{"id":56161,"date":"2018-01-21T19:38:08","date_gmt":"2018-01-22T00:38:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/?p=56161"},"modified":"2018-01-21T19:38:15","modified_gmt":"2018-01-22T00:38:15","slug":"the-daily-gouge-archive-friday-january-19th-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/?p=56161","title":{"rendered":"The Daily Gouge Archive, Friday, January 19th, 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s Friday, January 19th, 2018…but before we begin, this meme from Balls Cotton…<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

…tied in nicely with a factoid cited by Chris Plant, a local radio talk show host: four…count ’em, FOUR<\/em><\/span>…of Illinois’ last seven governors ended up in prison.\u00a0 \u00a0Just…<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

…sayin’.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

And since we’re on the subject of out-of-control asses, can anyone name a bigger one than…<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

…the junior senator from New Jersey?!?\u00a0 As David French observes in his excellent assessment of Booker’s inexcusable treatment of Kirstjen Nielsen with an eye towards 2020<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/a>…<\/strong><\/p>\n

“If a conservative male senator<\/em><\/span> had lectured a progressive female cabinet secretary<\/em><\/span> so disrespectfully, liberals would be up in arms<\/em><\/span>.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

…Booker\u2019s face is twisted in fury. He pounds on the table. He insults her character. It\u2019s nothing short of a temper tantrum<\/em><\/span>.<\/strong> If he were a Republican<\/span>, this exchange would be taken a<\/em>s proof-positive that he doesn\u2019t respect women<\/em><\/span>.<\/span> It would be video evidence,<\/em> shared far and wide<\/em><\/span>, of his sexism<\/em><\/span>. It would be compared to Donald Trump\u2019s physical approaches to Hillary Clinton during a presidential debate and used as evidence that Republicans aren\u2019t just misogynistic<\/span>, they\u2019re menacing<\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/strong><\/span>“<\/p>\n

Other than, of course, Lindsay Grahamnesty and Ru Paul for opting to shut down the government in the name of their peculiar personal principles…which seem to change whenever it suits them.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Face it folks: when it comes to government shutdowns, the GOP NEVER<\/em><\/span> comes out on top.\u00a0 Though why Mitch McConnell hasn’t opted to nuke the filibuster solely<\/em><\/span> and\u00a0specifically<\/em><\/span> for continuing resolutions on the federal budget like Hairball Harry did for federal judicial appointments is beyond<\/em> us.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Now, here’s The Gouge!<\/strong><\/p>\n

First up, writing at,\u00a0Best of the Web<\/em>, James Freeman conveys the…<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cognition of a Conservative<\/span><\/h1>\n

Where does biased coverage end and fake news begin?<\/span><\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

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“President Donald Trump’s in-house doctor\u00a0reported\u00a0Tuesday that the President is in excellent health and mentally fit to perform the duties of his office. This is unconditionally good news for the country, but a setback for<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0non-doctors in t<\/span>he media who have been pronouncing<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/span>\u00a0our duly-elected President a \u201cneo-fascist sociopath\u201d or at least a \u201csick man\u201d who is \u201cnot mentally stable.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Dr. Ronny Jackson speaks with some authority because he sees the President daily, oversees the White House medical team and oversaw Mr. Trump\u2019s physical examination at Washington’s Walter Reed Medical Center last week.<\/span> Moreover, Adm. Jackson also<\/em><\/span> served as President Obama\u2019s in-house doctor and by all accounts has served the country honorably and well<\/em><\/span>.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

On Tuesday Dr. Jackson reported on Mr. Trump\u2019s medical condition and also took questions from reporters at a White House\u00a0briefing. \u201cAll clinical data indicates that the President is currently very healthy and that he will remain so for the duration of his presidency,\u201d said Dr. Jackson.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In response to questions, the White House physician added that Mr. Trump does not wear dentures, is not a drug addict, and has not been ordered to limit himself to one scoop of ice cream. Dr. Jackson also noted that Mr. Trump has remarkably good genes and stamina, has no regular exercise program, and would benefit from a healthier diet.<\/span> Dr. Jackson reported that he and Mr. Trump have set a goal for the President to lose 10-15 pounds this year.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

As for the question that has so enthralled<\/span> much of the press corps<\/em>, here\u2019s the official White House transcript:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Q: …<\/em><\/span>Can you assess the President\u2019s mental fitness for office?<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

DR. JACKSON: Absolutely.<\/strong><\/span> So, many of you may have picked up on the fact that we did do a cognitive assessment as part of the exam. And initially, you know, I had no intention of including the cognitive assessment in this exam because, to be honest with you, per all the guidelines that are out there, it\u2019s not indicated at this time…<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And part of the reason I didn\u2019t think it was clinically indicated is because I\u2019ve spent almost every day in the President\u2019s presence since January 20 \u2014 or, you know, last year, when he got into office. And I\u2019ve seen him every day.<\/span> I\u2019ll see him one, two, sometimes three times a day because of the location of my office. We have conversations about many things, most don\u2019t revolve around medical issues at all.<\/span> But I\u2019ve gotten to know him pretty well and I had absolutely no concerns about his cognitive ability or his neurological functions<\/span>…<\/strong><\/span> The reason that we did<\/span> the cognitive assessment is, plain and simple<\/span>, because the President asked<\/span> me to do it.<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

…I went through and I looked at a variety of the cognitive assessments that were available. Most of them were very simple, very short. And I think that\u2019s the goal, actually, for primary care providers, in doing this, is to keep it simple. Keep it short.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

We picked one of the ones that was a little bit more involved, it was longer. It was the more difficult one of all of them.<\/span> It took significantly longer to complete, but the President did exceedingly well on it<\/span>.<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Dr. Jackson\u2019s answer to a follow-up question further emphasized that, based on the relevant evidence, the President\u2019s doctor has no concerns about Mr. Trump\u2019s ability to perform his job<\/span><\/em>:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Q Do believe he is fit for duty?<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

DR. JACKSON: Absolutely<\/span>, he\u2019s fit for duty.<\/span> I think he will remain<\/span> fit for duty for the remainder of this term and even for the remainder of another term<\/span>, if he\u2019s elected.<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This might seem like perhaps the appropriate moment for the non-doctors in the media crowd who have issued amateur diagnoses to acknowledge error.<\/strong> <\/span>CNN\u2019s Brian Stelter is\u00a0still p<\/span>ursuing<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/a>\u00a0the question of fitness while others in the press pack have moved on to questioning whether the President is heavier or shorter than the White House claims. Mr. Trump\u2019s critics are having lots of Internet fun comparing the 71-year-old\u2019s body to those of young professional athletes of the same reported height and weight.<\/span> Apparently \u201cfat-shaming\u201d is not as great a media sin as previously reported<\/em><\/span>.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The press is always free to raise questions, even after they\u2019ve been authoritatively answered. Media bias is an old story and readers and viewers are free to seek other news outlets if they\u2019re looking for something more than a howl of rage against Mr. Trump.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

But anyone issuing long-distance diagnoses contradicting the available medical evidence can hardly complain when reasonable people call it fake news<\/em><\/span>.<\/strong><\/span>“<\/p>\n

Particularly when one compares the MSM’s reaction to questions regarding Hillary’s<\/em><\/span> health to those concerning The Donald’s<\/em><\/span>:<\/strong><\/p>\n