Howdy @iThink,

We went through that with my Mom. Sad descent of a smart, creative, capable woman into incoherence.

I was convinced of Biden's dementia when I saw him speak at a podium. He fumbled a phrase. A confused look flashed across his face. His wife was near, looking up at him with an adoring gaze. He flicked a glance at her, then back at the crowd, and then at her again, then he walked away with her. I think she was using that adoring gaze to defuse combativeness.

@timon_phocas I think she was using that adoring gaze because she adores her husband - as a wife should. I may not like their politics but I will never deny their humanity. Alzheimers has a way of making you think that way.

My mother is now in a memory care facility, as was my mother-in-law before she died. I do feel pity for Biden, but feel only contempt for the efforts to exploit him for cheap political gain. It’s a tactic so laden with cynicism and devoid of humanity that it truly must be called out, publicly, for the rancid scheme it is. Unfortunately, this means shining a light on Joe and forcing his true condition into the open.

The person truly deserving of contempt and scorn is his wife. No one is in a better position to know his true state. I fail to imagine any explanation for her behavior that doesn’t include a craven lust for power and status. Sure, she thinks she served in the minor leagues long enough, now it’s her turn. Who’s going to let a little elder abuse get in the way?

@Edgework
My mother is now in a memory care facility, as was my mother-in-law before she died
I am sorry - have you been able to see her or talk to her at all in the last 3 o4 months?

• I do feel pity for Biden, but feel only contempt for the efforts to exploit him for cheap political gain. It’s a tactic so laden with cynicism and devoid of humanity that it truly must be called out, publicly, for the rancid scheme it is*
  Hear hear!

The person truly deserving of contempt and scorn is his wife. No one is in a better position to know his true state. I fail to imagine any explanation for her behavior that doesn’t include a craven must for power and status. Sure, she thinks she served in the minor leagues long enough, now it’s her turn. Who’s going to let a little elder abuse get in the way?

I too have wondered about her motivations for allowing her husband to be abused this way. I am going to give her the benefit of the doubt and speculate that the Cynical Machivellian CPUSA has somehow cornered her - somehow they are forcing her to cooperate with their schemes.
She does have that adoring look when she stands by her husband. I have to believe her affection is genuine....but I could be wrong about that. For her sake I hope she does not have a heart so black that would allow her to participate willfully in the exploitation of her husband.

Yes even the slightest bit of stress will manifest itself in the Alzheimers patients speech and actions. Usually they become immediately flustered, they get an angry yet helpless look in the face and then look around for reassurance. What they need most is for someone - one person - usually a spouse to be near by - to reach out and touch them on the hand, the arm, to look at them in the face and to smile lovingly and tell them its ok...everything is ok...
So tragic. Of course I am speaking about my own experiences with my wife - who is still living BTW although I have not been able to see her, hold her hand, sing and play guitar for her since late March this year.
No visit policy re COVID! pisses me off the think of her loneliness and abandonment.
I tried one time to visit her through the window - it only frightened her. That is the ONLY time I have actually seen here in almost 5 months.