a sentence that it’s leading to a word that he knows will be difficult to get out without stuttering (especially if fatigued from a long day campaigning), and trying to switch to a different word without completely losing his train of thought. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-biden-have-early-on-set-dementia/848933/124 "2020-03-10T07:03:07Z")
Nothing I have seen suggests he has dementia. This appears to be the typical Republican tactic of accusing your opponent of the things that are a problem for you. Trump, with his odd rambling speech patterns, has seemed like he has some mental issues. All Biden has done is not say some words clearly. Normally I’d say it’s not a good tactic, as you shouldn’t use an attack that can be used back on you. But the strategy here is to try and get people to sit out the election, so making both candidates seem the same works. And then those who are left get forced into not mentioning Trump’s mental issues. It’s an inoculation strategy, as well as a way to try and dampen enthusiasm. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-biden-have-early-on-set-dementia/848933/125 "2020-03-10T07:09:31Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > Biden’s problem will be his bullshitting like lying about being arrested in South Africa. This, on the other hand, I do think will backfire. There are far, far more examples of Trump bullshitting that Biden. With one example, you can just claim that you misunderstood or something–you thought you were arrested, but they just took you in to question you for a bit and let you go. But how do you deal with claiming that your inauguration crowd was larger than it actually was, that Muslims celebrated in the streets at 9/11, that global warming and coronavirus are a hoax, and so on. Those are just off the top of my head. The dementia issue is harder to combat because any gaffe or mistake will be attributed to it. But bullshittery has concrete examples. And a good politician, unlike Trump, knows how to spin their bullshit, rather than just barrel on through. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-biden-have-early-on-set-dementia/848933/126 "2020-03-10T18:08:57Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Nothing I have seen suggests he has dementia. This appears to be the typical Republican tactic of accusing your opponent of the things that are a problem for you. Trump, with his odd rambling speech patterns, has seemed like he has some mental issues. All Biden has done is not say some words clearly. > > Normally I’d say it’s not a good tactic, as you shouldn’t use an attack that can be used back on you. But the strategy here is to try and get people to sit out the election, so making both candidates seem the same works. And then those who are left get forced into not mentioning Trump’s mental issues. > > It’s an inoculation strategy, as well as a way to try and dampen enthusiasm. Joe’s mental poise has been a topic since he said things that made it that. Liberals do not want to see him fail at going up against the orange. Everyone is scared. And everyone is calling everyone elses fears irrational and projected. He is a 90s candidate. It’s just not that decade anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-biden-have-early-on-set-dementia/848933/127 "2020-03-10T19:23:04Z")
He just cursed out a gun nut in Michigan: [Biden snaps at Michigan auto worker over guns, curses at him](https://www.aol.com/article/news/2020/03/10/biden-snaps-at-michigan-auto-worker-over-guns-curses-at-him/23945913/) ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-biden-have-early-on-set-dementia/848933/128 "2020-03-10T20:02:08Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > He just cursed out a gun nut in Michigan: [https://www.aol.com/article/news/2020/03/10/biden-snaps-at-michigan-auto-worker-over-guns-curses-at-him/23945913/](https://www.aol.com/article/news/2020/03/10/biden-snaps-at-michigan-auto-worker-over-guns-curses-at-him/23945913/) My grandfather got like that toward the end. Not really his fault. He didn’t know any better. ---
**Author:** ![MeanJoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanjoe/32/5693_2.png) [@MeanJoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanJoe)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-biden-have-early-on-set-dementia/848933/129 "2020-03-10T20:17:36Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > He just cursed out a gun nut in Michigan: [https://www.aol.com/article/news/2020/03/10/biden-snaps-at-michigan-auto-worker-over-guns-curses-at-him/23945913/](https://www.aol.com/article/news/2020/03/10/biden-snaps-at-michigan-auto-worker-over-guns-curses-at-him/23945913/) Your link doesn’t provide the actual video. I’ve watched the actual video and it looks to me like Biden was being aggressively confronted with false accusations by a Trump supporter. Biden attempted to address the substance of the accusation as untrue but the guy got more and more in Bidens face. He had no interest in Biden’s actual position, he just wanted to start a verbal fight. The guy was being an asshat and his proof that Biden wanted to confiscate his guns was “a viral video” he watched. After trying to talk to him repeatedly without success, finally telling the guy that he is “full of shit” seems like a reasonable response to me. Good for Joe! To borrow a phrase - “Fuck his feelings”. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-biden-have-early-on-set-dementia/848933/130 "2020-03-10T20:19:43Z")
> [@divemaster](#): > > My grandfather got like that toward the end. Not really his fault. He didn’t know any better. I honestly can’t tell which of the two involved men you’re referring to. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Anxious\_Squirrel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anxious_squirrel/32/1083_2.png) [@Anxious\_Squirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anxious_Squirrel)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-biden-have-early-on-set-dementia/848933/131 "2020-03-10T22:03:36Z")
Watching the video actually made me like him more. He did not curse anyone out though. He was quite calm and friendly and reasonable. He didn’t even raise his voice. He was right there surrounded by a pack of angry autoworkers and he kept his cool and did a good job, I think. [Joe Biden tells Auto Worker that he is "Full of Shit" - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JGTBgLX2cQ) ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-biden-have-early-on-set-dementia/848933/132 "2020-03-10T22:14:50Z")
> [@TheMysteryWriter](#): > > Watching the video actually made me like him more. He did not curse anyone out though. He was quite calm and friendly and reasonable. He didn’t even raise his voice. He was right there surrounded by a pack of angry autoworkers and he kept his cool and did a good job, I think. > > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JGTBgLX2cQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JGTBgLX2cQ) I agree. That won’t hurt Biden with most voters, who will see his reaction to the man confronting him as authenticity, and (as you mention) an ability to keep his cool when under verbal fire. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-biden-have-early-on-set-dementia/848933/133 "2020-03-10T23:35:40Z")
> [@MeanJoe](#): > > I’ve watched the actual video and it looks to me like Biden was being aggressively confronted with false accusations by a Trump supporter. Biden attempted to address the substance of the accusation as untrue but the guy got more and more in Bidens face. He had no interest in Biden’s actual position, he just wanted to start a verbal fight. The guy was being an asshat and his proof that Biden wanted to confiscate his guns was “a viral video” he watched. > [@TheMysteryWriter](#): > > He did not curse anyone out though. He was quite calm and friendly and reasonable. He didn’t even raise his voice. There was a viral video that was altered, but there is also a video where Biden claimed to want to ban “assault weapons.” They both made inaccurate statements. Of course the auto worker wasn’t claiming that Biden was going to take all guns away. Biden at one point replied "I’m not taking your gun [singular] away **at all**. Auto worker: “Machine guns are illegal” Biden: “That’s right, so are AR-15s illegal.” No, they’re not. He kinda cursed him out and he threatened physical violence. He said he was full of shit followed by “don’t tell me that, pal, or I’m going to go outside with you, man.” Auto worker: “You’re working for me, man!” Biden: “I’m not working for you; don’t be such a horse’s ass.” I’d have more respect for him if he could have calmly explained that the video was altered to make it look like he said something that he didn’t and moved on instead of immediately responding back with “you’re full of shit.” ---
**Author:** ![Anxious\_Squirrel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anxious_squirrel/32/1083_2.png) [@Anxious\_Squirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anxious_Squirrel)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-biden-have-early-on-set-dementia/848933/134 "2020-03-10T23:46:37Z")
> [@x-ray\_vision](#): > > There was a viral video that was altered, but there is also a video where Biden claimed to want to ban “assault weapons.” They both made inaccurate statements. > > Of course the auto worker wasn’t claiming that Biden was going to take all guns away. Biden at one point replied "I’m not taking your gun [singular] away **at all**. > > Auto worker: “Machine guns are illegal” > > Biden: “That’s right, so are AR-15s illegal.” > > No, they’re not. > > He kinda cursed him out and he threatened physical violence. He said he was full of shit followed by “don’t tell me that, pal, or I’m going to go outside with you, man.” > > Auto worker: “You’re working for me, man!” > > Biden: “I’m not working for you; don’t be such a horse’s ass.” > > I’d have more respect for him if he could have calmly explained that the video was altered to make it look like he said something that he didn’t and moved on instead of immediately responding back with “you’re full of shit.” I didn’t hear the “horses ass” part, but he said the “full of shit” part so mildly that to me it felt like how you’d talk to a friend who was making a food of themself. It didn’t feel angry or like how you’d talk to an enemy. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-biden-have-early-on-set-dementia/848933/135 "2020-03-10T23:53:50Z")
That’s the Biden I can vote for. Fuck that lying turd and his second amendment hysteria. He and his ilk needs to grow the hell up already. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-biden-have-early-on-set-dementia/848933/136 "2020-03-11T05:06:49Z")
> [@TheMysteryWriter](#): > > I didn’t hear the “horses ass” part, but he said the “full of shit” part so mildly that to me it felt like how you’d talk to a friend who was making a food of themself… Maybe he should’ve told the guy to eat his own words, then. ---
**Author:** ![Anxious\_Squirrel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anxious_squirrel/32/1083_2.png) [@Anxious\_Squirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anxious_Squirrel)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-biden-have-early-on-set-dementia/848933/137 "2020-03-11T05:09:55Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Maybe he should’ve told the guy to eat his own words, then. Hahaha I hadn’t noticed. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-biden-have-early-on-set-dementia/848933/138 "2020-03-11T05:28:25Z")
This whole thing is dumb, and is being amplified by Trump, unhappy Bernie voters, and Russian bots. That said, if you happen to be on Twitter, you can read an equally stupid chain of examples showing that Bernie is very clearly suffering from dementia. \ [https://twitter.com/wewillriseohio/status/1236728024101466113?s=21](https://twitter.com/wewillriseohio/status/1236728024101466113?s=21) ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-biden-have-early-on-set-dementia/848933/139 "2020-03-11T16:54:16Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > He just cursed out a gun nut in Michigan: [https://www.aol.com/article/news/2020/03/10/biden-snaps-at-michigan-auto-worker-over-guns-curses-at-him/23945913/](https://www.aol.com/article/news/2020/03/10/biden-snaps-at-michigan-auto-worker-over-guns-curses-at-him/23945913/) Remember when[Buzz Aldrin punched out the moon-landing denier?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bart_Sibrel#Aldrin_incident) Buzz was 72 at the time. Did people say Buzz was senile? Hell, no! They called Buzz a hero. ---
**Author:** ![Boycott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boycott/32/6741_2.png) [@Boycott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boycott)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-biden-have-early-on-set-dementia/848933/140 "2020-03-11T17:02:05Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > This whole thing is dumb, and is being amplified by Trump, unhappy Bernie voters, and Russian bots. That said, if you happen to be on Twitter, you can read an equally stupid chain of examples showing that Bernie is very clearly suffering from dementia. \ > > [https://twitter.com/wewillriseohio/status/1236728024101466113?s=21](https://twitter.com/wewillriseohio/status/1236728024101466113?s=21) Bernie boarding the wrong private jet made me laugh [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-biden-have-early-on-set-dementia/848933.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-biden-have-early-on-set-dementia/848933.md?page=8)