In an interview yesterday on CNN, former White House physician Connie Mariano stated her fear that, if Chris Christie should run for President, he would likely have a heart attack or a stroke and die in office. Christie responded in his typical fashion, telling the doctor to shut up.
Mariano made her diagnosis from Scottsdale, Arizona, and has never met Christie, let alone given him a physical examination. The New Jersey Governor responded that his young son, upon hearing her remarks, asked him if he were going to die. Christie held an impromptu press conference while in Sea Girt, New Jersey to examine the devastating effects of Hurricane Sandy on the little town.
Christie also said that Mariano is ‘…another hack who wants five minutes on TV.’ Mariano felt the need to respond to Christie, ““I’m not a hack If you look up my resume, I’ve been in the White House for nine years. I’m a retired Navy rear admiral. I’m board-certified in internal medicine.”
I often decry here the lack of statistical and mathematical knowledge in America. So, Mariano’s remarks shouldn’t be that surprising since it reveals a common statistical fallacy, assuming that aggregate level data tells us something about individual cases. So, although we know that, in aggregate, obesity or cigarette smoking, or drinking too much or (fill in your own bad thing here) will reduce people’s lifespan, we don’t know anything about individual cases.
We all know people who smoke and live to be 80; we’ve also heard about triathlon athletes who died at 25. The wondrous thing about people is you never can tell.
February 7th, 2013 at 9:22 am
I wonder why the good doctor has not told us what drugs she administered to Bill Clinton? You may recall that the previous White House physician before Connie Mariano, Burton Lee, left under a cloud when Bill Clinton entered the WH. Lee refused to administer an unknown substance to Clinton, who insisted it was an allergy medication. Mariano took over, apparently having no problems injecting presidents with whatever drugs they wanted.
February 7th, 2013 at 10:22 am
I would prefer to have JFK’s physician.
Narcotics and amphetamines.
February 7th, 2013 at 10:27 am
Yet another reason people run for president.
February 7th, 2013 at 10:59 am
Chris Christie reminds me of John Goodman’s character on The West Wing. (Republican Speaker of the House who temporarily steps in as President – adding that as I’m sure few here ever watched such a left leaning show.) He’s big, brash, far right and straight talking, and the liberal staff at the fictional Bartlet White House both admire and fear him. One memorable line from the episode, in the context of the urgent need to replace the VP – “In case you boys haven’t noticed, I’m one prime rib dinner away from sudden cardiac arrest.”
February 7th, 2013 at 11:22 am
Good analogy, TA.
That was one of the best, albeit brief, story arcs.
Should have made him a recurring character.
February 7th, 2013 at 12:01 pm
The doc is well certified.
Take that anyway you want.
My biggest fear for the last 4 years is that Barrys kids would watch him get his skull blown off.
Her nanny diet wont help you there buddy
Or they’d find him somewhere inside her enormous ass suffocated to death
February 7th, 2013 at 12:10 pm
Besides, I mean seriously.
Arent half the ass holes on the hill running on life support as it is ?
These morons never retire and choose to live at least the last year of their lives in some realm of reality.
There should be a mandatory age limit just so we dont have these Manchurian candidate appointees.
February 7th, 2013 at 1:57 pm
What is larger… Chris Christie or Michelle Obama’s ginormous booty?
February 10th, 2013 at 5:19 pm
I believe when Chris Christie is visiting that towns name is pronounced See Girth.
February 10th, 2013 at 5:23 pm
That doctor later complained that Christie yelled at her. She should consider herself lucky. If he had said he had a bone to pick with her then she’d have something to worry about. That can mean so many things coming from Chris Christie.
February 10th, 2013 at 8:14 pm
Obamas lips are so blue at times I’m surprised any blood gets to his head.