Does Bush display signs of mental illness?

[Renew Deal]

Poll question: Does Bush display signs of mental illness?

I would love it if some of the people here knew better could chime in.

[ugarte]

1. A classic narcissist

chosen by God.

[StClone]

2. Mental Health people

Is he delusional?

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

5. No.

Google "Malignant Narcissism". Not delusional in the DSM-IV sense.

On the other hand, his sense of self-worth far outpaces his actual worth, so a case can be made for some delusionally-affective behavior. ;-)

[belle]

25. Right, it's a personality disorder, not a psychosis.

Then again, you probably could've said much the same for Hitler, so. It depends what you mean by "insane." If you mean, as in hallucinations, some way that would stand up in a court of law--no, I don't think so. Alcohol-related dementia is probably as close as you'er going to come.

He's a mess, though. And I will say: sometimes it does happen that very narcissistic people lose their shit when their uh persona is popped. See: "Sunset Boulevard," "Streetcar Named Desire," "Network."

[Taeger]

16. Definitely a narcassist

He also has ADHD. Which isn't really bad (I have it). But you have to get a handle on it.

[morningglory]

20. I have ADHD, and I recognize the syndrome from personal

experience, but GeeZooPete, he is a retarded halfwit. I have a lot to be grateful for! I am a smart ADHD.

[alittlelark]

30. The effects of 20 years of Alcohol abuse, mixed w/? years of drug abuse

definately adds to the mix. There is no singular diagnosis. Narcissism is obvious, as is ADHD. He is in no way fit to lead a small corporation, much less the free world.

What is amazing is how few people see it.

[TahitiNut]

33. Archived thread about Smirk's NPD (per DSM-IV)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/cgi-bin/duforum/duboard.cgi?az=show_thread&om=25450&forum=DCForumID35&archive=

Remember ...
Smirk isn't the emperor - he's the clothes.

[lastknowngood]

3. Talks to God and God talks to him if a democrat had said that

he would be in an intuition by now.

[formactv]

6. I wonder what that is like...

being in an intuition.

[FlaGranny]

27. Not sure, but something would

probably come to mind. ;-)

[MoonRiver]

4. I think he has a variety of personality disorders, the most serious

of which is sociopathy.

[ugarte]

7. A textbook case

Narcissistic Personality

This personality type demonstrates a triad of vanity, exhibitionism, and arrogant ingratitude that involves an overall preoccupation with one's self. The narcissist often has delusions of grandeur in which he or she holds a very special role. Interestingly, narcissists are able to turn a mundane, ordinary world into one of excitement, where they play center stage in a cosmic battle.

Anyone who fails to attend to the narcissist's endless needs is deemed a threat and leads to an emotional explosion on the narcissist's part. On the other hand, anyone who provides constant positive acceptance and encouragement, even in the face of non-reality, is seen as "good."


Axis of evil...endless threats...yep, that's our boy.

[Hubert Flottz]

8. Yes But;

only the ones from a to z!

[DBoon]

9. Does he show evidence of drug-induced brain damage?

Anyone want to comment. This layperson says "yes", what is the professional's opinion?

[Deja Q]

10. Bush is Hitler on crack...

He's openly said he wants a dictatorship, and has made his faith-based as an example when he said "It's not a dictatorship in Washington, but I tried to make it one in that instance." (meaning, only right-wing CHRISTIAN faith-based entities can get gub'mint cheeze.)

He makes silly nonsensical rants...

Gawd, I hate talking of him. He isn't really worth anyone's time. Hurry up November.

[Taeger]

17. There is something good to confront Bush on ...

Democrats should make damn sure to bring this up in the general election. Point out all of the juicy bits of the "patriot act". Then let the American people decide.

[onehandle]

11. No. He's a Dry Drunk...

Not crazy, but not someone you want in the White House.

[DemLikr]

21. Alcoholism is pretty much recognized to be a mental/physical illness

so I think Bush* qualifies, even if he hasn't had a snort in the amount of time he claims.

[nolabels]

12. I am Undecided

For the reason that people that support this fool would have to be also at least in my thinking. That's the real scary part for me. When reality finally sets in, it will be a shocker for a some of these folks

[Terwilliger]

13. NO!

He's not mentally handicapped, he's just a child.

[Hubert Flottz]

14. Bush's mind is AWOL!

It matches his Morals!

[eleny]

15. He's a sociopath

[opihimoimoi]

18. Brain impaired from IAS and now, he is also a narcassant arrogant

asshole. Babs was heavy on the sauce.

[RichM]

19. He's more of a deluded fanatic. He doesn't seem to know he's lying.

Anyone who grasped the enormity of the lies he told today would have been petrified with fear. He didn't seem all that nervous, though he seemed half-aware that he was often on the defensive.

[Armstead]

22. He's just incredibly shallow and rigid

I'm always suspicious of at a distance psychology. But at the very least he is very shallow and rigid. It seems like once someone has implanted an idea or belief in him, he holds it unquestioningly, without thinking witn any nuance.

I also think he really has no intellectual curiousity. And doesn;t really pay attention.

It hit me out out of touch with events he is when Russert asked whether Iraq was a "war of choice" or a war of necessity."

Anyone who has been paying attention knows that is a key issue in the whole debate. And that phrase has been frequently used.

But Bush acted like that was a totlly new concept. He looked taken aback that anyone could even ask that question.

[FlaGranny]

31. For some reason, the word

"concrete" popped into my mind, so I looked it up. I believe it fits the *.

"concretization: Inability to abstract with an overemphasis on specific details; seen in mental disorders, such as dementia and schizophrenia, and also normally in children."

[JPace]

40. This was one of those excessive pauses that

actually made me wonder if he does have an
ear piece to get direction on how to answer
from Rove. I know that sounds far out there,
but when you see the look on AWOL's face
as he does those pauses it is as though
he is listening to someone else talk that
we cannot hear. I think he gets a few words
of direction which is enough to remind him
of practiced answers that he has down pat.

Something is going on during this interview
that is strange....if it is not an ear piece
than AWOL is acting even stranger than usual.

[citizen snips]

23. Bush is very mental.

That is why our country is so messed up.

[hobbes159]

24. From the DSM-IV -- Antisocial and narcissistic personality disorders...

Diagnostic Criteria for 301.7 Antisocial Personality Disorder

1. There is a pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others occurring since age 15 years, as indicated by three (or more) of the following:
   
   • Failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest
     Let's see, we've got a couple of DUI's, the cocaine and alcohol abuse, insider trading at Harken Energy... one could also include the 2000 election, but that was more of a group effort...
     
   • Deceitfulness, as indicated by repeated lying, use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure
     Oh, this one is a definate YES!
     
   • Impulsivity or failure to plan ahead
     Have you seen our budget lately? Or any post-war plans for Iraq?
     
   • Irritability and aggressiveness, as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults
     Hmmm, there was that fight with his dad when he had been out drinking... Nothing really reported since then. On the other hand, starting a war is pretty aggressive. And he's certainly irritable when people question him in public...
     
   • Reckless disregard for safety of self or others
     Hmmmm...
     
   • Consistent irresponsibility, as indicated by repeated failure to sustain consistent work behavior or honor financial obligations
     This one would be a big yes...
     
   • Lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another
     He certainly hasn't shown any remorse about all the people who've died in Iraq... and again, I see him mocking that soon to be executed woman...
   
   
2. The individual is at least 18 years
   
3. There is evidence of Conduct Disorder with onset before age 15 years
   There's some evidence of this, but we really don't know much about his childhood...
   
4. The occurrence of antisocial behavior is not exclusively during the course of schizophrenia or a manic episode

Diagnostic criteria for 301.81 Narcissistic Personality Disorder
A pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:

1. has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements)
   Yup, I think this matches...
   
2. is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love
   Tough to tell without actually interviewing his state of mind...
   
3. believes that he or she is "special" and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions)
   He claims that he was appointed by God, so yes here too...
   
4. requires excessive admiration
   This might explain why he only speaks at friendly venues, and has the Secret Service remove anyone that disagrees with him...
   
5. has a sense of entitlement, i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations
   
6. is interpersonally exploitative, i.e., takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends
   
7. lacks empathy; is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others
   Well, he sure doesn't know or care about problems anyone who earns under $100,000 a year might be dealing with, and remember his mocking of the woman he was going to have executed in Texas?
   
8. is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her
   Maybe not this one...
   
9. shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes
   I'd say yes on this one...

[belle]

26. Entitlement? the man DEFINES entitlement.

It's the only reason he's IN the damn White House in the first place. What happened after 9/11 was a grotesque mutation of the original narcissism.

The real key to spotting narcissists: the lack of empathy. It's more than just being unsympathetic to people with problems. It's a serious cognitive flaw: sort of similar to autism in this regard, in that the person can't or won't "mentalize"--that is, understand that other people are separate individuals, whose feeling and thinking processes are completely separate and different to the narcissist's. Bush sure fits this: he (along with most of his hand-picked administration--they're there for a reason, people) literally does not seem to understand what might be going on in other peoples' heads. To wit: his treatment of his erstwhile "allies" over the Iraq business, notably his last speech to the E.U. There's unbelievable arrogance and entitlement in asking for help after the way he dissed them; the really mind-boggling part for most of us--remember? --was that he didn't even seem to be embarassed, or somehow acknowledge that yeah, it *should* be embarassing that he treated these people like crap just months ago and now has to ask them for help. What probably happened: *he's* over how he treated them, why shouldn't they be? Why would they still be upset? He's not. Seriously.

Also just check his speech patterns: "I," "I," "I," "I," "I." Classic.

[Eric J in MN]

28. I don't like it when Republicans say Dean is "unbalanced." This is similar

We should criticize Republican policies without questioning their mental health.

That is how Republicans attack Democrats, and it's wrong.

[belle]

32. Oh purleeze.

There's a lot further to fall than idly speculating about *'s mental health, which is seriously worth discussion, considering some of the crackbrained decisions he's made. It's a lot more than yelling at the end of a bad day. Playing Girl Scout is not going to help here.

[knight_of_the_star]

29. No

He just has the IQ of a spit puddle.

[eileen_d]

34. As a person with mental illness, I find this insulting.

Please do not presume to diagnose anyone based on media appearances.

[dbt]

35. What is the term for "has no conscience?"

Whatever that word is, it fits bu$h neatly.

:freak:
dbt

[DemLikr]

38. That would be SOCIOPATH n/t

[dbt]

39. Thank you, DemLikr!

Nolthing like a brain fart on Sunday afternoon. WHISKEY!

:smoke:
db

[waywest]

36. A pathological liar.

nt

[RobinA]

37. I Vote No

Being a stupid, rich, brat isn't a mental illness, it's a life sentence. He probably does have some wires crossed neurologically, which is why he can't speak or read. This appears to be inherited, as Poppy exhibited similar, but milder, tendencies. I remember when Clinton was elected, the thing that I was most glad about was that we again had a president who could speak English.

[ComerPerro]

41. No, he is just a stupid, arrogant fuckhead

Ususally the dumber someone is, the more arrogant they tend to be. And nothing pisses me off more than blind arrogance.

Bush has got to be one of the stupidest people ever to live.

[Fridays Child]

42. Some of his behaviors are disturbingly sociopathic...

...in my reasonably-educated opinion.

[0007]

43. junior certainly doesn't act normal, I'd say he has a problem or two!!

[Malva Zebrina]

44. yes, Bush is insane

and no one will say it.

His wife thinks we are picking on him and is whining about that and others will not admit that he is indeed in the la la land of delusion re his messages from the god who tells him murdering people on a lie is exactly the right Christain thing to do

the entire administration that had to get there illigally in the first place is insane. They are all willing to jump on that bandwagon initially, but watch them all jump off that religion as Bush continues to rack up points that show him to be an absolute imebecile and an absolute idiot. Why, they will not support this idiot--after all, they have their FUDD to preserve.

He will be dropped like a ball of molten lead. He is stupid and not up to the task--those around him who may have a little bit more intelligence, will abandon him,even an Andrew Card will avoid being connected with an imbecile. He is way over his head and he cannot admit that he was chosen for his name and connections, even though he has an IQ of perhaps 100. They all saw it as an opportunity to advance themself. They will all go down with the sinking ship. They do not care because they will have established themselves as "connected" and will continue to make a whole lot of money after the Dauphine is taken out in shame and ignomy.

May he take his table cloth , frumpy, shawl wearing botoxed,fake and equally stupid, fat assed ,living off the people's money, leach of a wife who did little to return our money to us in any sort of a way,, back to his pig farm in Crawford, and may they both, along with their equally stupid twin progeny live a life of rich luxury poolside there forever, sipping on margueritas for the rest of their miserable lives.