By Bob Gaydos

What you see and hear is what you get.

  Kamala Harris is in excellent health and able to handle the stresses of the presidency.

    Donald Trump is not.

    How do I know? For one, I have eyes and ears. For two, I have a medical report from a licensed doctor. One report. From Harris’s doctor. Trump, although he said he would, has typically refused to provide one.

    Harris, who turns 60 on October 20, is also in full possession of her mental faculties. She talks in complete sentences, answers questions, basically walks and talks and behaves like a mature, intelligent woman in the prime of her life. Again, eyes and ears.

    Trump, 78, is old, but not good old. Not wise and thoughtful old. Not even curmudgeonly. He rambles, confuses people’s names, doesn’t answer questions, makes absurd statements about sharks and windmills and water faucets, insults and threatens people and calls Harris “retarded.“ Nasty, increasingly out of touch old.

    Harris released a detailed medical report from her physician last week. Instead of receiving it as a normal facet of a presidential campaign, some news media tried to portray it as her campaign trying to “take advantage” of Trump’s age.

         Excuse me? Are we living in the same universe? Are these the same people who until recently were reporting daily on Joe Biden‘s age-related “issues” to the point he withdrew from his presidential campaign in favor of his vice president?

        In the first place, politics is all about taking advantage of your opponent’s weaknesses. And Trump has plenty of them.

         In the second place, Biden was still, and is still, functioning as president in what appears to be a capable manner. That’s because he is smart, understands through experience how government works and cares about people. Trump is none of that. Never has been. Again, eyes and ears.

         Trump said in August he would “very gladly” release his medical records. Like his tax returns, they remain a secret from the American people he wants to vote for him for president. Trust him.

         Instead, his campaign chairman released a brief statement from Trump’s personal physician saying his patient was in “excellent” overall health. No details.

          The chairman also released two statements from Ronny Jackson, Trump’s former White House physician (remember the basic cognitive test Trump bragged about passing?) who treated Trump after he was shot at a rally in Pennsylvania and stayed with his campaign for a while. 

          Jackson, who was an admiral when he worked at the White House and still refers to himself as an admiral, is now a retired captain. The Navy busted him for unbecoming behavior, including excessive drinking, making passes at female employees and bullying staff. Also, taking Ambien, a sleep-aid drug, while on duty at the White House. This was all apparently sufficient reason for voters in Texas to elect him to a seat in Congress, with Trump’s backing.

          There’s also some question about Jackson’s medical license. His license in the state of Virginia expired in 2020. Jackson is still certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine, which allows him to provide emergency medical services only. His license in Florida is listed as “Military Active,” meaning he is only able to administer medical treatment at military facilities. Not Mar-a-Lago.

     So, one candidate, 59, has issued a thorough medical report from her doctor, giving her a clean bill of health to handle the job of president. She also walks and talks like one in public.

     The other, much older, candidate has issued a brief statement from a busted former Navy doctor with a drinking problem. He says the old guy is good to go.

      The 78-year-old (overweight) candidate spent a half hour at his most recent rally ignoring questions and just standing on stage swaying woodenly to music while occasionally throwing out an insult at some group of non-white people. Then he shuffled off.

         Eyes and ears, people. Take advantage.