Byrd on ageism and the shocking discovery that he is old

[Alonzo]

This is hilarious at the start, but he eventually moves into a serious commentary on ageism in our society

Part 1

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Part 2

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[ViolaLee]

He has about one sentence on each piece of paper. I like Senator Byrd. I think he makes great speeches. He's a funny, ballsy guy.

[Alonzo]

He has about one sentence on each piece of paper.

I got curious and, after seeing a page at 1:07, it's about size 40 font, double spaced. Guess poor eyesight is another shocking discovery.

[preservanation]

I watch more CSpan than most.
Byrd is always a groan fest.

IMO, he's incompetent and soft in the head.
Next stop...Weekend at Bernie's.

[Easy90]

At least he isn't still wearing his sheet and hood. But he still slips up and talks about "niggers" every once in a while.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/Homefndr/ebony_robertbyrd-1.jpg

[preservanation]

At least he isn't still wearing his sheet and hood. But he still slips up and talks about "niggers" every once in a while.
]
And cries.
He is unstable.
Time to put him under a shawl, rocking in his hickory chair, on his whitewashed porch, tended by his nurse maid...I don't care of which race.

"What....? Gol dang!
Hrupffff, Ah...where's my mint julep? Ennnnghtttch....
Woops"
Ewwww.
Can't pay that poor girl enough!

[micfranklin]

At least he isn't still wearing his sheet and hood. But he still slips up and talks about "niggers" every once in a while.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/Homefndr/ebony_robertbyrd-1.jpg

Probably because he's old enough to remember every detail of that time period.

[NortheastCynic]

The man's starting to lose it. All people do at that age. There needs to be a mandatory age at which members of Congress must retire. We do not need senility in the halls of power.

And then there's that whole Klan...thing.

-NC

[Alonzo]

The man's starting to lose it. All people do at that age.

And you can back the up with what?

[NortheastCynic]

Which part, that the brain/mind begins to go as you get older or that Byrd's brain/mind is in the process of 'going' [which he essentially admits in the first video]?

You don't have to be a neurologist to know either, Zo.

Cognitive functions begin to break down during advanced age, period. It's a fact.

-NC

[Alonzo]

Which part, that the brain/mind begins to go as you get older or that Byrd's brain/mind is in the process of 'going' [which he essentially admits in the first video]?

You don't have to be a neurologist to know either, Zo.

Cognitive functions begin to break down during advanced age, period. It's a fact.

-NC

I wouldn't look to a neurologist to find out normal age related cognitive changes. Cognitive functioning is the domain of psychology. If you're talking about physical changes to the brain, or diseases of the brain, then yes, that's neurology. But the actual functioning of the individuals is psychology. Sure there's overlap since they're relevant to each other, but that's the focus of each.

"Losing it" "Going" and various other terms you want to use, they don't describe normal age related changes. Fluid intelligence, such as problem solving, declines with age. High activity levels slow this process, but it does normally decline. Crystalized intelligence, which pertains more to knowledge of facts and information, does not decline naturally, and may even increase with age.

There is no one path of aging that every follows. But regardless of ones natural aging path, "losing it" would indicate disease or some problem, not normal aging.

[NortheastCynic]

I'm not claiming that 'everyone' follows the same psychological or neurological path. What I'm saying is that Byrd, every time he speaks, appears to be slowing down. Second, the odds of 'slowing down' or 'losing it' go up with age and we should not take the chance of having a Congressman suffering from any level of dementia actively voting on and/or proposing legislation; hence my call for a mandatory retirement age.

I'm no expert on neurology or psychology, but I have common sense. A 90 year old does not belong in Congress, potential health issues [both mental and physical] or risks are too great.

-NC

[NortheastCynic]

I'm not claiming that 'everyone' follows the same psychological or neurological path. What I'm saying is that Byrd, every time he speaks, appears to be slowing down. Second, the odds of 'slowing down' or 'losing it' go up with age and we should not take the chance of having a Congressman suffering from any level of dementia actively voting on and/or proposing legislation; hence my call for a mandatory retirement age.

I'm no expert on neurology or psychology, but I have common sense. A 90 year old does not belong in Congress, potential health issues [both mental and physical] or risks are too great.

-NC

[Alonzo]

I'm not claiming that 'everyone' follows the same psychological or neurological path. What I'm saying is that Byrd, every time he speaks, appears to be slowing down. Second, the odds of 'slowing down' or 'losing it' go up with age and we should not take the chance of having a Congressman suffering from any level of dementia actively voting on and/or proposing legislation; hence my call for a mandatory retirement age.

I'm no expert on neurology or psychology, but I have common sense. A 90 year old does not belong in Congress, potential health issues [both mental and physical] or risks are too great.

-NC

Common sense doesn't mean much if you're trying to argue science. You're calling for a mandatory age of retirement based on preconceived notions of aging. If you want to say that people suffering from certain age related diseases should be kept out that's something different.

You're painting with a broad brush and saying we should ban everyone because of what effects the minority:

As in other studies, the ADAMS analysis showed that the prevalence of dementia increases significantly with age. Five percent of people ages 71 to 79, 24.2 percent of people 80 to 89, and 37.4 percent of those 90 years or older were estimated to have some type of dementia. The estimated rate of Alzheimer’s also rose greatly with older age—from 2.3 percent of people ages 71 to 79 to 18.1 percent of people 80 to 89 to 29.7 percent of those age 90 and older. The ADAMS investigators found fewer years of education and the presence of at least one APOE e4 allele, a genetic risk factor for AD, to be strong predictors of AD and other dementias.

http://www.nia.nih.gov/NewsAndEvents/PressReleases/PR20071030ADAMS.htm

"Common sense", while beneficial when there's nothing else, has also provided the backbone of many, many efforts to deny people rights for reasons that had no bearing on the individuals.

1/3rd of people Byrd's age and older suffer from some form of dementia. One out of three. Now given Byrd's, or any senators, level of activity and intellectual engagement, the risk of dementia would be even lower. And you're talking about banning everyone for something most of them aren't even dealing with.

[sam]

The rate of decline of mental acuity is going to vary from individual to individual. When I worked in a nursing home, I knew some in their 90's as sharp as tacks.

I've also known healthy 25 year olds who think and act like 8 year olds.

The US is youth crazed and obsessed; in most eastern countries, the aged are revered and treated with the utmost respect. I have more confidence in the wisdom of the aged than I do in the inexperienced, often impulsive young.

[Troubadour]

And cries.
He is unstable.


Like John McCain.

http://www.sahbasucks.com/images/mccain-angry.jpg

http://z.about.com/d/politicalhumor/1/0/d/L/mccain_shining.jpg

[NortheastCynic]

Common sense doesn't mean much if you're trying to argue science. You're calling for a mandatory age of retirement based on preconceived notions of aging. If you want to say that people suffering from certain age related diseases should be kept out that's something different.

You're painting with a broad brush and saying we should ban everyone because of what effects the minority:



http://www.nia.nih.gov/NewsAndEvents/PressReleases/PR20071030ADAMS.htm

"Common sense", while beneficial when there's nothing else, has also provided the backbone of many, many efforts to deny people rights for reasons that had no bearing on the individuals.

1/3rd of people Byrd's age and older suffer from some form of dementia. One out of three. Now given Byrd's, or any senators, level of activity and intellectual engagement, the risk of dementia would be even lower. And you're talking about banning everyone for something most of them aren't even dealing with.Again Zo, you're making it appear as though I am saying that all or even a majority of 90 year olds suffer from some level of dementia...That is not what I'm saying. I'm saying that the percentage is high enough to warrant a mandatory age of retirement because 25% odds of a Congressmen beginning to lose his mental faculties is an unacceptable risk. That is the common sense aspect of it. I'm not 'feeling lucky' with those odds.

-NC

[Alonzo]

Northeast, considering the high activity level, which reduces the risk of many problems, and the level of health required to be in the senate (higher than most that age), it's probably lower than a 25% chance. But even if it were 50, what's wrong with people voting them out if they're unsatisfied with their work? He's wanted by the people in his state, and there's nothing to indicate he's mentally unfit for the job. The only thing I've heard to support that claim are long speeches and crying over ted kennedy. The former has more to do with his style, which was far more common before modern times, and the latter, which is just cruel.

If Byrd were 50, and everything else was the same, would you still question his psychological fitness for the job?