# Does Joe Biden have dementia? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 26, 2021, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-joe-biden-have-dementia/947334 "2021-07-26T14:00:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2021, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-joe-biden-have-dementia/947334/61 "2021-07-28T15:08:49Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > And the bits they choose are so often very short. In the video above, it’s about 56 seconds total of Biden talking. I’m not sure how long the press conference was, but I suspect it was significantly longer than 56 seconds. The propagandists behind this video say the press conference was filled with “gaffes”, and yet, the best they can come up with is 56 seconds, that they had to almost entirely mis-represent. That’s standard Murdoch press practice - take a short quote out of context, build a fake narrative around it, and then repeat it until the new narrative is accepted without question. The poster above who put up the videos does not appear to have questioned why an Australian news network broadcast - and put online - FIVE separate stories about Biden’s “dementia”, complete with talking heads and heavily slanted chirons and titles. That’s not reporting the news; that’s a deliberate smear campaign in action. It’s like Hillary Clinton’s “What difference does it make?” comment. In context, she was asserting that it didn’t matter whether the attacks were spontaneous or prompted by a film; what was important was the deaths of four Americans. When FoxNews were done with it, their viewers believed (and still do) that she was saying that the deaths were _not_ important, the exact opposite of the truth. And here we are again. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2021, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-joe-biden-have-dementia/947334/62 "2021-07-28T15:16:02Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > It’s like Hillary Clinton’s “What difference does it make?” comment. In context, she was asserting that it didn’t matter whether the attacks were spontaneous or prompted by a film; what was important was the deaths of four Americans. When FoxNews were done with it, their viewers believed (and still do) that she was saying that the deaths were _not_ important, the exact opposite of the truth. > > And here we are again. I’d say it’s actually getting much worse. At least the “What difference does it make?” line actually looks bad on its face, and you need to look to find the deeper context which shows the lie. But in the video I discussed above, it doesn’t even rise to that level. None of his comments are ridiculous on their face, and even the one actual mistake he made needed to be explained. The other two were obviously misrepresented, anyone who actually watched the clips should have seen for themselves that they were being misrepresented, no further research needed. Hell, like I said, one was an obvious joke, that the people at the press conference even laughed at right in the clip. I can’t understand the level of brainwashing and/or idiocy needed to actually fall for this crap. It’s pretty bad when “I hope you’re just lying” is actually an improvement in my opinion of them. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2021, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-joe-biden-have-dementia/947334/63 "2021-07-28T17:51:08Z")
Yup, no surprises here. 🙄 😏 ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2021, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-joe-biden-have-dementia/947334/64 "2021-07-28T17:54:13Z")
So you believe the videos you linked showed clear, unbiased evidence that the President of the United States is mentally unfit to hold his office, and everyone here responding to you, including the people who explained why they don’t trust the source or why they think the videos are being mischaracterized, are… what? Willfully blind to the obvious? Lying? ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2021, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-joe-biden-have-dementia/947334/65 "2021-07-28T17:58:03Z")
I’ve dealt with people on psych wards before and there’s no sense in trying to shift them out of their delusions because they LIKE them and resist it with every fiber of their being. It’s not until the cognitive dissonance becomes too great and they decide themselves to come out of Loonytown that you can do anything for them. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2021, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-joe-biden-have-dementia/947334/66 "2021-07-28T18:02:49Z")
I’m sure your opponents would wholeheartedly agree with you there. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2021, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-joe-biden-have-dementia/947334/67 "2021-07-28T18:07:11Z")
Trying to diagnose people via video clips is worth about as much as (well not bullshit, that has some real value as fertilizer)? ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2021, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-joe-biden-have-dementia/947334/68 "2021-07-28T18:57:07Z")
[![](https://i.imgur.com/5XPkK5X.jpg) ](https://i.imgur.com/5XPkK5X.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2021, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-joe-biden-have-dementia/947334/69 "2021-07-28T19:11:45Z")
So, you’re admitting that you’re wrong? That’s what I take from your quote. ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2021, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-joe-biden-have-dementia/947334/70 "2021-07-28T19:24:31Z")
If your sources can’t even spell the guy’s name right, maybe you need better sources. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2021, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-joe-biden-have-dementia/947334/71 "2021-07-28T19:30:21Z")
So you assert that your linked sources offer a complete, unbiased picture of the President’s mental health and fitness. Is there any way people can disagree with you on this without being Biden-tards? ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2021, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-joe-biden-have-dementia/947334/72 "2021-07-28T19:55:48Z")
> [@SmartAleq](#): > > because they LIKE them and resist it with every fiber of their being. It’s not until the cognitive dissonance becomes too great and they decide themselves to come out of Loonytown that you can do anything for them. You have just insulted me and shown yourself to be an ableist jerk. Please stop. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2021, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-joe-biden-have-dementia/947334/73 "2021-07-28T20:06:12Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > I’m sure your opponents would wholeheartedly agree with you there. Yeah, at this point, I’m going to have to go with he’s lying, since it’s clear he knows how crazy he sounds. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2021, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-joe-biden-have-dementia/947334/74 "2021-07-28T20:07:32Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > So what do people here think? Based on your personal experience with dementia among friends/family, or your professional medical training, what is your armchair/remote diagnosis/prognosis of Biden’s mental fitness for continued service as POTUS? I’m no expert, although my mother is certainly showing signs of dementia (and has been diagnosed). From my observations, Biden doesn’t have anything in common with what my mother acts like, dementia-wise. I’ll go even further, I don’t see _anything_ about Biden’s behavior that would even raise this as an issue. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2021, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-joe-biden-have-dementia/947334/75 "2021-07-28T20:11:06Z")
> [@SmartAleq](#): > > I’ve dealt with people on psych wards before and there’s no sense in trying to shift them out of their delusions because they LIKE them and resist it with every fiber of their being. It’s not until the cognitive dissonance becomes too great and they decide themselves to come out of Loonytown that you can do anything for them. I’d challenge you to stop being a snarky prick and actually rebut my analysis above, but I’ve come to expect nothing better from your side. I’ve spent 15 years now arguing with conspiracy theorists on various fora, and this sort of technique is just what they do. Throw out a bunch of misrepresented “facts” that they allege support their cause, then simply ignore or belittle anyone who tries to actually look into the alleged “facts”. It’s entirely unsurprising to me that the modern GOP now uses the same tactic, as they have wholeheartedly adopted the conspiracist mindset. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2021, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-joe-biden-have-dementia/947334/76 "2021-07-28T20:12:55Z")
**Modnote** : @Horatius; dial it way back. “snarky prick” is really pushing it. _This is just a guidance, not a warning. Nothing on your permanent record._ ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2021, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-joe-biden-have-dementia/947334/77 "2021-07-28T21:28:12Z")
Besides, it’s “snarky cunt,” I mean if you’re going to use gendered insults you might go to a bit of effort to get the gender right. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2021, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-joe-biden-have-dementia/947334/78 "2021-07-28T22:13:13Z")
Interesting that you didn’t complain about the “conspiracy theorist” part, which is honestly the more insulting bit. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2021, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-joe-biden-have-dementia/947334/79 "2021-07-29T08:20:27Z")
So to sum up: the people stating that Biden _isn’t_ showing signs of dementia have presented a fairly comprehensive argument based on data and reasoning, and the one still arguing that he _is_ is now just working the “Hur hur you’re all sheeple” angle. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2021, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-joe-biden-have-dementia/947334/80 "2021-08-01T05:41:11Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > Methinks you guys need to start electing younger politicians. How did “Tony” and “Dave” and now “Boris” turn out for you lot? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-joe-biden-have-dementia/947334.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-joe-biden-have-dementia/947334.md?page=5)