Posted on 10/27/2017 2:15:04 PM PDT by Kaslin
The recent allegations against former President George H.W. Bush for "sexually assaulting" young women who stood next to him during photo shoots are obscene -- but not because of what the president did or did not do. Enough is enough. President Bush is 93 years old. He sits in a wheelchair, and anyone who witnessed his appearance last week when all the living former presidents gathered to help raise funds for hurricane victims can plainly see that he is much diminished, physically and mentally. Unlike former President Ronald Reagan, who publicly announced that he was suffering from Alzheimer's disease, neither Bush nor his family has talked much about his declining mental capacity -- but it is clearly there.
President Bush did not assault young women when his hand, which rests at a lower level because he cannot stand, touched their bottoms and he covered up his awkwardness with a bad joke about his favorite magician, "David Cop-a-Feel," as they allege. His behavior is perfectly consistent with what doctors who treat patients with dementia call sexually disinhibited behavior. The risk of developing Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia increases with age, doubling every five years after age 65. At age 80, 1 in 6 people will have developed the disease. By 85, it goes up to 1 in 3, and by 90, 85 percent of people lucky enough to still be alive are likely to have some dementia, according to the Alzheimer's Society.
Like many elderly men -- and women -- President Bush said and did something inappropriate not out of malice or with the intent to harm but because he now lacks the judgment to behave as he did all his life. And those who are using this incident to score political points or to turn themselves into victims akin to women who have been assaulted by individuals with all their mental faculties intact should show a little mercy.
saw this behavior firsthand with a relative who had Alzheimer's for at least 10 years before dying of the disease at 93. One of the first signs that something was wrong was inappropriate sexualized talk. At first, the comments were just out of character and inappropriate, but they grew to be very disturbing over time. As far as I know, nothing physical ever happened, but having spoken with those who work with the elderly in nursing homes, it happens every day, and both men and women engage in such behavior. It is one of the most embarrassing things about dementia for those whose family members suddenly start acting in ways they never would have if disease were not eating away at their brains.
According to a scholarly paper on the issue published in Current Treatment Options in Neurology, inappropriate sexual behavior "should be seen as a part of the symptom cluster of behavioral and psychiatric disturbances associated with dementia, which is disruptive and distressing, and impairs the care of the patient." It isn't something for which others should shame someone, much less criminalize. We should recognize when behavior is driven by disease -- in this case a devastating, fatal disease that strips individuals of everything that made them who they were.
It broke my heart to see President Bush onstage with his son and other former presidents. His eyes were vacant. He seemed not to know where he was or even why he was there. When the national anthem played, his hands stayed at his side and his eyes wandered. Does anyone think that President Bush would have sat there so confused if he were in control of his faculties?
The former president's office has issued an apology on his behalf to the women who have come forward, which is absolutely appropriate. And perhaps the family should say more about the former president's condition; President Reagan's candor did a great service for those families who have suffered through the experience of their loved ones' dementia. But to treat this incident as if it were akin to the stories about men who used their power and fame to demean women and solicit or force sex or sexual contact is disgraceful. It not only hurts an honorable man who served his country but also demeans the real victims of sexual assault.
How old is HW?
She is correct on this. Having known lots of people afflicted with various forms of dementia, I know they are often capable of all kinds of unusual and unexpected behavior.
Linda Chavez, Cheap Labor Express stooge right on time with a defense of the architect of the plan to turn the USA into North Mexico.
so I can grab a girls butt and say David Cop a feel and get away with it?? Good to know.
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You can if you’re 90 + years old.
Personally I think if he started doing sexually inappropriate behavior and speech he should have been kept under control instead of trotted out for photo ops etc. for his dignity as well as to keep women from being grabbed etc. I think it is described as more than an accidental arm graze.
I don’t think he can physically harm anyone but it is still a bad thing to do. If he literally can’t control himself then those who love him should take away opportunities.
http://radaronline.com/videos/george-h-w-bush-spanks-teri-hatcher-video/
He did it 10 years ago with Teri Hatcher when he wasn’t in a wheelchair.
It’s been going on a while.
I’m not surprised. Not one bit
How do you define class?
Pro-abortion, pro-gay marriage, working with the Clintons, Jeb.
And remember Laura’s accident that killed that boy?
The Midland City authorities have declined to release the full accident report. They have referred Freedom of Information requests for release of the document to the attorney general of Texas, who has until May 15 to decide if he will make the report public.
SOURCES in Midland’s City Hall say they have heard Texas Gov. George W. Bush will use his influence to make sure the report is never released.
https://m.dailykos.com/stories/2004/10/31/67284/-
Class? Not in my book. And GW criticizing Trump but never Obama? Yeah - class.
I spent three month where three hours a day were taking care of a 99 year old man.
He proposed to every woman who helped care for him. Usually on the first day there.
He was surprisingly lucid and fun to be around, but he had memory problems.
It’s sad to see how the left is using his condition to make a political statement.
He’s in his dotage. What assault did he commit? He’s in a wheelchair? The girl was physically attacked, are we really supposed to believe that?
It is not “sexual assault” if a 90 year old man in a wheelchair touches your butt. Calling it sexual assault is an insult to every woman who has ever been the victim of an actual sexual assault.
It is no different than liberals who accuse anyone who disagrees with them of being a racist or a Nazi.
W got hammered pretty bad on his FB page. Not that he reads it. Comments were made about the pic of him, Clinton and BO together.
Oh, to be 70 again...
“Read my lips” shamed himself years ago.
Betcha he didn’t do it to Hillary’s butt.
Sorry. If Bush hadn’t gotten us into the quagmire I might care. But he did. What goes around comes around.
In the old days, Old Geezers were considered ‘cute.’
Maybe the MSM needs to stop sticking their cameras in their faces..............
But that ain't gonna happen and you know it...........
With that being said, kudos to Bush Jr. for at least trying to remain in the background, unlike the Clintons, Carter and Obama...............
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