Why has Bill Clinton lost it? The NY Daily News offers lots of speculation, including this:
Many think he's just older, and perhaps his heart bypass surgery in 2004 took more of a toll than people realize.
"It is possible that Bill Clinton's recent gaffes are a result of his bypass operation," said Dr. Marc Siegel, an NYU associate professor who has interviewed Clinton's heart surgeon.
Siegel was referring to a personality-change phenomenon sometimes seen in bypass patients.
The eerily prescient Man Without Qualities wrote about this in 2004:
The Man Without Qualities has sometimes suggested that the recent woes of the Walt Disney Company may be attributable to Michael Eisner's becoming a "pump head" following his emergency cardiac bypass surgery. Now Bill Clinton has joined Mr. Eisner as a quadruple emergency bypass patient - and prospective pump head.
While there is no guaranty that Mr. Clinton will be afflicted, the chances appear to be high that he may become what cardiologists call "a pump head." A Duke University study appearing in the New England Journal of Medicine in February, 2001, found that a substantial proportion of patients after coronary artery bypass surgery experience measurable impairment in their mental capabilities. Surgeons privately know this effect as "pump head." In the study, patients were tested for their cognitive capacity (i.e. mental ability) before surgery, six weeks, six months, and five years after bypass surgery. Patients were deemed to have significant impairment if they had a 20% decrease in test scores. This study had three major findings:
(1) Cognitive impairment occurs after bypass surgery;
(2) 42% of patients became impaired;
(3) The impairment was not temporary.Also, the decline in mental capacity in those who had bypass surgery was 2 -3 times higher over five years than in patients who did not have surgery.
I feel bad for Bill if this is the cause.
I would be shocked if that was the case. It's the same old Bill. The media isn't shilling for him anymore, and You Tube is simply revealing what has always been true. He just lacks handlers these days.
Nevertheless, in the interest of science, I will ask the cardiologist of note about "pump head" and report back.
Posted by: Jane | April 27, 2008 at 12:22 PM
I think Jane has the correct answer: "He just lacks handlers". All the handlers are now working for Obama.
Posted by: pagar | April 27, 2008 at 12:35 PM
My father had two bypass surgeries and certainly developed "pump head" after the second. It made his final years very difficult for him and my mother, though it certainly extended his life.
OTOH shrewd observers like Florence King, long ago predicted that the dynamics of the the clintons were such that he would sabotage her effort at every opportunity.
Posted by: clarice | April 27, 2008 at 12:36 PM
Pump head or no, I definitely think he's had trouble adjusting to life with YouTube and the web. While he was prez he could throw out his serial whoppers with impunity, and their ultimate exposure was not widely disseminated. When you look at some of the howlers he's thrown out there lately, you can't escape the conclusion that he simply doesn't realize what a simple matter it is to demonstrate conclusively that he's simply lying again.
And pump head or no, the one cure for all of this is for him just to shut up--which is the one thing he cannot do, no matter the consequences.
Posted by: Danube of Thought | April 27, 2008 at 12:47 PM
"I will ask the cardiologist of note about "pump head" and report back."
Jane,
[S]he must be a good friend. Somehow I can't quite see a super honest response from a cardiologist to "Say, how many of your patients wind up addled after you get done with them." when an attorney is posing the question.
We can't know about Bubba - if he's addled then Red Witch has a responsibility to attempt to minimize his public appearances. Using the fact that he's addled (if true) to excuse whatever pops out of his mouth would seem a bit, oh, what's the word.... Clintonesque?
Posted by: Rick Ballard | April 27, 2008 at 12:50 PM
I certainly sympathize if he has suffered mentally/physically as a result of the bypass. Doesn't endear the man to me however.
That being said, it's obvious to those of us who followed things in the 90's that the media were the primary facilitators who allowed BC to get away with saying anything he wanted at anytime in the name of political expediency. They did their job, as they saw it, at the time. And they've decided that they are under no further obligation to do so.
Without that willingness on the part of MSM to smooth over the internal contradictions, the emperor is exposed.
Posted by: Chris | April 27, 2008 at 12:55 PM
[S]he must be a good friend.
I sent her a text message. I'm confident that she doesn't pay enough attention to Bill Clinton to make the diagnosis, but she might be able to enlighten us to the symptoms, or frequency.
Posted by: Jane | April 27, 2008 at 01:25 PM
I agree with Rick that we can't know. The difference in media coverage between now and then, including the advent of YouTube and blogs, plus the plunge in levels of Dem Clinton-love makes a direct comparison impossible. But if it's even partly a result of the bypass, that's too bad. I'll be curious to hear what Jane's friend says.
I'm doubtful, though. Think of the post-Monica behavior. It's not like we've never seen this before.
Posted by: Porchlight | April 27, 2008 at 01:33 PM
Again, it sure seems to me that he's just doing what he always did, except there are now open-source fact-checkers by the millions, and when they start circulating stuff on the web it's impossible for the MSM to ignore it. In any event it no longer matters if they ignore it--witness the NYTimes's ignoring the Wright videos. They have maintained a stony silence, yet every American with a pulse is aware of them.
Posted by: Danube of Thought | April 27, 2008 at 01:40 PM
Ahh, the media is just going for Obama! these days, Bill has not changed one bit.
Imagine if he tried "I didn't inhale" today.
Posted by: Veeshir | April 27, 2008 at 01:58 PM
I think he hasn't changed, but the Dems and the media have.
He was always a liar. He always practiced what he accused others of, which was the politics of personal destruction. While he and then Bush were Presidents there was a 'pretend Zeitgeist' permeating the Democrats in this country. They were pretending that he wasn't a scumbag. There was a "willful suspension of disbelief," so to speak.
Posted by: MikeS | April 27, 2008 at 02:07 PM
This is laughable. Clinton is acting no different than he always has except that now, Democrats don't support what he's doing. In the 1990's, Clinton was willing to do anything to acquire and retain power and that is the fundamental tenet of modern liberalism. Clinton was a DLC "centrist" and liberals didn't like that, however, he was ruthless in waging the permanent campaign against Republicans and, at the end of the day, liberals admire power. He was their guy and they loved his ruthlessness.
Now, however, Clinton is getting in the way of their dream. Democrats want a real socialist to be elected. Obama has shown that he will lie, cheat and steal to gain power and they believe that he will actually implement their utopian ideas. He's ruthless and a true believer.
Clinton is getting in the way of achieving that dream so liberals have now decided that Bill isn't such a great guy after all. This nonsense about his "gaffes" after bypass surgery is just another instance of liberals asserting that people who would prevent them from getting their way are crazy. Liberals have tried to claim that conservatism is a mental disorder for years. Now they are trying to say that Clinton has changed from when he was President. Notice, liberals don't say that they were wrong, just that their hero has changed.
Posted by: jt007 | April 27, 2008 at 02:17 PM
Watched a few of his recent appearances (e.g., the "fairy tale"), and he looked pretty agile, mentally. If he's actually slowing down, seems to me the most likely result is him having a harder time keeping his various stories straight. And I can't work up a lot of sympathy for that.
Posted by: Cecil Turner | April 27, 2008 at 02:18 PM
I am alarmed at those statistics, and never encountered the word "pumphead" until now.
I had my first bipass (quintuple) twenty-eight years ago and my second (redo quadruple) seventeen years ago. If I had any fall-off in mental acuity, it hasn't adversely effected my ability to practice law (at least if results are any indication). And no one has told me that my temper has worsened.
I am "inoperable" now, so at least I don't think I will begin worrying about the "pumphead" problem.
Observing Bill, he seems like the same old devilish rogue loose cannon to me.
Posted by: vnjagvet | April 27, 2008 at 03:29 PM
I don't think it's just about heart operations. A few months ago my otherwise healthy mother had a knee replacement surgery. The operation went well and was routine. However, she was in a severe mental fog for several days. It was very scary to me although my brothers pooh poohed it, saying oh it's just a simple knee replacement, no big deal. The doctors did tests and nothing seemed wrong with her brain and she finally came out of it and seems to be okay now, months later.
However, I read later on somewhere that older people who have routine minor surgery have a much greater chance of dying within a year than similar people who don't. And not directly from the operation. They theorize that brain inflammation from the operation has lasting, damaging effects on the brain. That explains to me now what happened to her after the operation.
Now who told my mother this before she got her elective minor knee surgery? No one. I didn't even tell her about this stat because I don't want to worry her. I just hope that there were no lasting effects from her operation and those days of disordered thinking. So far so good hopefully. But I think people should be more aware of this before they get their "minor" operation.
Posted by: sylvia | April 27, 2008 at 04:25 PM
Holy cow vnjagvet!
Posted by: Jane | April 27, 2008 at 04:33 PM
Sylvia,
Smoking pot reduces brain inflammation. In fact it is indicated for any head injury if available and a Dr. is not.
You can look it up.
Posted by: M. Simon | April 27, 2008 at 06:00 PM
Did I mention it has anti-brain tumor properties?
A lot of it happens because the CB1 receptor is ubiquitous in the body and especially in brain and nerve tissue.
Something we might have learned 30 years ago had it not been for Bill Bennett and his "Cheech and Chong" medicine crap and drug prohibition in general. Bastards.
Posted by: M. Simon | April 27, 2008 at 06:03 PM
Did I mention it has anti-brain tumor properties?
Sheesh I wish I'd known that when I was misdiagnosed with a brain tumor 8 years ago. It would have made a few years of hell a lot easier.
Posted by: Jane | April 27, 2008 at 06:07 PM
Bill Clinton could share the honors with John McCain when it comes anecdotal tempers. It's my impression that Clinton has always had a short fuse; there were just a lot more curtains between us and him, till Hillary kicked off her official run and Iowa sent her packing.
I do think Bill is less agile than he used to be, which tends to exacerbate frustrations, but mostly I think it's been a long, long time since he's had to do down and dirty street politics himself. As President and President emeritus you basically control the PR playing field. You decide when and where you will be interviewed; you decide who gets to ask the questions; nobody gets in your face; your surrogates do your defense. As ex-Prez, you get applause, not challenges, and people pay fortunes just to hear you speak. You can hardly remember not being the boss, and you've come to believe that's the natural order of things.
Then the universe flips and, suddenly, you're the surrogate, you're tasked with running interference for someone else, nobody keeps a respectful distance, rude reporters throw your words in your face, the party throws you to the wolves, and the folks who used to limit the damage are now doing damage instead. You're on your own, up against a welterweight and you can't get any traction, much less control, so the obvious question is, "What the hell is wrong with you people?" Pumphead or narcissist? You can make the call or split the difference.
Posted by: JM Hanes | April 27, 2008 at 06:24 PM
Fred Thompson noted in his FOX interview that McCain had a temper, but it was always directed at an equal, not an underling. During Bill Clinton's first campaign, I remember news video of a rally on Wall Street. Clinton was shouting at some poor staffer, "I'm hearing more jeers, than cheers." Then there were all the stories from George S., DeeDee Myers, David Gergen, etc. about Clinton's WH rages. I can't imagine a red-faced McCain wagging his finger at America and saying, "Now listen here...".
Posted by: DebinNC | April 27, 2008 at 06:45 PM
Next time I go under the knife, M. Simon, I know what to ask for before getting wheeled down. WHEEEEEEEEEE.
Posted by: vnjagvet | April 27, 2008 at 07:20 PM
JM, It's also true that the two of them are such outrageous liars, it took a while for everyone to catch on to them. Their techniques are very well known by now.
Posted by: clarice | April 27, 2008 at 07:49 PM
"Smoking pot reduces brain inflammation"
Well they put my mom under with heavy morphine when that started happening to her. I wonder if that is the same concept as smoking pot reducing inflammation.
Posted by: sylvia | April 27, 2008 at 07:53 PM
I truly believe that the anesthetic today has something to do with mental confusion for anyone undergoing the knife. And is especially manifest in older people who survive surgery.
Many people just plain die from the anesthetic--it's probably the most danersous part of surgery.
Posted by: glasater | April 27, 2008 at 08:35 PM
Okay, Here is the cardiologist's explanation. Whether you are a 'pump-head' or not (and she has never heard it called that)depends on whether you had on-pump or off-pump surgery, that is, whether your heart stopped beating at some point, and you were on a pump, or not.
She doubts that Clinton was ever off-pump, but that's where you start with the question.
Posted by: Jane | April 27, 2008 at 08:54 PM
Answer to the first question:
Two main methods can be used for the surgery. One temporarily stops the patient's heart; the other takes place on a beating heart.
Doctors said Clinton had undergone the procedure which stopped his heart because it appeared to be the safest method in this case.
A device commonly called a pump was used to oxygenate and circulate Clinton's blood.
LUN
Posted by: Jane | April 27, 2008 at 08:58 PM
Would it make me a jerk if I felt bad for Clinton personally but still delighted in his effect on Democrats and the Democrat Party?
Posted by: jb | April 27, 2008 at 09:32 PM
Posted by: cathyf | April 27, 2008 at 10:36 PM
Well she was like that- incoherent, upset, she tried to make a run from the hospital in her nightgown, for about 24 hours. What's funny was this was mostly at night and apparently no doctor came to check on her till the morning. It's true what they say you get worse service at night in a hospital. Then the next day, this one substitute female doctor, who didn't perform the surgery, put her on morphine. Then my mom was just kind of out of it, half awake, mumbling. Then when my mom's real doctor,a man, came back a few days later, I heard the doctors had a fight about it, and the male doctor came back and ordered my mom off it. Kind of an eye-opening experience about the hospital system there - not as smooth as I thought.
Yes it could have been a combination of the pain and the morphine, but that doesn't mean there wasn't some inflammation as well. My mom is strong though and I think she recovered fully. Some other people, perhaps more elderly, may not be as lucky. Again, something to think about before you get elective surgery. Probably better to get it when you are younger, or not at all, if you can avoid it.
Posted by: sylvia | April 28, 2008 at 01:14 AM
"Many people just plain die from the anesthetic--it's probably the most danersous part of surgery. "
That could be true too. More research should be done I think before we all run off and get our joints replaced.
Posted by: sylvia | April 28, 2008 at 01:18 AM
Oh and another important lesson I learned, never having had a family member undergo surgery before, is that it's most important to be there through the first night. It's not enough to stay through the evening and plan to come back in the morning, and just assume the family member will sleep through the night. Because overnight could be when they first wake, and you need to be there for that moment, to comfort them and fight for them if need be, even for minor surgery.
Posted by: sylvia | April 28, 2008 at 01:23 AM
I was interested in this because one of my two best friends has had a bypass operation so I asked him for his thoughts. Kinda scary!! This is what he told me about how it affected him and he had the operation when he was in his mid-50's and had been a computer project manager for over 35 years:
All I know.. is that the anesthesia.. really f*cks up your memory.. 2 months AFTER my operation.. I went to an interview.. and some 25 year old snot.. totally embarrassed me with simple questions.. like.. what's on a DLBL card.. etc.. How many sections in a cobol program..
Took me a full 5 or 6 months.. to get back up to speed.. seriously..
Posted by: dick | April 28, 2008 at 11:13 PM
Posted by: JM Hanes | April 27, 2008 at 06:24 PM
JMH
I agree with everything you wrote, but I think there is one aspect not considered too much and that is the media cover up and ass licking they provided for Clinton when he was president. They aren't doing it anymore.
Now, that is either a function of their underlying distaste for him and having done it because the press hated republicans more and so were willing to deep six on behalf of him or a function of the new media and their ability to hide his gaffes is no more or a combination of the both. I think it's a combo and it's hitting him like a mac truck. Hence, the raw radio interview and the 'I didn't say that"...pre-Al Gore's internet that kind of interview would have been so spun and covered for by the time an actual audio was aired as to make it not worth it.
He's unaccustomed to being anything but adored and fawned over by the press.
Posted by: Topsecretk9 | April 28, 2008 at 11:57 PM