Former President Biden Diagnosed With Aggressive Prostate Cancer

[selmaborntidefan]

Hard to say but its his right to refuse it. People refuse tests all the time. Thats their prerogative. Woody Guthrie died from Huntingtons which is inheritable. His son Arlo, to the best of my knowledge, refused to be tested for it. 🤷‍♂️

This is where I get reminded that the reality is that politicians - from Presidents on down - are normal people just like the rest of us. Not half as important as we think they are, and not 1/4 as important as THEY think they are.

 

[75thru79]

I just don't buy that he would have refused this or that he was even given that choice.

There is no way BIden was not getting regular PSA tests. I get my blood work done twice a month because I am on TRT and the PSA test is included in the package group of tests from Labcorp. I would actually have to go out of my way to exclude the PSA test.

 

[Crimson1967]

People can do what they want with their own medical tests. A president should have a regular major run of blood tests.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

People can do what they want with their own medical tests. A president should have a regular major run of blood tests.

I think they ought to pass an amendment to the Constitution requiring any and all candidates for President to disclose all assets, taxes, medical, school and military records, etc, prior to the start of the election year. Instead of us going through all of this nonsense every four years about whether a candidate will release those records or when, it would be known before the first ballot in a primary was even cast.

And yes, I know "elections local blah blah" but the office of President represents everyone. Of course, the REAL reason is that nobody out there in politics (and they all view themselves as future Presidents anyway) wants to vote to require this and then have to reveal something embarrassing that might cost them power.

 

[Bamaro]

I think they ought to pass an amendment to the Constitution requiring any and all candidates for President to disclose all assets, taxes, medical, school and military records, etc, prior to the start of the election year. Instead of us going through all of this nonsense every four years about whether a candidate will release those records or when, it would be known before the first ballot in a primary was even cast.

And yes, I know "elections local blah blah" but the office of President represents everyone. Of course, the REAL reason is that nobody out there in politics (and they all view themselves as future Presidents anyway) wants to vote to require this and then have to reveal something embarrassing that might cost them power.

Would that require an amendment or could it be done with a law?

 

[selmaborntidefan]

Would that require an amendment or could it be done with a law?

I think because it's the Oval Office, it might HAVE to be done so nobody could challenge it. The different state laws regarding who is on the ballot - and I'm ALL FOR local elections btw - probably put this alongside the 25th Amendment in regards to what they'd have to do. After all, that's the document that spells out minimal qualifications for a President, so any additional "qualifications" might need to be there as well.

But I'll admit now I don't know.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

What is generally looked for in a PSA is a trend, not one simple result.

True. I once had a client/friend who was dxed with prostate cancer, when his PSA was actually below mine. But it was increasing rapidly, which they called "velocity."

 

[TIDE-HSV]

Would that require an amendment or could it be done with a law?

I really think it would take an amendment to enlarge on the bare constitutional requirements. It would be an interesting question for the SCOTUS...

 

[TIDE-HSV]

🤡

He had skin cancer removed in 2022. That was both confirmed and not relevant to anything.

Well, "not so fast," . When I had my (large) basal cell cancer from my forehead, my dermatologist said that I was more at danger for other malignancies and I presently have esophageal cancer...

 

[Its On A Slab]

I must admit that I misjudged Jake Tapper. He is a serious journalist. One of the highest integrity. We're talking Cronkite, Edward R Murrow.

 

[CrimsonJazz]

I must admit that I misjudged Jake Tapper. He is a serious journalist. One of the highest integrity. We're talking Cronkite, Edward R Murrow.

I watched this last night and it's good stuff. Jon was in rare form.

 

[Tidewater]

My reaction was "Get well, Mr. president."
Then the accusations started about who knew what when, etc. That is the ugly side of politics.
He is a human being and I wish him meany healthy years yet.
I normally favor forcing disclosure of info to the public if you want to run for public office. Not for the general public, mind you, but if you aspire to public office, I think voters have a right to know, and this would include a candidate's private health status. Normally this is protected info, but if you are running, you should disclose info.
I doubt a statute would accomplish this. Americans today are so triblem folks will vote for "my tribe" whether their candidate discloses info or not. It might require a constigutional amendment.

 

[4Q Basket Case]

I agree with selma and Tidewater regarding disclosure. I’d have it be for candidates for Congress (either house), the President, any member of the President’s Cabinet, and any judicial or administrative position that requires Presidential appointment or Congressional confirmation.

States would be free to enact their own requirements for state-level offices.

Disclose income, assets, financial interests, tax returns for 5 years and all health records. And you don’t get to hide behind “joint” accounts. Everything. If the asset or income is joint, you disclose the amount and the percentage of your ownership interest in the item.

You can’t trade stocks, mutual funds or fixed income instruments until you’re out of public life. All your financial assets will be in a blind trust.

Late Add: Disclosures will be annual, not just ahead of an election. They will be to the $100 level of materiality, not just the ranges so wide as to be meaningless like they have now. Disclosures are public record and will be audited. And if there's something false or omitted, the candidate or officeholder is subject to penalties ranging up to perjury charges and removal from office or the ballot, depending on the size and nature of the misstatement or omission.

Don’t like it? That’s fine. You can keep your privacy and your independent investment decisions.…you just can’t hold one of those offices. But if you’re going to aspire to an office of national trust, you have to prove you’re worthy of that trust.

Excuse me….I have some windmills that need tilting.

 

[Crimson1967]

I read the other day the biggest stock trader in the Senate is Tommy Tuberville (R-FL).

 

[4Q Basket Case]

I read the other day the biggest stock trader in the Senate is Tommy Tuberville (R-FL).

I'm shocked! Shocked!!! Shocked, I tell you! There's no way a public servant so brilliant and selfless as Tommy Tuberville would make trades based on non-public information he acquired through his office. NO WAY!!

 

[TIDE-HSV]

I'm shocked! Shocked!!! Shocked, I tell you! There's no way a public servant so brilliant and selfless as Tommy Tuberville would make trades based on non-public information he acquired through his office. NO WAY!!

He's come a long way from the yokel whose favorite answer to any question about how government worked was "I don't have a clue."

 

[selmaborntidefan]

He's come a long way from the yokel whose favorite answer to any question about how government worked was "I don't have a clue."

Or how college football worked.....guy became a legend (by Auburn standards) due to the fortuitous circumstance of taking over just as his prime foe was getting torpedoed.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

I'm old enough to remember when Reagan - who was 69, which would be a spring chicken in American politics nowadays - actually said out loud that if rumblings about an old coot over at the White House got started, he would voluntarily take a senility test.

That led the late Lewis Grizzard to opine, "Of course he will - if he can FIND it."

 

[CrimsonJazz]

I'm old enough to remember when Reagan - who was 69, which would be a spring chicken in American politics nowadays - actually said out loud that if rumblings about an old coot over at the White House got started, he would voluntarily take a senility test.

That led the late Lewis Grizzard to opine, "Of course he will - if he can FIND it."

I miss Lewis. I imagine he would have some highly interesting takes about today’s political climate. So would George Carlin, who I also miss terribly.

 

[Crimson1967]

I miss Lewis. I imagine he would have some highly interesting takes about today’s political climate. So would George Carlin, who I also miss terribly.

I sadly suspect Lewis would have become a big MAGA supporter.