Nutwood Junction

Has anyone else noticed that Bill seems a little...edgy...lately?

Yeah, a lot of people. Probably a month ago, I was talking to my Dad, and he said he's not sure what's up with the former President. Dad said, "I really think he might have Alzheimer's or something." I said Ken and I were talking about the same thing earlier! It seems like something is wrong.

I'm not going to bash the former Pres here. I think he's done enough damage to himself. I feel that the 8 years of his administration weren't all bad, and the country prospered (not entirely his administration's doing, but that's an argument for another day). My fundamental problem with him was his betrayal of the American people. I'll make no apologies for believing that there does need to be some accountability as to behavior--especially when someone is on the clock. For example, I once had a boss who was having an affair with another boss. They would disappear into the office and close the door. How much respect do you think we ended up having for this boss? Yeah...zero. When people are out there working hard--whether in my workplace or in the rest of the country--we don't want to put up with our leaders' dalliances on the clock. If you're not at work, I won't judge, but when you are at work, you aren't getting paid to play.

But I digress. That's in the past and I see no reason to rehash ancient history. It was painful enough at the time. I gained more respect for him after he and the former President Bush teamed up to raise money for those affected by the tsunami and Hurricane Katrina, and I still think that was a good effort. However, it seems that President Clinton has become increasingly agitated, combative, and downright belligerent with reporters these days. He's been described as a "loose cannon" by folks on the campaign trail, including those in Hillary's camp. When the sniper fire brouhaha was calming down, he brought it up again. He's accusing the Obama campaign of "playing the race card" when he brought it up first. Watch the video:

Ken and I were constantly saying, "What is wrong with him?" And frankly, it was on the verge of amusing. Sort of, "Oh jeez, what has he said now?" It seemed pretty obvious that he was off his game, and that someone needed to rein him in. I recently read an article by Dr. John McDougall, who puts forth the probability that the former president is suffering from post-bypass surgery cognitive dysfunction, which is apparently a very real problem among cardiac surgery patients. I am not making light of this in any way. After I read the article, I agreed with Dr. McDougall that perhaps a little compassion is due to Bill. As I told Ken, no matter what you think of the guy, he's obviously brilliant, and to see him struggling to control his outbursts is actually sad to me. It's almost like Flowers for Algernon or The Terminal Man. His life was saved by bypass surgery, but at what cost to his mental functions? Perhaps this will help the public understand more about a serious complication of a serious--and life-saving--surgery. And maybe Bill should consider taking a break.

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• #9 Comment from helmswondermom 
  4/24/08 4:38 PM | Permalink

  I kinda like 'ole Bill, and I have to admit that I've been thinking the same things lately.  He's been way too easily agitated.
  Lori
  http://journals.aol.com/helmswondermom/DustyPages/
• #8 Comment from slapinions 
  4/23/08 10:51 PM | Permalink

  Not a Bill fan. But . . I actually think higher of him after this election. I now do think that he honestly loves his wife, affairs be damned, and I'm glad to see him get fired up on her behalf. Entitlement? Greed for power? Maybe, but it seems like genuine raw anger, not a hissy fit.
  
  Dan
  
  http://journals.aol.com/slapinions/Slap-Inionscom
• #7 Comment from jimsulliv3 
  4/23/08 8:13 PM | Permalink

  I think it's been too long since he's been in the oval office and it has stained his mind.
  
  Jimmy
  
  P.S. Who's Pink Floyd and why is he following me?
• #6 Comment from frankandmary 
  4/23/08 4:51 PM | Permalink

  I will say my Dad came out of surgery to replace/repair his broken hip, & never came back to the full cognition he had before the surgery.  Even refused to try to walk when just previous he'd changed the tire on my car.
  Yes, Bill may be having a post surgery cognition problem, but I think they are pretty medical savvy & would know that privately by now.  They'd not have put him on "tour" if it was known to them.  
  Bill reminds me of a person I interviewed once who winked at me after the interview & said: I know you'll have to keep it "clean" & interview other people, but I'll be expecting a call :-0.  She wasn't the type of person I had in mind for the job at all, but SHE KNEW SHE WAS.
  I believe Bill's recent one sided recitations of the riot act are due to his total disbelief that this run for billhill office wasn't a piece of cake.  He consciously flaunts his opposing view points because he is shocked & amazed people are opposed to them in the first place.  I really believe they thought they had to just show up as the billhill team to win this election.  They saw it as their right & now he cannot control his rage against all the people who don't quite see it that way also. ~Mary
• #5 Comment from shrbrisc 
  4/23/08 4:44 PM | Permalink

  I will admit when my husband had his surgery it changed him alot but I think bill is just tired of people attacking his wife , any man would feel the same way .
  hugs
  Sherry
  http://journals.aol.com/shrbrisc/sherrys-weightloss-journey/