Tired of presidents with 'a bad brain,' doctor demands brain scans

[Poiuyt]

Candidates vying for the presidency already face intense scrutiny from voters, the media and political rivals' crack opposition research operations -- but that's not enough for one doctor: he demands brain scans.

Dr. Daniel Amen, a neuropsychiatrist and brain-imaging expert, says that scans of the human brain can reveal dysfunction and even predict degenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. In an interview with MSNBC's Tucker Carlson, Amen said that the technology could be used to effectively vet future presidents.

"For years, what I have thought about, talked about, is we should be scanning the brains of presidential candidates," said Amen. "Because a president with a bad brain can ruin life on earth...I'm sort of tired of presidents who've had a bad brain that are not leading the country in a good direction."

==

As for President Bush, a Wednesday editorial from Amen in the Los Angeles Times argues that some of the commander-in-chief's perceived weaknesses may be traced to brain fitness.

"One could argue that our current president's struggles with language and emotional rigidity are symptoms of temporal lobe pathology," writes Amen. "The temporal lobes, underneath your temples and behind your eyes, are involved with language, mood stability, reading social cues and emotional flexibility."

Concludes Amen in the Times, "Ensuring that our president has a healthy brain may be more than an interesting topic of conversation. It can be important information to put into the election equation. A president with brain problems could wreak havoc on the U.S. and the world at large."

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Brainscan_all_presidential_candidates_says_doctor_1206.html

[magellan]

1. First we should ensure our president has a brain, period. n/t

[madeline_con]

2. "Because a president with a bad brain can ruin life on earth"

Amen to that!


:rofl:

[Reverend_Smitty]

3. A-fucking-men! I'm all for this idea

[LakeSamish706]

4. I so agree with this doctor.... This would eliminate many problems that...

we are currently faced with in this Administration.... I wouldn't stop with just the President actually, carry it to at least the VP level, and maybe even further...

[Double T]

5. Psychiatric and psychological evaluation and testing required for ALL..........

candidates running for political office.

[LakeSamish706]

6. I would certainly go along with that... We have been dealt a number of..

crappy blows from the Administrative staff that have mental illness, and it is not fair for the American people to have to deal with this.

[Reverend_Smitty]

7. although if you seriously want to run for public office...

you ought to get your head examined :crazy: :P

[LakeSamish706]

9. lol... Yep, thats a good one... Why the hell would anyone want too? Oh I know, money! n/t

[DBoon]

10. If it's good enough for us worker bees

it's good enough for them

Mandatory drug tests too.

[Poiuyt]

12. Actually, a lot of executives are given psychological exams

I know an industrial psychologist who will test candidates for upper level positions in the business world.

[BlueJazz]

8. This Scan of Bush's brain tells the whole story >>

[madeline_con]

13. So that's what happened to all the sock monkeys!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

11. Amen, Dr. Amen!

:thumbsup:

[Horse with no Name]

14. I think Maher was right

ANY candidate for President should have to take a test on the Constitution, on functions of government, on foreign relations--if only knowing the names, spellings and pronunciations of world leaders and the countries they represent...and pass it with 100%.