Headaches for Bachmann

Seems to me that Lincoln suffered from depression and Ulysses Grant from migraines.

The stress undoubtedly came from the concern that, if she were to be elected President, she might have to meet and/or interact with the Pope – no longer an issue.

I only hope my lactose intolerance doesn’t become an issue should I decide to pursue public office someday.

Having a twenty-plus year history of migraine headaches, I can testify that a person who is adequately determined can and will find coping methods. Are there moments when a sufferer is incapacitated? Sure. The same holds true for anyone. No matter who you are, you will have times when your responses will be delayed. You will also have times when you push on regardless of the personal pain.

There is no medical requirement for a U.S. president.

Thomas Jefferson and Woodrow Wilson also suffered from migraines. Wilson later had a stroke that left him paralyzed and blind on one side, and was incapacitated and kept isolated from the Vice President and Congress for much of the remaining months of his term, with the complicity of the media.

John Kennedy suffered from colitis, prostatitis, Addison’s disease, and osteoporosis of the lower back, and was unable to perform some simple physical tasks (but didn’t preclude adultery). Before and during his presidency Kennedy took codeine, Demerol, methadone, Ritalin, meprobamate, librium, barbiturates, a thyroid hormone, gamma globulin injections, and at least on one occasion, an anti-psychotic drug to combat the mental effects caused by other medications being taken, sometimes as many as 12 at once.

And, of course, it is apparent that Barry Dunham is suffering from a continuing case of treason, for which a trial, conviction, and carrying out of the sentence will cure.

I thought Grant suffered from hangovers.
I only wonder about the wisdom of seeking a high stress position for a person with migraines. It does not seem conducive to long term health. Otherwise, there are few medical issues that would give me pause before voting for a person.

The misogynists on the left-most fringe are at it again. If these types of attacks had been made against Hilary Clinton the feminists and activists for the disabled would have been out in force. But Sarah Palin and Michelle Bachmann are on their own.

Bachman’s former staffers are misogynists from the left most fringe? Sounds like she’s got bigger problems than headaches.

And the Daily Called is now a liberal rag? I’m friends with the author of this piece and I can confirm that he’s as right as right is. He’s also got a very nice wife and, I’m pretty sure, is not a misogynist.

More to the point, I don’t think this will hurt Bachmann’s chances. It simultaneously gives her an opportunity to play the victim in the face of “they” who report this story as well as point to her record of accomplishment and say “I’ve accomplished things in spite of this.”

At the same time, people who like here will get outraged that the story is even being reported, which strengthens her as a populist candidate (in classic Palin style). People that won’t vote for her because of headaches probably wouldn’t vote for her anyways.

Physical deficiency in candidates, in so much as it may affect their performance, is worth discussing. It’s responsible to discuss it. In this instance, though, I think that Bachmann, despite my dislike for her, has proven herself to be energetic and involved. It doesn’t seem like the headaches hold her back too much.

Kirk, there is nothing wrong with reporting the story. But blowing it beyond all reasonable proportion and insinuating that somehow her condition disqualifies her from the presidency, as has been running through secondary news reporting and pundit commenting is what I was referring to.

“. . . willing to bring up anything to damage the prospects of a conservative candidate?”

Yes.

@8 → @7 = Oh, snap! … Speaking of blowing things “beyond all reasonable proportion”, DonS…

Kirk, keep in mind that it is an anonymous former staffer claiming this, not just any former staffer. When it’s gossip like this, we really don’t know what the truth is because we simply cannot know whether their testimony is credible.

And yes, Christians really need to get it through their heads that just because it’s happening in DC doesn’t make it any less gossip.

But to Mrs. Bachmann’s response, it was great; unlike the Current Occupant of the White House (good one, Carl), Mrs. Bachmann was honest and forthcoming in dealing with the issue. We could use more of that in Washington, DC, state capitals, and city hall for that matter.

Worse yet, I hear she spends like 6 or 7 hours a day in bed. I, for one, can’t vote for a candidate who intends to spend almost a third of her presidency asleep at the switch.