You are what ate you?
May 8, 2024 10:58 AM Subscribe
Eccentric conspiracist and Presidential candidate RFK, Jr. had brainworms. NYT: R.F.K. Jr. Says Doctors Found a Dead Worm in His Brain.
"The presidential candidate has faced previously undisclosed health issues, including a parasite that he said ate part of his brain."
The infection was apparently diagnosed after an apparent cysts appearing on a scan was determined to be the "remains of a parasite." The information became known to the Times at least in part through depositions from a divorce proceeding.
The clinicians interviewed seem to agree that "it was likely a pork tapeworm larva," but one "added that it is unlikely that a parasite would eat a part of the brain, as Mr. Kennedy described."
The story also notes that "[a]bout the same time he learned of the parasite, he said, he was also diagnosed with mercury poisoning, most likely from ingesting too much fish containing the dangerous heavy metal, which can cause serious neurological issues."
“'I have cognitive problems, clearly,' he said in the 2012 deposition. “'I have short-term memory loss, and I have longer-term memory loss that affects me.'”
The Times reports that "[a]sked last week if any of Mr. Kennedy’s health issues could compromise his fitness for the presidency, Stefanie Spear, a spokeswoman for the Kennedy campaign, told The Times, 'That is a hilarious suggestion, given the competition.'”
[Archive link.]
The infection was apparently diagnosed after an apparent cysts appearing on a scan was determined to be the "remains of a parasite." The information became known to the Times at least in part through depositions from a divorce proceeding.
The clinicians interviewed seem to agree that "it was likely a pork tapeworm larva," but one "added that it is unlikely that a parasite would eat a part of the brain, as Mr. Kennedy described."
The story also notes that "[a]bout the same time he learned of the parasite, he said, he was also diagnosed with mercury poisoning, most likely from ingesting too much fish containing the dangerous heavy metal, which can cause serious neurological issues."
“'I have cognitive problems, clearly,' he said in the 2012 deposition. “'I have short-term memory loss, and I have longer-term memory loss that affects me.'”
The Times reports that "[a]sked last week if any of Mr. Kennedy’s health issues could compromise his fitness for the presidency, Stefanie Spear, a spokeswoman for the Kennedy campaign, told The Times, 'That is a hilarious suggestion, given the competition.'”
[Archive link.]
Good thing he's so into that horse paste.
posted by Jessica Savitch's Coke Spoon at 11:01 AM on May 8 [14 favorites]
posted by Jessica Savitch's Coke Spoon at 11:01 AM on May 8 [14 favorites]
No word yet whether it was the freemasons or the reptilians that infected him
posted by Dr. Twist at 11:02 AM on May 8 [7 favorites]
posted by Dr. Twist at 11:02 AM on May 8 [7 favorites]
Because I guess someone has to:
But it was only fantasy
The wall was too high, as you can see
No matter how he tried, he could not break free
And the worms ate into his brain
posted by indexy at 11:02 AM on May 8 [30 favorites]
But it was only fantasy
The wall was too high, as you can see
No matter how he tried, he could not break free
And the worms ate into his brain
posted by indexy at 11:02 AM on May 8 [30 favorites]
A++ on the title
posted by Dr. Twist at 11:07 AM on May 8 [8 favorites]
posted by Dr. Twist at 11:07 AM on May 8 [8 favorites]
There are some bits of news that my only reaction is "reality is just fucking with me now."
This is one of those.
posted by NoxAeternum at 11:07 AM on May 8 [56 favorites]
This is one of those.
posted by NoxAeternum at 11:07 AM on May 8 [56 favorites]
Some of Mr. Kennedy’s health issues were revealed in the 2012 deposition, which he gave during divorce proceedings from his second wife, Mary Richardson Kennedy. At the time, Mr. Kennedy was arguing that his earning power had been diminished by his cognitive struggles. [...] In the interview with The Times, he said he had recovered from the memory loss and fogginess and had no aftereffects from the parasite, which he said had not required treatment.
Did his earning power return to normal as well?
posted by RonButNotStupid at 11:07 AM on May 8 [8 favorites]
Did his earning power return to normal as well?
posted by RonButNotStupid at 11:07 AM on May 8 [8 favorites]
You spend a lot of time in grassy knolls, you get worms. Every Kennedy knows that old rule.
posted by delfin at 11:08 AM on May 8
posted by delfin at 11:08 AM on May 8
I've also seen a few wags note that the brainworm most likely died of malnutrition.
posted by NoxAeternum at 11:09 AM on May 8 [58 favorites]
posted by NoxAeternum at 11:09 AM on May 8 [58 favorites]
Mercury poisoning is a real thing that happens. But it can also be a quack diagnosis coming from the same wellspring as anti-vax nonsense.
The context for all this information is gross.
posted by Nelson at 11:13 AM on May 8 [90 favorites]
The context for all this information is gross.
Some of Mr. Kennedy’s health issues were revealed in the 2012 deposition, which he gave during divorce proceedings from his second wife, Mary Richardson Kennedy. At the time, Mr. Kennedy was arguing that his earning power had been diminished by his cognitive struggles.So in 2012 he was trying to weasel out of spousal support for his ex-wife by saying his mind didn't work well enough to make money. And yet here we are 12 years later and he thinks he's a serious candidate for president.
posted by Nelson at 11:13 AM on May 8 [90 favorites]
Okay, and further down in the article regarding his a-fib incidents:
"He said in the deposition that stress, caffeine and a lack of sleep triggered the condition. “It feels like there’s a bag of worms in my chest. I can feel immediately when it goes out,” he said."
This dude is just full of worms.
posted by queensissy at 11:13 AM on May 8 [17 favorites]
"He said in the deposition that stress, caffeine and a lack of sleep triggered the condition. “It feels like there’s a bag of worms in my chest. I can feel immediately when it goes out,” he said."
This dude is just full of worms.
posted by queensissy at 11:13 AM on May 8 [17 favorites]
Two main party candidates: metaphorical brain worms
RFK: Hold mybeer thiomersal!
posted by lalochezia at 11:15 AM on May 8 [5 favorites]
RFK: Hold my
posted by lalochezia at 11:15 AM on May 8 [5 favorites]
I'm not going to make fun of anyone because of their medical status, but if this is true, it sure would explain a lot.
posted by Capt. Renault at 11:18 AM on May 8 [11 favorites]
posted by Capt. Renault at 11:18 AM on May 8 [11 favorites]
So in 2012 he was trying to weasel out of spousal support for his ex-wife by saying his mind didn't work well enough to make money.
Bet Trump is pissed he never thought to try that excuse.
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 11:18 AM on May 8 [10 favorites]
Bet Trump is pissed he never thought to try that excuse.
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 11:18 AM on May 8 [10 favorites]
Did his earning power return to normal as well?
Probably almost immediately, given that his ex-wife committed suicide shortly after the deposition.
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 11:18 AM on May 8 [19 favorites]
Probably almost immediately, given that his ex-wife committed suicide shortly after the deposition.
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 11:18 AM on May 8 [19 favorites]
That makes the context even more gross. What an asshole.
posted by RonButNotStupid at 11:23 AM on May 8 [25 favorites]
posted by RonButNotStupid at 11:23 AM on May 8 [25 favorites]
I knew there was an explanation for his platform. Now I think I'll vote for him.
posted by 2N2222 at 11:27 AM on May 8 [1 favorite]
posted by 2N2222 at 11:27 AM on May 8 [1 favorite]
Mercury poisoning is a real thing that happens.
It's the best-kept secret in the west!
posted by delfin at 11:33 AM on May 8 [5 favorites]
It's the best-kept secret in the west!
posted by delfin at 11:33 AM on May 8 [5 favorites]
Sometimes I've thought my opinion on current events would be pretty well represented in the world if I just had a bot version of myself that went around to discussions of popular news stories and said, "Oh, for fuck's sake."
It wouldn't even need to know the context, cause... for fuck's sake, man.
posted by Phobos the Space Potato at 11:39 AM on May 8 [13 favorites]
It wouldn't even need to know the context, cause... for fuck's sake, man.
posted by Phobos the Space Potato at 11:39 AM on May 8 [13 favorites]
Dr. Sanjay Gupta explains pork worm infection of the brain (CNN)
posted by Brian B. at 11:40 AM on May 8 [1 favorite]
posted by Brian B. at 11:40 AM on May 8 [1 favorite]
The crazy thing about this situation is that the candidate who admits to being brain damaged isn't even the worst one running!
posted by rikschell at 11:40 AM on May 8 [16 favorites]
posted by rikschell at 11:40 AM on May 8 [16 favorites]
No word yet whether it was the freemasons or the reptilians that infected him
Definitely the Goa'uld
posted by banshee at 11:49 AM on May 8 [16 favorites]
Definitely the Goa'uld
posted by banshee at 11:49 AM on May 8 [16 favorites]
Brainworms, huh. Trump sure did prove that anyone can be president.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 11:54 AM on May 8 [6 favorites]
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 11:54 AM on May 8 [6 favorites]
rfk jr looks like the general in starship troopers convinced that the bugs are gonna suck his brains out only to be pasted by a flying bug
posted by i used to be someone else at 11:56 AM on May 8 [4 favorites]
posted by i used to be someone else at 11:56 AM on May 8 [4 favorites]
Wow this is really opening a can of ...
posted by Melismata at 11:56 AM on May 8 [3 favorites]
posted by Melismata at 11:56 AM on May 8 [3 favorites]
'That is a hilarious suggestion, given the competition.'”
This flak just won my heart.
posted by chavenet at 12:25 PM on May 8 [7 favorites]
This flak just won my heart.
posted by chavenet at 12:25 PM on May 8 [7 favorites]
I dunno, to me this looks like the same kind of cherry picking, misinterpretation, and misrepresentation the NYT and its ilk has routinely deployed against every other 3rd-party (or even non-establishment-endorsed 2-party) candidate ever. Not particularly interested in JFKJr and don't really care if it's true or not, but when it comes to him or any other non-establishmentarian candidate, the NYT is fundamentally untrustworthy as an information source.
posted by Pedantzilla at 12:26 PM on May 8 [3 favorites]
posted by Pedantzilla at 12:26 PM on May 8 [3 favorites]
This really raises the bar for things future candidates will have to do to prove their dedication to owning the libs.
posted by Pickman's Next Top Model at 12:31 PM on May 8 [10 favorites]
posted by Pickman's Next Top Model at 12:31 PM on May 8 [10 favorites]
This is more than passingly strange. A single worm doesn't go to attack the brain. The absorption of worm eggs from the intestines, cysticercosis, usually takes place with multiple egg absorptions. I find it hard to imagine exactly one made it to his brain (and nowhere else?) during the time between intestinal infection, being suspected of a brain tumor, and then discovering it was a worm. I suppose it's possible.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 12:32 PM on May 8 [2 favorites]
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 12:32 PM on May 8 [2 favorites]
"Kennedy brainworm parasite" is a phrase I don't think I've ever put together.
Ah, 2024.
posted by doctornemo at 12:32 PM on May 8 [4 favorites]
Ah, 2024.
posted by doctornemo at 12:32 PM on May 8 [4 favorites]
they sucked his brains out!
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 12:33 PM on May 8 [96 favorites]
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 12:33 PM on May 8 [96 favorites]
This explains a lot, doesn't it.
On a related note, WaPo: Using Cartoonish Accents, J.F.K.’s Grandson Insults and Mocks Robert F. Kennedy Jr. In an escalation of the family feud, the son of Caroline Kennedy portrayed heavily accented characters who suggested that his cousin, the presidential candidate, was on steroids, not too smart and a liar.
posted by jenfullmoon at 12:37 PM on May 8 [1 favorite]
On a related note, WaPo: Using Cartoonish Accents, J.F.K.’s Grandson Insults and Mocks Robert F. Kennedy Jr. In an escalation of the family feud, the son of Caroline Kennedy portrayed heavily accented characters who suggested that his cousin, the presidential candidate, was on steroids, not too smart and a liar.
posted by jenfullmoon at 12:37 PM on May 8 [1 favorite]
The damn worm was probably way more intelligent, coherent and articulate than RFK Jr. Vote for the worm.
posted by DJZouke at 12:39 PM on May 8 [5 favorites]
posted by DJZouke at 12:39 PM on May 8 [5 favorites]
> Not particularly interested in JFKJr and don't really care if it's true or not, but when it comes to him or any other non-establishmentarian candidate, the NYT is fundamentally untrustworthy as an information source.
Sure, but the source here is a court Deposition. Are you suggesting NYT would be willing to pretend a non-existent deposition exists to invent this story? That is the kind of thing that is pretty easy to verify.
"fundamentally untrustworthy" is a gradient. I mean, if Trump made this claim, I think I'd conclude "yes, he'd be a-ok with it being a blatant lie".
OTOH, maybe you do believe that the NYT would invent the non-existent deposition and nobody would check it.
posted by NotAYakk at 12:40 PM on May 8 [14 favorites]
Sure, but the source here is a court Deposition. Are you suggesting NYT would be willing to pretend a non-existent deposition exists to invent this story? That is the kind of thing that is pretty easy to verify.
"fundamentally untrustworthy" is a gradient. I mean, if Trump made this claim, I think I'd conclude "yes, he'd be a-ok with it being a blatant lie".
OTOH, maybe you do believe that the NYT would invent the non-existent deposition and nobody would check it.
posted by NotAYakk at 12:40 PM on May 8 [14 favorites]
I dunno, to me this looks like the same kind of cherry picking, misinterpretation, and misrepresentation the NYT and its ilk has routinely deployed against every other 3rd-party (or even non-establishment-endorsed 2-party) candidate ever.
How many other candidates, third party or otherwise, have had brain worms?
posted by RonButNotStupid at 12:42 PM on May 8 [6 favorites]
How many other candidates, third party or otherwise, have had brain worms?
posted by RonButNotStupid at 12:42 PM on May 8 [6 favorites]
Someone pointed out that after assassinations, skiing accidents, lobotomies, strokes and tumors, this doesn't even make the top 5 on the Worst Things That Have Happened To Kennedy Brains leaderboard.
posted by delfin at 12:46 PM on May 8 [35 favorites]
posted by delfin at 12:46 PM on May 8 [35 favorites]
Look, this is not all bad news for Jr, tbh. Brain parasites do put his odds of being Trump's last-second veep nom at least slightly higher than that of dead-eyed Manson-lampers who shoot puppies for fun.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 12:46 PM on May 8 [1 favorite]
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 12:46 PM on May 8 [1 favorite]
Slightly off topic, but if anyone wants to read an exceptionally good horror novel about brain worms I cannot highly enough recommend The Troop by Nick Cutter. Not for the squeamish for a number of different reasons, check trigger warnings etc, but with those caveats a really wonderful horror novel.
posted by Pickman's Next Top Model at 12:47 PM on May 8
posted by Pickman's Next Top Model at 12:47 PM on May 8
Probably time to play Frenzal Rhomb's "Pigworm" today:
I wish I was in yesterday when everything was beautiful
The sun was shining brightly the rain glistened on the streets
My porcine point of view that I put down to education
Was in fact a fucking pigworm shitting in my brain
PIG WORM
Pigworm Pigworm Pigworm Pigworm Pigworm Pigworm
What the fuckin' fuck?
posted by credulous at 12:51 PM on May 8 [2 favorites]
I wish I was in yesterday when everything was beautiful
The sun was shining brightly the rain glistened on the streets
My porcine point of view that I put down to education
Was in fact a fucking pigworm shitting in my brain
PIG WORM
Pigworm Pigworm Pigworm Pigworm Pigworm Pigworm
What the fuckin' fuck?
posted by credulous at 12:51 PM on May 8 [2 favorites]
this is why you should always make sure the worm in that bottle of tequila is dead, dead, DEAD!!
posted by pyramid termite at 1:01 PM on May 8 [2 favorites]
posted by pyramid termite at 1:01 PM on May 8 [2 favorites]
I'm not going to make fun of anyone because of their medical status, but if this is true, it sure would explain a lot.
I'm normally on the side of never making fun of people's medical conditions, but I'm willing to make an exemption for someone as terrible as him.
posted by Dip Flash at 1:10 PM on May 8 [8 favorites]
I'm normally on the side of never making fun of people's medical conditions, but I'm willing to make an exemption for someone as terrible as him.
posted by Dip Flash at 1:10 PM on May 8 [8 favorites]
Worms.
Worms?
WORMS.
Worms, worms, worms.
And bits of brain.
-G. Marenghi, Worms
posted by Saxon Kane at 1:14 PM on May 8 [5 favorites]
Worms?
WORMS.
Worms, worms, worms.
And bits of brain.
-G. Marenghi, Worms
posted by Saxon Kane at 1:14 PM on May 8 [5 favorites]
This is the first thing he's ever said that I actually believe.
posted by tommasz at 1:15 PM on May 8 [11 favorites]
posted by tommasz at 1:15 PM on May 8 [11 favorites]
Can someone launch a few screenwriting manuals through a black hole or something? This universe is lazily written.
posted by Avelwood at 1:18 PM on May 8 [13 favorites]
posted by Avelwood at 1:18 PM on May 8 [13 favorites]
Hmmmm. Yes the NYT probably didn't make it up, but Pendazilla has a good point in that the NYT may be a little less than reliable when it comes to political reporting. And is always true, the Times should die is a raging ball of fire with the nepo-baby publisher and that arrogantly dimwitted editor in chief shot off into the sun on a Space X with Elon Musk.
Their dedications to facilitating us into some truly fascinating hellscape combination of Putin, XI, and the Handmaids Tale is truly remarkable. Do the mandarins at the Times not know what all of us know will happen to them upon their successful advocacy and stenography of the Magas demented messiah "Trump2: Vengeance is Mine" when Reichsfurher Miller takes over?
When some poor sacrificial political desk editor is led to the gallows, Sulzberger, Cohn, Stephens, Douthat, and Brooks will put out a special times editorial release: The Hangings have begun, here's why we stand by our position.
In sum, America is a land of contrasts and the NYT must die.
posted by WatTylerJr at 1:35 PM on May 8 [8 favorites]
Their dedications to facilitating us into some truly fascinating hellscape combination of Putin, XI, and the Handmaids Tale is truly remarkable. Do the mandarins at the Times not know what all of us know will happen to them upon their successful advocacy and stenography of the Magas demented messiah "Trump2: Vengeance is Mine" when Reichsfurher Miller takes over?
When some poor sacrificial political desk editor is led to the gallows, Sulzberger, Cohn, Stephens, Douthat, and Brooks will put out a special times editorial release: The Hangings have begun, here's why we stand by our position.
In sum, America is a land of contrasts and the NYT must die.
posted by WatTylerJr at 1:35 PM on May 8 [8 favorites]
Can someone launch a few screenwriting manuals through a black hole or something? This universe is lazily written.
well, I tossed in old Turbian but it chucked out the Chicago manual with a hologram of Syd Field.
posted by clavdivs at 1:54 PM on May 8 [4 favorites]
well, I tossed in old Turbian but it chucked out the Chicago manual with a hologram of Syd Field.
posted by clavdivs at 1:54 PM on May 8 [4 favorites]
It's the best-kept secret in the west!
Is this a Russian conspiracy? No, it's just idiocy. Is this a Chinese burn?
posted by gimonca at 2:00 PM on May 8 [1 favorite]
Is this a Russian conspiracy? No, it's just idiocy. Is this a Chinese burn?
posted by gimonca at 2:00 PM on May 8 [1 favorite]
And is always true, the Times should die is a raging ball of fire with the nepo-baby publisher and that arrogantly dimwitted editor in chief shot off into the sun on a Space X with Elon Musk.
From your lips to G-d's ears.
posted by Melismata at 2:06 PM on May 8 [1 favorite]
From your lips to G-d's ears.
posted by Melismata at 2:06 PM on May 8 [1 favorite]
The absurdity of thinking someone could be President without the kind of broad political coalition backing you like our major political parties. It’s almost as silly as thinking we should elect someone who isn’t a politician.
posted by interogative mood at 2:08 PM on May 8 [2 favorites]
posted by interogative mood at 2:08 PM on May 8 [2 favorites]
i wonder if he can play the holophonor
posted by bombastic lowercase pronouncements at 2:43 PM on May 8 [8 favorites]
posted by bombastic lowercase pronouncements at 2:43 PM on May 8 [8 favorites]
This is more than passingly strange. A single worm doesn't go to attack the brain.
I am not a doctor, but apparently these tapeworms are a result from eating undercooked pork. So strange to have multiple stories about this topic recently.
posted by ishmael at 3:03 PM on May 8 [2 favorites]
I am not a doctor, but apparently these tapeworms are a result from eating undercooked pork. So strange to have multiple stories about this topic recently.
posted by ishmael at 3:03 PM on May 8 [2 favorites]
The absurdity of thinking someone could be President without the kind of broad political coalition backing you like our major political parties
We are merely exchanging long protein strings. If you can think of a simpler way, I'd like to hear it.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 3:06 PM on May 8 [6 favorites]
We are merely exchanging long protein strings. If you can think of a simpler way, I'd like to hear it.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 3:06 PM on May 8 [6 favorites]
Not particularly interested in JFKJr and don't really care if it's true or not, but when it comes to him or any other non-establishmentarian candidate, the NYT is fundamentally untrustworthy as an information source.
I mean, the NYT did manage to identify RFKjr as the candidate and not a guy who has been dead for 30 years. And the source is RFKjr himself. He said under oath that he is cognitively impaired. He said it!
But back to the brain worms. Jesus christ, they're supposed to be metaphorical. This is equally parts sad, disturbing, and hilarious.
posted by Justinian at 3:06 PM on May 8 [2 favorites]
I mean, the NYT did manage to identify RFKjr as the candidate and not a guy who has been dead for 30 years. And the source is RFKjr himself. He said under oath that he is cognitively impaired. He said it!
But back to the brain worms. Jesus christ, they're supposed to be metaphorical. This is equally parts sad, disturbing, and hilarious.
posted by Justinian at 3:06 PM on May 8 [2 favorites]
I'm not saying i suspected exactly this, but I suspected exactly this.
posted by Joey Michaels at 3:10 PM on May 8 [6 favorites]
posted by Joey Michaels at 3:10 PM on May 8 [6 favorites]
I still can't decide if it's more horrifying or HILARIOUS that - in today's political climate - it is NOT disqualifying for a Presidential candidate to announce "My brain has been eaten by worms."
posted by AsYouKnow Bob at 3:15 PM on May 8 [13 favorites]
posted by AsYouKnow Bob at 3:15 PM on May 8 [13 favorites]
Why, Cheryl, why?
posted by atomicstone at 3:19 PM on May 8 [4 favorites]
posted by atomicstone at 3:19 PM on May 8 [4 favorites]
Yeah AYKB I can't wait to hear the justifications from RFKjr people for why being 80 is disqualifying but being 70 and having testified that you're impaired because worms literally chowed down on your brain is super great.
posted by Justinian at 3:26 PM on May 8 [11 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 3:26 PM on May 8 [11 favorites]
And is always true, the Times should die is a raging ball of fire
How will I play Connections then??
posted by jeoc at 3:33 PM on May 8 [9 favorites]
How will I play Connections then??
posted by jeoc at 3:33 PM on May 8 [9 favorites]
Erin Ryan on the Hysteria podcast says RFK has a Leland Palmer vibe and I imagine him screaming in the camera for America to WASH YOUR HANDS
posted by angrybear at 3:42 PM on May 8 [3 favorites]
posted by angrybear at 3:42 PM on May 8 [3 favorites]
Yeah. I'm gonna need some cream to go in my cup of schadenfreude.
posted by JustSayNoDawg at 3:44 PM on May 8 [4 favorites]
posted by JustSayNoDawg at 3:44 PM on May 8 [4 favorites]
It’s really stark how these guys always seem to find common cause in misogyny. I can’t imagine that Kennedy and Trump have that much in common but it’s so easy to imagine them griping bitterly about how their exes got more than they deserved.
posted by adamsc at 3:51 PM on May 8 [3 favorites]
posted by adamsc at 3:51 PM on May 8 [3 favorites]
I dunno, to me this looks like the same kind of cherry picking, misinterpretation, and misrepresentation the NYT and its ilk has routinely deployed against every other 3rd-party (or even non-establishment-endorsed 2-party) candidate ever. Not particularly interested in JFKJr and don't really care if it's true or not, but when it comes to him or any other non-establishmentarian candidate, the NYT is fundamentally untrustworthy as an information source.
Seems unlikely that the New York Times is deploying anything to take down RFK Jr considering A. he routinely takes himself down with his insane and bigoted rantings and B. it would take time away from NYT's overriding priority, which is ending Joe Biden's presidency (and American democracy) out of spite because he won't give them an interview.
Also, it's nice to know that if either party finds RFK Jr sufficiently threatening to really start going after him, they can just run ads of him literally saying "I have cognitive problems, clearly." I'd like to think it was at least already apparent that he is in no way fit to be president-- perhaps based on his comparison of the COVID-19 vaccine to the Holocaust, or his claim that Palestinians are "pampered" while they're actively being ethnically cleansed, or his conviction that AIDS is caused by "the gay lifestyle", or the fact that his anti-vaccine campaigns have literally killed people and directly caused outbreaks-- but the name "Kennedy" still has a lot of panache to people.
posted by Method Man at 3:58 PM on May 8 [21 favorites]
Seems unlikely that the New York Times is deploying anything to take down RFK Jr considering A. he routinely takes himself down with his insane and bigoted rantings and B. it would take time away from NYT's overriding priority, which is ending Joe Biden's presidency (and American democracy) out of spite because he won't give them an interview.
Also, it's nice to know that if either party finds RFK Jr sufficiently threatening to really start going after him, they can just run ads of him literally saying "I have cognitive problems, clearly." I'd like to think it was at least already apparent that he is in no way fit to be president-- perhaps based on his comparison of the COVID-19 vaccine to the Holocaust, or his claim that Palestinians are "pampered" while they're actively being ethnically cleansed, or his conviction that AIDS is caused by "the gay lifestyle", or the fact that his anti-vaccine campaigns have literally killed people and directly caused outbreaks-- but the name "Kennedy" still has a lot of panache to people.
posted by Method Man at 3:58 PM on May 8 [21 favorites]
One candidate has a worm eaten brain, another is wooing nft buyers in a diaper, while his potential running mate would shoot her dog all over because she can't be bothered to train it. But I have concerns about Biden. They say he wants to take away my gas stove, you know.
NYT knows where to find me for my interview.
posted by 2N2222 at 4:14 PM on May 8 [23 favorites]
NYT knows where to find me for my interview.
posted by 2N2222 at 4:14 PM on May 8 [23 favorites]
"RFKJr testified in a court deposition that he had cognitive problems caused by a brain worm."
Me: Wait, really?
"This was his excuse to get out of paying alimony to his ex-wife, who committed suicide soon afterwards."
Me: Ok, now I totally believe it.
posted by straight at 4:21 PM on May 8 [10 favorites]
Me: Wait, really?
"This was his excuse to get out of paying alimony to his ex-wife, who committed suicide soon afterwards."
Me: Ok, now I totally believe it.
posted by straight at 4:21 PM on May 8 [10 favorites]
RFK Jr’s campaign has confirmed it for those who are wondering if this was some fake story published in The NY Times.
posted by interogative mood at 4:21 PM on May 8 [3 favorites]
posted by interogative mood at 4:21 PM on May 8 [3 favorites]
I am not a doctor, but apparently these tapeworms are a result from eating undercooked pork.
Not according to the CDC: "Note that cysticercosis is only acquired from the fecal-oral route (ingestion of eggs), not via the ingestion of cysticerci in undercooked pork, which is associated with intestinal taeniasis."
So the guy who goes barefoot to the airplane lavatory doesn't have the best hand hygiene.
posted by peeedro at 5:15 PM on May 8 [6 favorites]
Not according to the CDC: "Note that cysticercosis is only acquired from the fecal-oral route (ingestion of eggs), not via the ingestion of cysticerci in undercooked pork, which is associated with intestinal taeniasis."
So the guy who goes barefoot to the airplane lavatory doesn't have the best hand hygiene.
posted by peeedro at 5:15 PM on May 8 [6 favorites]
"I have never been to Ceti Alpha Five, nor have I ever tried to steal the Genesis device ... AAAIIIEEEEEE!"
posted by credulous at 6:06 PM on May 8 [6 favorites]
posted by credulous at 6:06 PM on May 8 [6 favorites]
I was thinking more of a Baldur's Gate 3 brain worm. RFK jr now worships The Absolute, clearly.
posted by Justinian at 6:10 PM on May 8 [4 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 6:10 PM on May 8 [4 favorites]
So in 2012 he was trying to weasel out of spousal support for his ex-wife by saying his mind didn't work well enough to make money. And yet here we are 12 years later and he thinks he's a serious candidate for president.
In his defense, he has brain worms, so his judgement may not be the best.
posted by Dysk at 6:20 PM on May 8 [9 favorites]
In his defense, he has brain worms, so his judgement may not be the best.
posted by Dysk at 6:20 PM on May 8 [9 favorites]
American Presidential Campaign 2024 candidates:
One candidate who is debatably mentally competent.
One candidate who is ravingly insane and corrupt.
One candidate who claims that a worm ate part of his brain.
These are the ones that have been decided can lead the nation in these times? One is better than the others of course but give me a f-ing break with this nonsense already! What the hell is going on here?
posted by Liquidwolf at 6:53 PM on May 8 [5 favorites]
One candidate who is debatably mentally competent.
One candidate who is ravingly insane and corrupt.
One candidate who claims that a worm ate part of his brain.
These are the ones that have been decided can lead the nation in these times? One is better than the others of course but give me a f-ing break with this nonsense already! What the hell is going on here?
posted by Liquidwolf at 6:53 PM on May 8 [5 favorites]
Everyday in the US feels more like "Pontypool", really.
posted by ryanshepard at 7:07 PM on May 8 [8 favorites]
posted by ryanshepard at 7:07 PM on May 8 [8 favorites]
That, or The Prisoner.
posted by mollweide at 7:14 PM on May 8 [9 favorites]
posted by mollweide at 7:14 PM on May 8 [9 favorites]
I question the mental competency of those who question that Joe Biden is mentally competent. It’s pretty clear after watching him score legislative wins over the Republicans that he has not suffered any significant cognitive decline.
posted by interogative mood at 7:32 PM on May 8 [27 favorites]
posted by interogative mood at 7:32 PM on May 8 [27 favorites]
I mean, Reagan scored legislative wins over the Democrats throughout, and didn't seem especially mentally competent. I'm not sure that Biden's legislative wins prove his mental acuity, any more than Bush Jr or Reagan's did.
A lot of people are required to work for those wins, and pretending that they're due to the mental acuity and singular political genius of one person seem like the kinda magical thinking that elevates presidents to king-like status.
posted by whm at 8:28 PM on May 8 [12 favorites]
A lot of people are required to work for those wins, and pretending that they're due to the mental acuity and singular political genius of one person seem like the kinda magical thinking that elevates presidents to king-like status.
posted by whm at 8:28 PM on May 8 [12 favorites]
I really want Biden to win in November but I think that many of his wins were having Pelosi as Speaker for two years, steering the party with an iron hand like it was a tiny boat instead of a giant fleet of disparate interests who are lucky to even have a coherent conversation about cilantro because the soap faction HAS to be somehow corrupt and unworthy!
I'm glad Pelosi has moved aside and given the new guy, name not in my head yet, the reins while still being in Congress to provide guidance to the new leader and prodding to the reluctant behind the scenes. Once she is out of the House, we'll see how things go for, oh yeah, Jeffries. That's his name. I didn't even look that up! I'm rooting for Jeffries!
posted by hippybear at 8:37 PM on May 8 [6 favorites]
I'm glad Pelosi has moved aside and given the new guy, name not in my head yet, the reins while still being in Congress to provide guidance to the new leader and prodding to the reluctant behind the scenes. Once she is out of the House, we'll see how things go for, oh yeah, Jeffries. That's his name. I didn't even look that up! I'm rooting for Jeffries!
posted by hippybear at 8:37 PM on May 8 [6 favorites]
It seems to me the main reason not to question Biden's mental competency is... he's shown little sign of lacking mental competency. I mean, really, questions about Biden's mental fitness are almost entirely a product of Republican bad faith attacks and irresponsible media amplification (hello again, NYT).
Yeah, the guy is old and he shows it sometimes, I'm not gonna act like that's not the case, and I absolutely understand age being a concern for some folks. He talks slowly and quietly a lot of the time. His default facial expression makes him look a little lost. And yet he proves time and time again in off-the-cuff Q&As with press that he knows the issues backwards and forwards, he's perfectly capable of turning in energetic and strong public addresses (a la this year's State of the Union), and when they think they're off the record congressional Republicans admit that when they meet with him, he's on the ball, in charge, and controls the discussion. If his staff/Pelosi/whoever were the ones really running things, if he were flubbing policy conversations and acting like he wasn't all there in private meetings, I promise you, it would be leaked to Politico or Fox or something instantly. The fact that that hasn't happened, the fact that in fact what gets leaked is Republicans privately admitting that he's the one calling the shots when they meet with him, testifies to how kind of crazy it is that right-wing talking points about his mental acuity have become so mainstream in political discourse.
Biden's mental fitness is under a constant microscope, to an insane degree, and the worst that usually comes out is that he sometimes misspeaks. An 81 year old man with a lifelong medical stutter sometimes misspeaks. The fact that so much media attention has focused on his supposed mental incompetency when his two most prominent opponents are Donald Trump and Worms-Ate-My-Brain-Jr is nuts and we should really stop feeding into it.
posted by Method Man at 8:51 PM on May 8 [44 favorites]
Yeah, the guy is old and he shows it sometimes, I'm not gonna act like that's not the case, and I absolutely understand age being a concern for some folks. He talks slowly and quietly a lot of the time. His default facial expression makes him look a little lost. And yet he proves time and time again in off-the-cuff Q&As with press that he knows the issues backwards and forwards, he's perfectly capable of turning in energetic and strong public addresses (a la this year's State of the Union), and when they think they're off the record congressional Republicans admit that when they meet with him, he's on the ball, in charge, and controls the discussion. If his staff/Pelosi/whoever were the ones really running things, if he were flubbing policy conversations and acting like he wasn't all there in private meetings, I promise you, it would be leaked to Politico or Fox or something instantly. The fact that that hasn't happened, the fact that in fact what gets leaked is Republicans privately admitting that he's the one calling the shots when they meet with him, testifies to how kind of crazy it is that right-wing talking points about his mental acuity have become so mainstream in political discourse.
Biden's mental fitness is under a constant microscope, to an insane degree, and the worst that usually comes out is that he sometimes misspeaks. An 81 year old man with a lifelong medical stutter sometimes misspeaks. The fact that so much media attention has focused on his supposed mental incompetency when his two most prominent opponents are Donald Trump and Worms-Ate-My-Brain-Jr is nuts and we should really stop feeding into it.
posted by Method Man at 8:51 PM on May 8 [44 favorites]
2016's Brain Dead, for sale on Prime Video. From Wikipedia's premise:
Stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead & Tony Shaloub and written by Michelle and Robert King of The Good Wife and The Good Fight.
posted by ASCII Costanza head at 9:08 PM on May 8 [6 favorites]
Documentary filmmaker Laurel Healy agrees to take a job working for her brother, Democratic Senator Luke Healy, in order to secure funding for her next film. However, she comes across a conspiracy in which alien bugs have partially replaced the brains of several people, including members of Congress.I did manage to discover it, but I suspect for a lot of you, it fell into that crevasse of 2012-2019 culture that COVID seems to have neuralized from the collective consciousness. It was originally on CBS, so it really ought to be on Paramount+ (just got 6 months free with my Mint mobile account), but as with so many things in this age, it isn't. Off to the pirate sites, we go?
Stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead & Tony Shaloub and written by Michelle and Robert King of The Good Wife and The Good Fight.
posted by ASCII Costanza head at 9:08 PM on May 8 [6 favorites]
Okay, let's be charitable: maybe the passage of the worm has left a beneficial level of cranial ventilation, which could improve his cognition by allowing his brain to run longer without the risk of overheating, and may also have addressed the hereditary condition that made it so dangerous for his uncle to try and hold a sneeze in like that.
posted by MarchHare at 9:57 PM on May 8
posted by MarchHare at 9:57 PM on May 8
You will play puzzgrid instead of Connections.
I typed in "agree" and puzzgrid did not give me credit when the correct answer was "'I agree' emojis," puzzgrid is dead to me forever
posted by taquito sunrise at 11:32 PM on May 8
I typed in "agree" and puzzgrid did not give me credit when the correct answer was "'I agree' emojis," puzzgrid is dead to me forever
posted by taquito sunrise at 11:32 PM on May 8
Had?
posted by xigxag at 12:42 AM on May 9 [1 favorite]
posted by xigxag at 12:42 AM on May 9 [1 favorite]
RFK Jr announced the results of a national poll showing (a) Trump winning in a head to head vote between Trump and Biden (b) RFK Jr defeating Biden by a landslide in a head to head vote between RFK Jr and Biden, and (c) RFK Jr narrowly winning assuming a head to head vote between RFK Jr and Trump. RFK Jr went on to argue that this means Biden is the "spoiler" in the upcoming presidential election and should drop out, not him, as this poll showed he can defeat Trump, while Biden cannot.
This was discussed on the 538 podcast and uniformly regarded as a "bad use of polling" by the panel, although it was not judged to be worse than typical behaviour by presidential campaigns when twisting polls to further their aims.
Geoffrey Skelley offered the following perspective:
> Part of Kennedy's appeal is just basically being 'Other'. And so, is it a surprise that the guy who is essentially is functioning still as 'Other' in a poll would be beating Biden and beating Trump when we know people are not happy with them? The reality is Kennedy is not going to get the share of the vote that he's getting in some national polls right now. We've seen this story before.
posted by are-coral-made at 2:40 AM on May 9
This was discussed on the 538 podcast and uniformly regarded as a "bad use of polling" by the panel, although it was not judged to be worse than typical behaviour by presidential campaigns when twisting polls to further their aims.
Geoffrey Skelley offered the following perspective:
> Part of Kennedy's appeal is just basically being 'Other'. And so, is it a surprise that the guy who is essentially is functioning still as 'Other' in a poll would be beating Biden and beating Trump when we know people are not happy with them? The reality is Kennedy is not going to get the share of the vote that he's getting in some national polls right now. We've seen this story before.
- politico's coverage of RFK Jr's presentation to the press, May 1st 2024
- 538 podcast discussion, May 6th 2024
posted by are-coral-made at 2:40 AM on May 9
B. it would take time away from NYT's overriding priority, which is ending Joe Biden's presidency (and American democracy) out of spite because he won't give them an interview.
I think this might be the funniest possible reason to hate the NYT, given they're rabid TERFs, Islamophobes, haters of the working class, etc. If I thought it was true, I'd recommend he give them the interview.
posted by Audreynachrome at 3:13 AM on May 9 [1 favorite]
I think this might be the funniest possible reason to hate the NYT, given they're rabid TERFs, Islamophobes, haters of the working class, etc. If I thought it was true, I'd recommend he give them the interview.
posted by Audreynachrome at 3:13 AM on May 9 [1 favorite]
There's a lot on his mind, And, well, in it. #BaldursGate3
posted by sirvinegar at 5:51 AM on May 9 [5 favorites]
posted by sirvinegar at 5:51 AM on May 9 [5 favorites]
The campaign has refuses to respond to my inquiries regarding if he has the dark urge.
posted by interogative mood at 6:48 AM on May 9 [1 favorite]
posted by interogative mood at 6:48 AM on May 9 [1 favorite]
And the worm had heel spurs!
posted by Chitownfats at 7:30 AM on May 9
posted by Chitownfats at 7:30 AM on May 9
I think this might be the funniest possible reason to hate the NYT, given they're rabid TERFs, Islamophobes, haters of the working class, etc. If I thought it was true, I'd recommend he give them the interview.
I didn't say it was the only or even the main reason to "hate" the NYT, it just happened to be the most relevant to a conversation about presidential candidates. And it is true, there's been a ton of reporting on the Times' bias against Biden for any number of reasons (from "AG Sulzberger's upset that Biden won't give them an interview" to "the New York Times wants to court conservative readers").
posted by Method Man at 7:32 AM on May 9 [2 favorites]
I didn't say it was the only or even the main reason to "hate" the NYT, it just happened to be the most relevant to a conversation about presidential candidates. And it is true, there's been a ton of reporting on the Times' bias against Biden for any number of reasons (from "AG Sulzberger's upset that Biden won't give them an interview" to "the New York Times wants to court conservative readers").
posted by Method Man at 7:32 AM on May 9 [2 favorites]
Not particularly interested in JFKJr and don't really care if it's true or not, but when it comes to him or any other non-establishmentarian candidate, the NYT is fundamentally untrustworthy as an information source.
Indeed, that's why I get my RFK Jr. news from boingboing. (Well, okay not just there. But while literal brainworm(s) should in no way be disqualifying, the clowning is very much merited.)
posted by mscibing at 7:43 AM on May 9
Indeed, that's why I get my RFK Jr. news from boingboing. (Well, okay not just there. But while literal brainworm(s) should in no way be disqualifying, the clowning is very much merited.)
posted by mscibing at 7:43 AM on May 9
One candidate who claims that a worm ate part of his brain.
As in What is a Zombie Brain Lift?
posted by y2karl at 7:57 AM on May 9
As in What is a Zombie Brain Lift?
posted by y2karl at 7:57 AM on May 9
I came here hungry for the inevitable jokes and have been well-fed.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:42 AM on May 9 [4 favorites]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:42 AM on May 9 [4 favorites]
All that and not a single "he has a running mate" joke. People are slipping...
posted by kjs3 at 8:46 AM on May 9 [8 favorites]
posted by kjs3 at 8:46 AM on May 9 [8 favorites]
It seems more than just a little coincidental that this story was published mere days after it was apparent RFK Jr was siphoning votes from TFG and not the real target, Biden. I wonder how NYT got such a salacious scoop and from whom. Hmmmm....
posted by hairless ape at 9:25 AM on May 9 [1 favorite]
posted by hairless ape at 9:25 AM on May 9 [1 favorite]
Mercury poisoning is a real thing that happens.
I'm old enough that I got to play with mercury during a science class when I was a kid.
posted by srboisvert at 9:29 AM on May 9 [3 favorites]
I'm old enough that I got to play with mercury during a science class when I was a kid.
posted by srboisvert at 9:29 AM on May 9 [3 favorites]
Kind of looking forward to RFKs response to this yet also feeling sick he will continue to have influence over some with his utter nonsense.
posted by waving at 9:50 AM on May 9
posted by waving at 9:50 AM on May 9
I'm old enough that I got to play with mercury during a science class when I was a kid.
I got to play with it at home whenever a thermometer broke. My parents knew enough to not let me touch it with my fingers, but it was always on a dinner plate that after a bit of soapy washing got put right back in the cupboard.
posted by Dip Flash at 9:58 AM on May 9 [1 favorite]
I got to play with it at home whenever a thermometer broke. My parents knew enough to not let me touch it with my fingers, but it was always on a dinner plate that after a bit of soapy washing got put right back in the cupboard.
posted by Dip Flash at 9:58 AM on May 9 [1 favorite]
Early 2010s: hipster-fueled bacon mania and also DIY food processing
2013 ish-present: internet gets progressively shittier and more delusional, with more horrifying IRL repercussions
dun dun duuun!
(Or maybe that's just the brain worms talking.)
posted by pernoctalian at 10:11 AM on May 9 [2 favorites]
2013 ish-present: internet gets progressively shittier and more delusional, with more horrifying IRL repercussions
dun dun duuun!
(Or maybe that's just the brain worms talking.)
posted by pernoctalian at 10:11 AM on May 9 [2 favorites]
I came here hungry for the inevitable jokes and have been well-fed.
...unlike the worm.
posted by MuChao at 10:30 AM on May 9 [6 favorites]
...unlike the worm.
posted by MuChao at 10:30 AM on May 9 [6 favorites]
> Everyday in the US feels more like "Pontypool", really.If it's not Pontypool, then it's The Screwfly Solution.
posted by Fiberoptic Zebroid and The Hypnagogic Jerks at 5:27 PM on May 9 [2 favorites]
It's not actually apparent that RFK Jr is siphoning Trump votes (at a greater pace than Biden votes). If you look at the state level polling Biden almost always does better in a head to head against Trump than he does when other candidates are included.
There was just a poll of WI showing Biden up 6 points on Trump, for instance. One of the best polls for Biden in months! Except when you looked deeper, that was when it only asked about Trump and Biden. With RFK jr included Biden was only up 1 point. So his lead was cut from 6 points to 1 points when non major party candidates were included.
The idea that RFK jr hurts Trump more than Biden seems mostly based on people not believing that somebody who isn't an idiot could support RFK jr. Which is probably true. But, reader, I'm here to tell you that we have plenty of idiots on our side.
posted by Justinian at 6:20 PM on May 9 [1 favorite]
There was just a poll of WI showing Biden up 6 points on Trump, for instance. One of the best polls for Biden in months! Except when you looked deeper, that was when it only asked about Trump and Biden. With RFK jr included Biden was only up 1 point. So his lead was cut from 6 points to 1 points when non major party candidates were included.
The idea that RFK jr hurts Trump more than Biden seems mostly based on people not believing that somebody who isn't an idiot could support RFK jr. Which is probably true. But, reader, I'm here to tell you that we have plenty of idiots on our side.
posted by Justinian at 6:20 PM on May 9 [1 favorite]
For what its worth, actual expert data guys like G. Elliott Morris would tell you the same. Well, that RFK is hurting Biden in the polling, not the idiot part.
posted by Justinian at 6:21 PM on May 9
posted by Justinian at 6:21 PM on May 9
Morris is so smart he makes it looks casual. I love when he's on the FiveThirtyEight podcast. I know I'm going to get some quality statistical analysis, and he can explain it pretty well, too!
posted by hippybear at 6:26 PM on May 9
posted by hippybear at 6:26 PM on May 9
A couple of notes on third-party candidates in general:
The last time a third-party candidate got more than 10% of the vote was Ross Perot in 1992. The last time a third-party candidate got more than 5% of the vote was also Ross Perot, in 1996.
Perot got no electoral votes for his efforts in either run. The last third-party candidate to get an electoral vote (through actual popular vote results, not a vote from a faithless elector) was George Wallace, in 1968.
The recent high-water mark for third-party candidates was Gary Johnson, the Libertarian candidate in 2016, who got 3 percent and change.
I'm expecting that the 8 to 9 percent results you see RFK Jr getting in some polls will revert back to the 2 to 3 percent level once the election gets closer and people consider their choices more seriously. I'm not sure if RFK Jr would have a consistent effect across the country--it could vary from state to state. If you cherry-pick polls, you can find some that show Trump's percentage dropping more than Biden's. The more specific question is: would RFK Jr hurt Biden more in the specific states Biden needs to win?
Pundits and campaign insiders hate that question, of course, because it's a lot harder to answer. It's their version of the three-body-problem. From their point of view, they'd love if RFK Jr just went away.
In recent history, Republicans have used third-party spoilers to their advantage. Statewide Minnesota politics over the last couple of decades is a prime example--Republicans supported pro-marijuana third-party candidates for years through back channels, and now they've mostly lost that issue to manipulate. This time, there's a chance a third-party candidate could pull more from Trump in certain areas. A couple of days ago, Nikki Haley got a big chunk of votes in the Indiana primary, even though she dropped out weeks ago.
But the thing is--if Trump loses 9% of his voters in Indiana.....he still wins Indiana. Likewise, Biden is down in New York and Massachusetts. Biden wlil still win those two states.
And, going back to the reference I made a couple of paragraphs up: RFK Jr is no Ross Perot. He's a crank and a loon that casual voters know nothing about, he's soaking up "none of the above" voters in polling from people who are exhausted by politics. After a few months of late-night TV doing sketches about President Brainworms, those casual voters will categorize him as a joke and avoid him entirely.
The bigger concern is that a media environment that where the discourse is all about how bad both sides are (or all three sides) is essentially pro-Republican. If potential Democratic votes sit home, and you have an election where turnout is suppressed, voters are cynical and tired, and only the last, die-hard voters turn out, crazy extremist Republicans who would (and did) vote for Satan himself will have barely enough of an advantage to win. In short, that's 2016 all over again.
posted by gimonca at 4:35 AM on May 10 [5 favorites]
The last time a third-party candidate got more than 10% of the vote was Ross Perot in 1992. The last time a third-party candidate got more than 5% of the vote was also Ross Perot, in 1996.
Perot got no electoral votes for his efforts in either run. The last third-party candidate to get an electoral vote (through actual popular vote results, not a vote from a faithless elector) was George Wallace, in 1968.
The recent high-water mark for third-party candidates was Gary Johnson, the Libertarian candidate in 2016, who got 3 percent and change.
I'm expecting that the 8 to 9 percent results you see RFK Jr getting in some polls will revert back to the 2 to 3 percent level once the election gets closer and people consider their choices more seriously. I'm not sure if RFK Jr would have a consistent effect across the country--it could vary from state to state. If you cherry-pick polls, you can find some that show Trump's percentage dropping more than Biden's. The more specific question is: would RFK Jr hurt Biden more in the specific states Biden needs to win?
Pundits and campaign insiders hate that question, of course, because it's a lot harder to answer. It's their version of the three-body-problem. From their point of view, they'd love if RFK Jr just went away.
In recent history, Republicans have used third-party spoilers to their advantage. Statewide Minnesota politics over the last couple of decades is a prime example--Republicans supported pro-marijuana third-party candidates for years through back channels, and now they've mostly lost that issue to manipulate. This time, there's a chance a third-party candidate could pull more from Trump in certain areas. A couple of days ago, Nikki Haley got a big chunk of votes in the Indiana primary, even though she dropped out weeks ago.
But the thing is--if Trump loses 9% of his voters in Indiana.....he still wins Indiana. Likewise, Biden is down in New York and Massachusetts. Biden wlil still win those two states.
And, going back to the reference I made a couple of paragraphs up: RFK Jr is no Ross Perot. He's a crank and a loon that casual voters know nothing about, he's soaking up "none of the above" voters in polling from people who are exhausted by politics. After a few months of late-night TV doing sketches about President Brainworms, those casual voters will categorize him as a joke and avoid him entirely.
The bigger concern is that a media environment that where the discourse is all about how bad both sides are (or all three sides) is essentially pro-Republican. If potential Democratic votes sit home, and you have an election where turnout is suppressed, voters are cynical and tired, and only the last, die-hard voters turn out, crazy extremist Republicans who would (and did) vote for Satan himself will have barely enough of an advantage to win. In short, that's 2016 all over again.
posted by gimonca at 4:35 AM on May 10 [5 favorites]
this was the plot of S01E01 of House MD
posted by Jacqueline at 7:17 AM on May 10
posted by Jacqueline at 7:17 AM on May 10
Maybe that’s why I feel like I need to take a handful of Vicodin every day to get through this election
posted by rikschell at 8:08 AM on May 10 [4 favorites]
posted by rikschell at 8:08 AM on May 10 [4 favorites]
[mercury] was always on a dinner plate that after a bit of soapy washing got put right back in the cupboard
That sounds like a great slogan for a presidential campaign. I know people who would vote for you.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 11:37 AM on May 10
That sounds like a great slogan for a presidential campaign. I know people who would vote for you.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 11:37 AM on May 10
That sounds like a great slogan for a presidential campaign. I know people who would vote for you.
I mean, do you want the candidate with mercury poisoning, or the candidate with both mercury poisoning and brain worms?
posted by Dip Flash at 1:02 PM on May 10 [1 favorite]
I mean, do you want the candidate with mercury poisoning, or the candidate with both mercury poisoning and brain worms?
posted by Dip Flash at 1:02 PM on May 10 [1 favorite]
RFKjr favorably compared his anti-vax position with Martin Luther King's fight for equality today if you were wondering whether the brain worm was affecting his judgment.
Imagine being such a nutter that "he believes this because a worm ate part of his brain" is the charitable interpretation.
posted by Justinian at 3:16 PM on May 10 [3 favorites]
Imagine being such a nutter that "he believes this because a worm ate part of his brain" is the charitable interpretation.
posted by Justinian at 3:16 PM on May 10 [3 favorites]
The scandal here is that he was giving this testimony during a hearing to determine if he should be paying alimony, and he was claiming the combination of the brain worm and the mercury poisoning had reduced his ability to work to the point that his diminished earning potential meant he shouldn't have to pay alimony.
These arguments were either being made in good faith or he is committing perjury to get out of paying money to the wife he divorced.
I wonder if the actual medical records exist. We'll never know because of health care privacy laws, but this could be entirely bullshit that he put into the public record in order to keep from paying someone support.
I think the real investigation here should be into whether the medical records for these statements he made under oath are actually real. And if they are not, let's start chanting "perjury" at him every chance we can.
posted by hippybear at 4:10 PM on May 10 [4 favorites]
These arguments were either being made in good faith or he is committing perjury to get out of paying money to the wife he divorced.
I wonder if the actual medical records exist. We'll never know because of health care privacy laws, but this could be entirely bullshit that he put into the public record in order to keep from paying someone support.
I think the real investigation here should be into whether the medical records for these statements he made under oath are actually real. And if they are not, let's start chanting "perjury" at him every chance we can.
posted by hippybear at 4:10 PM on May 10 [4 favorites]
I mean, also we should question if he's even mentally competent to be President if he's had mercury poisoning and a brain worm, but the actual legal question here is, was he lying on the stand to keep from paying alimony or not.
posted by hippybear at 4:20 PM on May 10
posted by hippybear at 4:20 PM on May 10
He's either disqualified as medically unfit if the mercury poisoning and brain eating worm were true, or he's disqualified as ethically unfit if he was lying to screw over his ex. Either way... no bueno.
posted by Justinian at 7:07 PM on May 10
posted by Justinian at 7:07 PM on May 10
He's either disqualified as medically unfit if the mercury poisoning and brain eating worm were true, or he's disqualified as ethically unfit if he was lying to screw over his ex. Either way... no bueno.
My guess is that it is both: ethically unfit but also with a worm-eaten brain.
posted by Dip Flash at 8:01 PM on May 10 [4 favorites]
My guess is that it is both: ethically unfit but also with a worm-eaten brain.
posted by Dip Flash at 8:01 PM on May 10 [4 favorites]
This prompted an interesting article in Mother Jones on parasitology and parasites as an indication of a healthy ecosystem.
posted by larrybob at 2:34 PM on May 11
posted by larrybob at 2:34 PM on May 11
Parasites might be a signifier of biodiversity or ecological health, but that can also come with measurably deleterious effects on the host.
Higher parasitic infection rates in humans are associated with lower IQ scores, generally (example). There has also been some coverage on hookworm infections in US southern states in previous decades being a predictor of reduced economic capacity, and how economic performance improved once water treatment systems began to be implemented more broadly.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 11:44 AM on May 12
Higher parasitic infection rates in humans are associated with lower IQ scores, generally (example). There has also been some coverage on hookworm infections in US southern states in previous decades being a predictor of reduced economic capacity, and how economic performance improved once water treatment systems began to be implemented more broadly.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 11:44 AM on May 12
“We Have to Talk About Brain Worms,” Charles P. Pierce, Esquire, 13 May 2024
posted by ob1quixote at 7:20 PM on May 13
posted by ob1quixote at 7:20 PM on May 13
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posted by tclark at 11:00 AM on May 8 [68 favorites]