Does Sen. Susan Collins suffer from ataxia?

[eilen]

Honestly, I can't stand to listen to her.

[ShortnFiery]

1. She's intelligent albeit too "right" for my tastes. That's a low blow - some people can't help the

way they talk, i.e., those who have speech impediments or have recently had a stroke.

[Staph]

2. According to Wikipedia (grain of salt optional)

she has spasmodic dysphonia, as do Robert Kennedy Jr. and radio host Diane Rehm.

Slam her all you want for her politics. But picking on her for speech problems smacks of Freeperism.

[rvablue]

3. Add to that the guy from RUN DMC. n/t

[elleng]

5. Interesting and important to hear, imo.

I guess I should have looked into it myself. She and they are admirable, imo. They keep plugging on. And she certainly did this time.

What happened to the other 'good' repugs, like lugar? I think I'll hold it against him for quite a while. Lets see what happens with the reconciled bill.

[eilen]

15. All I asked is if her speech patterns were a function

of a physical disability and noted the cadence irritates me. Diane Rehm's does too. Now that I know it is due to verbal ataxia, and not put on, I have more understanding. Sheesh. I don't know unless I ask.

[Submariner]

4. She has GoFukYourself-ism

With the poverty that exists in Maine, she is giving her constituents the big FU. They need help up there.

[Kittycat]

6. Interesting choice of words you used to describe her.

Do you know what Ataxia is? It's a form of Cerebral Palsy, the rarest form, actually - and one that my five year old son is plagued with. Along with the seizures - just for fun.

Maybe next time, choose your wording with a little bit of thought on who your 'readers' might be.

[eilen]

13. Actually I know exactly what ataxic speech is

which is why I used a medical term. I wanted to know if it is something she can't control or if it is a speech pattern she puts on. Not an unfair question. Just because the cadence irritates me, I'd rather not jump to the conclusion she does it on purpose. I put quite a bit of thought into my question as I did not wish to offend. Ataxia/ataxic speech (as opposed to ataxic movement -- like with walking) can be a symptom of CP but also a symptom of other physical issues. I think you are overly sensitive. I'm sorry about your little boy but honestly, people can ask a question-- it doesn't mean they are making fun of someone because of their disability.

[Kittycat]

20. No - you followed by saying, "I can't stand to listen to her. "

Which implies that you're either making a disgust comment about the way she talks, or that you're making fun of her disability. I wonder if you would look at my son, after he's spoken, and say - "I can't stand listening to you". It's not being overly sensitive - it's about not making fun of or making hateful statements about people with disabilities. Which is disgusting on your part. If you don't like the woman,or what she has to say - a simple, "I can't stand listening to her" would have sufficed. But to preface a disability, makes you the horrible person instead.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[noamnety]

14. I'm sorry you had to run into that here.

It's incredibly discouraging when even the adults haven't progressed beyond playground name calling, mocking, and nastiness toward people with disabilities.

[eilen]

16. Umm, I was not mocking her

just asking if she had a physical problem that caused her to form her speech patterns in a very slow measured fashion without inflection. I noted I found it irritating but was not willing to assign infer anything until I knew more. I did not name call, mock or exhibit nastiness.

I have a child with PDD and I have had school officials make veiled inferences that he was one step away from being a school shooter (like the one at Virginia Tech), I am very aware when someone is making wholesale misinterpretations about disabilities and motivations. Thus my question.

[onenote]

17. Has it occurred to you that finding someone's speech pattern irritating

is more your problem than the speaker's?

[eilen]

18. I never said it wasn't. nt

[Davis_X_Machina]

7. She could sound like Emma Thompson..

...and she'd still be one of the dimmest bulbs in the Senate. An old student of mine works in her constituency-services operation, and says she routinely makes 10-dumbest lists. She is a complete creature of her staff, many of who have ties to the Rove apparatus.

It is widely bandied about that she thinks -- because her staff has told her -- that she alone can save the GOP, and on the back of that accomplishment become the first woman president. "Moderate", when her party isn't. Northern, when her party is Southern, female in a party of pasty white dudes. She is The Answer. And all this 'moderate' shadow boxing is the set-up.

She's the Next Empty Suit. Another W, in drag.

[smalll]

8. Emma Thompson doesn't sound so hot --

she's got that affected glottal-stop "Estuary" drops by which contemporary upper-middle class Brits pretend to be all "real" and "street" and whatnot.

[Jane Austin]

19. Okay, you've piqued my interest!

Can you give an example of "glottal-stop "Estuary" drops" so I can listen for it?

Thanks.

[Cleita]

9. She wants to become the first woman president? Somebody better warn Sara Palin.

:rofl:

[PurityOfEssence]

10. I be--lieve it's-called Lor--raine-Brac--co syn--drome...

Nails on a chalkboard. It's...like...the...den...tist's...shot...still...has...n't...wor...n...off...yet...

[Wiley50]

11. I'd probably call her ataxia

wouldn't want her passing out here

[Skittles]

12. she always sounds like she is talking to children

I cannot stand it either

[WingedZombie]

22. ...

Okay, seriously?
"Oh boy! Lets gang up on this woman for asking an honest question!"
What the fuck is this 'Im sorry you ran into this here'
Listen
Your son has a disability.
That's fine. There is nothing wrong with that.
But that doesn't give you the right to jump on the ass of every person who asks a question mentioning it.
It's not her fault that she asked a question.
I don't care if you flame me.
Because I know I'm an asshole.
But you know what.
At least I have the dignity not to gang up on someone over an INTERNET fight.

[4 t 4]

23. She's got something so what who doesn't

everyone seems to really like her very much even the pages seem to always smile at her and at least she saw the light. I like her today very much.