A butterfly,Fluttered by,
And landed on a daisy,
The sun is high,
And so am I,
This wine is makin’ me lazy.
— Commander Cody and The Lost Planet Airmen
On Thursday, July 9, President Donald Trump was a guest on the Sean Hannity Show (Fox). Trump disclosed that he “recently” took a cognitive assessment test at Walter Reed Medical Center. He aced it, he told Hannity. The doctors couldn’t believe how well he’d done, he said.
The cognition assessment is believed to be a Montreal Cognitive Examination, nearly identical and often called, the Mini Mental Status Exam. These tests are used widely, especially as a screening tool for elderly (65+) folks. One needn’t be a physician to administer the screening.
During the course of my career, I’ve given such screenings to dozens of adults. The test consists of standardized questions, such as: What is today’s date? Can you repeat the phrase “no ifs ands or buts?” Can you draw a clock with the hands showing the time? Can you follow a simple written direction (take the paper in your right hand, fold it in half, place it on the floor? Can you count backwards from 100 by 7s? Can you spell the word “world” backwards?
Examples of this screening assessment tool are readily available online. If interested, try a search for Mini Mental Status Exam, or MMSE.
The test is very simple, and most adults pass it easily. Struggling with the exam is indicative of the need for more testing.
Why did Trump need the test, other than his age? Why did he feel the need to brag about passing a simple test that should not be a problem for any well-functioning adult? He’s not saying. Could this be a reaction to the allegation (which he denies) that he cheated on the SAT, and hired a ringer to take it for him? Is he both very narcissistic and very needy?Deflecting the issue by opining as to whether or not I have Trump Derangement Syndrome (fake diagnosis/a hoax, dare I say) doesn’t address the issue of Trump’s odd behavior. A deflection to compare Trump to another elderly individual, similarly fails to address the issue of Trump’s fitness or lack thereof. I don’t think I’m deranged, as I’ve said, but it’s clear I don’t hold Trump in high esteem.
But that deflection does little to address the concern I expressed with Trump’s cognitive fitness. I will say that commuting the sentence of Roger Stone may have made sense, cynical and corrupt as it was, in that Stone has hinted that he has a lot of information that wouldn’t be beneficial to Trump if he, Stone, started letting cats out of bags.
I’m just saying I don’t find it reassuring to know that Trump passed a very simple cognitive screening instrument.
Any chance that sleepy/creepy Joe could pass this simple cognitive test? You have watched the poor old guy operate from his basement. You have experience in this field……What say you……..
Cheers!!
Joe would do just fine, as did Trump. I found it odd that Trump bragged out doing well on a simple screening device. That he – Trump – passed was no surprise. The MMSE does not screen for mental illness, or personality disorder, or characterological issues, nor is it designed to do so. For me, the interesting aspect was not that Trump passed it, but that he felt it was something to boast about.
Mr. Basura,
Sir,
It is clear Vice President Biden, to be kind has lost a step or two. The Democrats need to muddy the issue with the point that Vice President Biden is old, and his mind is not firing on all cylinders but so is President Trump. Please give your test to both and see the results, I will wager you Vice President Biden will lose in a head to head test.
Thank you for admitting your bias I wish the media in general on both sides would admit to their bias.
I think they would both pass the screening easily. We should should have full neuropsychiatric examinations for any/all prospective seekers of the highest office in the land. We test the armed forces personnel at the SAC bases, etc. The candidates to serve as Commander in Chief should all be looked at thoroughly. In my opinion, Trump’s propensity to lie and brag so much are more than a little odd.
Trump would brag about going pottie by himself, but that might be a lie.
Biden doesn’t need a bathroom anymore, depends to the rescue!