Republican Sen. Rand Paul questioned the medical opinion of a doctor who evaluated Senate Minority Leader Mitchell McConnell this past week and concluded his recent episodes of freezing up in public are simply the lingering effects of a concussion.
McConnell first froze up in July while addressing reporters in Washington:
Flag: McConnell just stopped abruptly during his opening statement during the gop leadership presser and appeared to be unable to restart talking. He then stepped away and walked away with Barrasso: pic.twitter.com/f1kFUjggzm
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) July 26, 2023
In August, it happened again as the 81-year-old spoke to reporters in Covington, Kentucky:
BREAKING: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell appears to FREEZE again while taking questions. pic.twitter.com/MVZNsuq838
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) August 30, 2023
Dr. Brian P. Monahan, the attending physician of both Congress and the Supreme Court, released a statement on Tuesday after he evaluated McConnell.
Monahan wrote that the 81-year-old did not suffer a stroke or a seizure during either event.
“My examination of you following your August 30, 2023 brief episode included several medical evaluations: brain MRI imaging, EEG study and consultations with several neurologists for a comprehensive neurology assessment,” Monahan stated, according to The Hill.
The physician added: “There is no evidence that you have a seizure disorder or that you experienced a stroke, TIA or movement disorder such as Parkinson’s disease. There are no changes recommended in treatment protocols as you continue recovery from your March 2023 fall.”
Monahan also attributed the senator’s recent issues partially to dehydration.
The senator fell at his Kentucky home in March and suffered both a concussion and a fractured rib. He returned to the Senate the following month and experienced no outward health issues for months.
But his recent public episodes have had many people questioning whether it is time for him to retire.
Paul, an ophthalmologist, did not call on McConnell to step aside on Tuesday when he was asked about his colleague, nor did he say he believes the longest-serving Senate leader in history is incapable of working.
But he did question Monahan’s assessment of McConnell during an interview with multiple reporters.
“I think it’s an inadequate explanation to say this is dehydration,” Paul stated.
He added, “I’ve practiced medicine for 25 years, and it doesn’t look like dehydration to me. It looks like a focal neurologic event. That doesn’t mean it’s incapacitating. It doesn’t mean he can’t serve.”
Paul concluded, “But it means that somebody ought to wake up and say, ‘Wow! This looks like a seizure.’”
The doctor works for the government. Of course he is wrong. Paul Rand would know. Also, ask any other doctor. I am not a doctor but I have never met anyone taking this long to heal from a concussion. There is more to this story then their telling. Which, is no surprise there.
He said Fetterman was fine too – – then we learned he couldn’t HEAR what other people around him were saying but he was well enough to do his job….which entails sitting in Congress and LISTENING to peers argue, debate, make theatrical statements, act for the cameras, listen to what 99 other people say and formulate statements, arguments, proposals, to better America, etc – – so I’m not sure how we expected this House Doc to truly be honest! Seriously, Dianne Feinstein was wheeled in, all decrepit, hadn’t a clue as to where she was and the 2 people on either side of her were telling her to say “Yeah or Nah” when they pushed the microphone in front of her….. but nobody said that was wrong, either….. IF we continue to turn a blinds-eye, then we deserve ALL that happens to us. Age is but a number – – The “person” should be examined by 3 independent physicians. 1 picked by Congress, 1 picked by Democrats, 1 picked by Republicans for ALL members after the age of 50 on a YEARLY basis or more frequent IF 5 members of Congress agrees. So John Fetterman could be reqd to be seen every 2 mos and evaluated, same for Dianne Feinstein, etc. We can’t have 1 person make THE decision – – Checks & Balances. Go back to how the US Constitution was written and why – – NEED Checks & Balances.
Age limits. But they won’t vote the self’s out of jobs!
This whole argument is a Leftist scam. People are ailing but the Left are arguing about their age, not their illness.
The Progressive Left are working their argument up to the task of setting an age limit for office holders. They are looking forward to sweeping people out of office when they turn a particular age, their specific target is SCOTUS, to sweep experienced jurists, those whose responsibility is for regulating the laws of the land, out of office and to replace them with youthful partisans with a progressive bent.
It used to be that people were elected because of their qualifications and experience for the task. That has now been balkanized into their race, their gender, their associations and their fringe partisanship, because the fringe Left is looking to increase their partisan body count for political control, not for any solutions, practical or otherwise, to the nation’s issues.
Merit, acumen and professional success are the current targets of the Tribal Left and their tools of the trade, coercion and fear.
Back in the 60s, the youth were fired up with the task of integration, bringing everybody together for a common good. 60 years later, that same youth group is now being used to split up that nation with tribal warfare to achieve segregation. Smaller, weaker groups are easier to control from the top, and are often used to attack the Left’s opposition. No rhyme or reason for their youthful jeremiads, it was just because they were pointed in that direction. Lots of passion to apply, but no wisdom or world experience to recognize the damage the youth are causing and will have to live with.
Keep an eye out and don’t let the “progressive” Left reduce our dwindling freedoms into non-existence. Wisdom and vitality are not casualties of age but of illness, inertia, partisanship and abuse. Don’t let the progressives abuse you into submission with their tribal tactics. Competition is still a vital part of our DNA and our Constitution. Get off your a$$es and fight back..
Monaghan would seem to be more of a political asset than a medical doctor. We all saw McConnell totally freeze(twice). Don’t tell us nothing is wrong. This isn’t normal.