John Fetterman Debate Fiasco
Recently a debate was televised between Dr. Mehmet Oz and Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman of Pennsylvania in which M r. Fetterman struggled significantly to get out the answers to questions and to make simple statements. He says the difficulty is due to a stroke, which makes sense. I have neither met nor examined Mr. Fetterman, nor seen his medical records. I believe two separate phenomena are at play here, both caused by the stroke, but with very different implications.
Expressive Aphasia
This was the most evident symptom. It is a disconnect between the mind needing a word and the brain being unable to find it. It is not uncommon following a stroke. The individual understands what information is needed, understands what the other person in a discussion is saying, but there’s a short-circuit between the vocabulary and the means of communication (speaking, writing). The person can form a complete thought but not get it out. Highly frustrating to the individual. Following my first stroke in 1978, on entering the house from the hospital, I saw a machine that cleans floors sitting in our living room. The word “vacuum cleaner” would not come to mind, but I did find the word “aspiradora” from somewhere. Ever since then my native language for household appliances has been Spanish. Following my second stroke in 2014 it worsened. I also have late onset hydrocedphalus which is a one-way ticket to non-Alzheimer’s dementia. That makes the problem worse.
I understand what is being said, know what the answer is, but accessing the words is often difficult. I could not effectively represent the interests of my state with the expressive aphasia because there are often time-limits on members’ speech, and if I need to refer to Ohio, I might only be able to say “the state bordered by Kentucky, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Indiana and Michigan. Its state capital begins with C.”
Receptive Aphasia
This, too, often follows a stroke and interferes with the individual’s ability to understand what is being said or otherwise communicated. But there is a different disconnect. It is between the input (words, reading, vision and other senses) and center of cognition, almost always the prefrontal cortex. This is far more severe and interferes with thinking because the person doesn’t understand the input. This can be described as a difficulty processing speech, just as a freeway pileup with 183 dead can be called a fender-bender. It’s a cognitive difficulty and is very troublesome if he is expected to perform the duties of a U.S. Senator. If a discussion concerns Ohio, I might not know what kind of vegetable that is.
In my opinion Mr. Fetterman displayed symptoms of both Expressive and Receptive Aphasia.
I gotta go with SCA's comments below, Fetterdroid is at this point a placeholder, to normalize these types of jab injuries. How easy is it for them to control him now that he has been comprimised so.
It doesn't matter. The Democrats are counting on both Fetterman and Shapiro to win their respective races so Shapiro can install Mrs. Fetterman when her husband must unfortunately resign sometime not too long after his swearing-in.
The most savagely-enjoyable outcome would be for both Mastriano and Fetterman to win their respective races.