Your opinion, please.

[H2O Man]

In all seriousness: Do you think George W. Bush is having a break-down?

A republican woman who was a guest on MSNBC yesterday said that no republicans in the House or Senate want to be associated with him right now, due to Iraq. She said that no foreign leaders support him. Republican weasal Jay Severen has called for Bush to resign or be impeached.

Since the November elections, he seems to be inhabiting a different (non)reality. I do not think that he has a major mental illness, but I think that the stress is causing him to appear rather irrational. His commnts on Iraq seem detached from reality.

Your opinion?

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. He's seemed irrational and detached from reality before

I don't know if it shows anything about him; perhaps the people who normally stage-manage his public appearances are in a bit of chaos, what with the sacking of Rumsfeld, the imminent publication of Baker's report, and more, and so they're distracted. I'd imagine there's a lot of infighting going on - is Rove sill in charge of political things, how much power can they afford to let Cheney have, who's probably even more unpopular than Bush, and so on.

[H2O Man]

2. My opinion ....

I don't think this guy ever learned that he could make mistakes, or be wrong. I don't think that he has ever been held responsible for his actions. Add to that his having a common experience when he quit partying years ago, that he interpreted as signifying that he alone was "choosen," and his sick form of christianity .... the "God picked me to be president at this time in history" thing.

Now, his central action as president is a dismal failure, and even his daddy can't save him. There was a time when he took pride in having the democratic left dislike him intensely. Today, the majority of the country shares more of the democratic left's views on the war in Iraq, than share his.

A few people spoke about his being stuborn, and how that is now offending even his former moderate republican supporters. I think he is beginning to channel the spirit of the Richard Nixon that paced the halls late at night, conversing with paintings on the walls.

[Binka]

10. He Is A Malignant Narcissist Who Has Lost His Supply

He got most of that SUPPLY with his post 9/11 manufactured approval ratings and a fawning press. Now that he has ZERO credibility and others are distancing themselves he has no SUPPLY. He will break soon. I predict we will see a meltdown after the new Congress is installed.

Good read on NPD here:

http://www.halcyon.com/jmashmun/npd/index.html

[H2O Man]

13. Yes.

I agree.

[CoffeeCat]

68. "Supply"...

That is a powerful word. I've seen "supply" used to describe what keeps the psychopath going. They
power up and dehumanize others, which gives them "supply". It is their sustenance.

You're right. Junior obtained a great deal of "supply" from the election, his poll numbers and from
powering up on Congress members. How many stories did we hear about BushCo using intimidation and
bullying to garner votes?

Now, he has no power or credibility. He couldn't intimidate a mouse now. His source of "supply" is
gone.

He'll need something on which to run his sickness. If she doesn't get it--as you said--there will be
a meltdown.

These types are propped up by their "supply" and if it drains---we'll see exactly what H20 described---
discombobulation, stress and confusion.

It's pretty sick that we have a leader like this.

[Horse with no Name]

75. Sick...but not surprising

Many pegged this guy's mental illness years ago. When mentioned to others that supported him at the time, we were villified.
However, the thing that worries me most is that he received much of his "supply" from the events of 911.
People of this nature tend to repeat things that work.
For those who say that it won't happen again on his watch are mistaken.
IF there is an opportunity, it will happen. It's like crack. He HAS to have that adulation that he had. He craves it. And, if he is true to form, he will make it happen if there is anyway possible.

[CoffeeCat]

158. That's very true...

Don't you get the sense that he's discombobulated due to DESPERATION?

He seems direction-less. Like you said, a 9/11-type event, would help him
find that direction. He'll be in control of the frightened masses once
again--knee deep in "supply".

What you said makes sense, and I would not be surprised to see a LIHOP
situation happen within the next year.

I get the feeling that Junior has an outrageous sense of entitlement. He
will not stand for taking a back seat to the Democratic Congress. He
feels he is entitled to having his own way and doing what he wants. I don't
think he knows how to operate any other way. He doesn't know how to
communicate, negotiate or engage in diplomacy. He only knows how to
control and bully. He wont' be able to control the Congress, and I
don't see him tolerating that dynamic.

I agree with you. I really wouldn't be shocked if some cataclysmic
event happened--that could have been prevented.

[GymGeekAus]

160. Like the deaths of 600,000 Iraqis?

Like some sort of demented crusade?

Bush was mentally ill long ago.

[Horse with no Name]

164. I am not sure desperate is the word.

He is nothing more than an addict seeking his next fix, with the exception that he has traded the silver spoon for power and adoration.
I'm sure what is happening now feels to him like a windstorm blowing his cocaine away. Like any addict, he WILL find a way to get it back. The only tried and true thing he knows is 911.
I honestly think dangerous times are ahead as well. Except I think that the next LIHOP/MIHOP will shock him because he won't receive the same political capital he gained last time. It will bring his Presidency to its knees.
That will be his breaking point.

[marions ghost]

90. ditto

His handlers are having a heckuva job right now, keeping up the delusions of grandeur. Narcissists without supply are like fish gasping for water. Agreed. He could snap.

[WinkyDink]

135. ITA. Especially the "malignant" part. Finally he is experiencing what he's inflicted

upon the world, as his psychic disease consumes him.

[mzmolly]

142. Indeed.

Not to sound cliche' - but as they say "nail, meet hammer." ;)

[Bobbie Jo]

147. Yes...Yes...Yes...!

I concur with your diagnosis. Having seen NPD up close and personal, Smirk has it written all over him....textbook case. You nailed it alright.

Makes the hair on the back of my neck stand on end....

[zippy890]

85. He is afraid and angry - check this out

http://jeffrey-feldman.dailykos.com/

interesting analysis - based on bush's body language

"The President of the United States was the very image of fear in this Amman press conference. And that image of fear was more revealing than any words coming out of President Bush's mouth, today."

[H2O Man]

88. Yep.

Very interesting! There are people who "do fear" by getting puffed up and trying to be Mr. Tough Guy. Bush is one of them.

[Rockholm]

129. He is a dry drunk. Classic DRY DRUNK.

Unless, he is drinking. Then he is just a plain old drunk. When one quicks drinking and then resumes, the drinker picks up where they left off. From there, a rapid descent. My guess, he has not reached his bottom yet (and I don't Guckert/Gannon)

[WildEyedLiberal]

150. Do you think he still drinks and/or abuses drugs?

I do. I think he definitely still drinks, at least.

[Cooley Hurd]

3. There's speculation that he won't take the advice of the ISG...

...when the report is released next week; that he's going to "stay the course." :banghead: What happens then? Will the cabal "take him out of the game?"

I think he's very near, if not surpassed, his "talking to portraits" stage.

On the subject of the ISG: I've been noticing a growing trend among the corporate media to say it's led by Lee Hamilton (leaving Baker's name out of it). My speculation on this is that the ISG will be calling for immediate withdrawal of forces, and want to pin this "cut and run" on a Democrat, NOT a Republican. Keep an eye on how they're increasingly referring to the ISG as "Lee Hamilton's group."

[H2O Man]

8. Interesting.

I saw an article in TIME that said there were significant differences of opinion within the ISG. Your point seems on target. A few tv pundits have noted that Bush is a politician, and as such, had publicly stated he was keeping Rumsfeld on, right up to the day he got rid of him. They said Bush might well be doing his "we're staying the course" routine, right up to when the report is officially delivered. I think the big difference is that in firing Rumsfeld, he was simply blaming someone else for his errors. Changing the Iraq policy in a serious way would be admitting that he has erred. I do not think he has that ability.

[Cooley Hurd]

49. This morning on CNN, Frank Sesno said the talk inside the beltway...

...is that Bush will defy the ISG recommendations. Reasoning & conventional wisdom behind this is that if Bush accepts the ISG's recommendation to withdraw, he's basically scrapping his legacy (by admitting the Iraq war - the centerpiece of his admin - was a mistake).

Another update from CNN: Barbara Starr is travelling w/ US forces in Iraq right this minute and she's saying they're preparing to accelerate handover of security to Iraqi forces, as per the ISG's recommendations. A big ol' WTF here if 43 is still planning to defy the ISG's recommendations. Something VERY strange is going to transpire in the next few days - a coup against 43 by 41's men???:wow:

[maine_raptor]

55. See my post #29

I think you may be on to something. :thumbsup:

[seemslikeadream]

97. That's what I was thinking

James Baker just did a Barry Goldwater on georgie, BUT
georgie was not asked to resign, oh no he was just told you are no longer in charge, JAMES BAKER III GROUP is taking over.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=2723350#2723780

[in_cog_ni_to]

63. "led by Hamilton"...I noticed that too

and thought the same exact thing. Since the recommendation will be to pullback/redeploy/withdrawal, calling the ISG "Lee Hamilton's" gives the WH and the repukes the spin they need (we won't cut and run) when they don't accept it....which they had NO INTENTIONS OF DOING ANYWAY. The idiot has his own group looking at Iraq :eyes: and they will be the "stay the course" puppet group he will listen to...led by a repuke, no doubt. ALL of this is nothing but a Pony Show.

[leftchick]

4. He is certainly on some meds

And they aren't working for him. His speech is just so screwed up I am sure that has to be from medication. He does look and sound especially bad these days so you could very well be right about the breakdown.

[Cooley Hurd]

7. It's stunningly obvious that there's something wrong with him...

:scared:

[malaise]

5. W has been a basket case

for ages.

[snappyturtle]

6. I disagree......

I think he does have a major mental illness. When human beings dis-associate from reality they are very ill. I think he's delusional....I'm series!

[H2O Man]

11. There are certain types

of very rigid personality types that become mildly psychotic under stress. I think that he has that type of personality disorder. But that is different than a person who suffers from a schizophrenic disorder, for example.

I agree with the delusional part. When he has been talking in front of the cameras in the past week, it seems evident that his brain isn't working properly.

[snappyturtle]

22. Psychosis and delusion entertwined:

One entry found for psychosis.


Main Entry: psy·cho·sis
Pronunciation: sI-'kO-s&s
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural psy·cho·ses /-"sEz/
Etymology: New Latin
: fundamental derangement of the mind (as in schizophrenia) characterized by defective or lost contact with reality especially as evidenced by delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized speech and behavior

This is from Merriam-Webster on line dictionary.......and fits bush to a "T"...imho.

[cali]

9. It's a good question.

He's always lived in a bubble- never traveled prior to the Presidency, had doors swept open for him throughout his life; in short, the guy has never experienced total and abject failure before. It must be exceedingly hard to keep that bubble intact. And he's not a thinker by nature. So although it's easy to make the case that he's always been detached from reality, I do suspect that it's gotten much worse. Yeah, there's a serious case to be made that the guy is in the throes of some kind of breakdown.

[H2O Man]

24. There have been times

when he has simply been flat, like the first debate with Kerry. And other times when he just seems confused, angry, or like an obnoxiously spoiled brat. But recently, he seems different. My wife, who is not particularly interested in politics, but who has over 20 years experience as a clinician, was watching him with me earlier this week. And she said that he didn't look like he was doing well. I know that the amount of travel that he has been doing can tire someone his age out, but seems to be more than that.

[Virginia Dare]

47. He's had failures, but he's always been shielded from them...

this time his failure is extremely public in nature, and not easily swept under the rug.

[H2O Man]

58. I remember Nixon retreating

and staying hidden. The nature of the media doesn't really allow that to take place these days.

[emald]

163. I believe that gw knows he's an abject failure, in his heart of hearts

and knowing this leads him to want badly to show his daddy and the world that he can too! do it just like the big boys. But, like most cowards, he knows down deep that he just doesn't have what it takes to succeed, at anything, because failure is his built in mode. He knows what he wants to be but can't get there. Our country is in bad danger right now with this disturbed individual calling the shots.

[druidity33]

170. what about Arbusto?

The man has CERTAINLY attained abject failure before, it's just a question of if any of his handlers has ever let him know it. He's NEVER had to dig himself out of the hole of one of his failures. The poor dawg is very afraid right now, blathering meaninglessly to anyone who'll listen.

He's guilt of behaving like one who has the moral ineptitude and indignancy of defending a heinous act and knowing he'll be condemned for it, but not "knowing" what he did wrong... imagine a squealing Gollum just before heading into the fire at Mt Doom. That's how i envision 43 ending.

One can dream right?

[Swamp Rat]

12. I hope the republicans get around to impeaching him sometime soon.

edit: :D

[madokie]

20. I think the Dem's can't go in calling for impeachment,

and they have said the investigations will begin and when the knowledge of what has been going on comes out the American people will demand that they impeach him. Americans have awaken and they are grumpy this early in the day, methinks.

I'll never be able to look at my beloved Stihl chainsaw the same again, damn and I liked that saw.

[mopinko]

93. ding, ding, ding

i think we have a winner. i think that is exactly the plan.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

14. He's on CSPAN now. He DOES look stressed out.

His speachifying, whorating patterns are even stranger:

"We must - - - ACCELLERATE (smirk, pause, stare blankly) - - - the process of turning over power to this democratically elected man."
As though that was a gem of such outstanding water and color, that it was worthy of a king's ransom.

[blogslut]

15. No diagnosis

But I do have theory. I believe the man suffered several small strokes not long after 9/11, beginning with the "pretzel" incident.

I base this on pure conjecture and the fact that his speech and coping skills have deteriorated over the years. I think Bush is physiologically incapable of handling the job of President and as his condition worsens, his handlers/doctors are less able to conceal his condition with drugs and staged appearances. I believe he is often neurologically confused and always clinically depressed.

[Buttercup McToots]

16. Our Commander In Chief

is NUTS...:crazy:

[blogslut]

19. Could be that

Still, Bush was once a fairly decent speaker - or at least, a coherent one. People get better with practice, not worse.

Something is wrong. It may be a mental health issue. It may be the alcoholism. It could be my wee theory. It could be a little of each. :)

[Hepburn]

66. I saw that YOUTUBE vid comparing a debate he was in...

...when he ran for gov of TX and with one of his speeches that he gave fairly recently ~~ like two different people. It seems when someone is going downhill steadily, it is not so noticeable as it goes along until it comes to a point like Bush appears to be at the present time ~~ clearly evidencing that something is wrong with himself. When there is a comparison made of something fairly far in the past with the present, the decline is then immediately seen in that comparison.

He was NOT the same man in those two speech clips IMO.

[AbbyR]

112. Can he be forced to have a complete physical and mental evaluation? (nft)

[blogslut]

115. He probably has been evaluated

The problem is, they probably keep those records secret.

[cassiepriam]

173. Yes I agree... nt

[zeemike]

17. I am not qualified to give a diagnoses but

If I were a betting man I would bet that he is an alcoholic for one. I have had enough experience with them to be able to spot the characteristics of one.
But you are right that something has changed in him.
The kicker for me was when he fired Rummy the day after the election. That is such an impulsive move in light of the fact he had just said Rummy was in it for the long run.
I think that he will be happy when a new pres takes office and he can retire to the ranch and drink himself to sleep in privacy.

[Dora]

83. He's the not-so-dry dry drunk.

He put away the bottle, but kept the affliction. Many here believe he fell off the wagon long ago.

[Me.]

18. I Think Absolute Power

Has corrupted his absolutely. Shades of Nixon skulking around the WH, building fires in the summer while having the AC on. More important, perhaps, is the question, has he/is driving all of us insane? I was watching him in his adamant wilfulness yesterday standing at the podium saying "we're staying in Iraq until we get the job done" and I found myself saying aloud to the television, "Who do you think you are?"

[H2O Man]

28. I remember LBJ

calling Vietnam "that bitch of a war," as if it were a mistress who had betrayed him.

[Me.]

60. Perhaps An Ego That Would

convince a person they should be the leader of the free world indicates some form of insanity based on narcissism. There are, naturally, exceptions to this, the Roosevelt's, JFK, Carter, Lincoln being a few examples. But the flip side of the coin has presented us with nigh mares. Men drunk with power, craven creatures who lost their moral bearings. And while I wouldn't say LBJ was insane there was a dark side there and by the time he left office he certainly was demoralized to say the least.

[eridani]

159. Maybe you get only one politically courageous decision per presidency

LBJ knew that signing the Civil Rights Act would make the Repubs into the White Man's Party, but he did it anyway because it was right. Too bad he wasn't up for making the same kind of courageous decision about Vietnam.

[KharmaTrain]

21. Life In The Bubble - Welcome To DenialWorld

Remember, this oxygen thief revels in not reading newspapers and "listening to a higher power". When he was popular that was the "charming" side...that he was his "own man" and "what a leader does". He and his henchmen couldn't spew out that spin fast enough and it was to cover up the manchild's obvious lack of knowledge or interest in most issues...other than the bare surface.

The boy lives in an isolated, detached world from the rest of us...except now this isn't a "charming" trait but indicative of how disconnected, ignorant and arrogant, not only he is but the enablers that surround him. He's created his own "reality" that was spinnable when it was mostly hypothetical, but now after 6 years of imposing his "reality" on the rest of us, the failures are too many, the lies too far gone and the inability to compromise or even show compassion are creating a downslide...and the ironic thing...he, nor his enablers...really understand what's happening.

I don't think it's a breakdown rather than a tantrum. In boooshworld, the election was not a repudiation of 6 years of mismanagement and corruption, but some personal attack on him...and he's responding like an 8 year old. It's his war and we better let him fight that war or he'll hold his breath. It's nothing he's done that's created this mess...it's "the media" or the "terrorists" or some other boogieman/strawman that he and the wingnuts have created and honestly think such a thing exists.

Breakdown? Nothing more than "Delusional As Usual". And, honestly, let him continue down this path...it'll destroy his corrupt party once and for all and fulfill something I could only dream about a year ago...relegating the GOOP to minority status for years, possibly decades to come.

Sad thing is this boy will continue to live in his bubble world...money and power trump reality every time.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

23. I don't think he has ever been mentally stable

From what I have read about his past, he does things that get him into trouble (to prove he's a man, I guess), then he gets into trouble and others bail him out. Having never had to get himself out of his own messes, he's always been delusional because I truly think he believes that everything he has done was perfectly ok. That's what happens when you never have to face the consequences of your actions. But now, even Pappy can't help him all that much--and there isn't another Board of Directors who will take him on because he "needs the work". So his delusions of everything he has done being OK have become greater and greater. He literally doesn't know how to handle the situation, and so he's coming unglued. I wouldn't doubt for an instant he is back abusing drugs, which in my book includes alcohol.

[H2O Man]

26. Yeah.

I definitely agree that he has not been a healthy, well-adjusted person. And you are correct about his behaviors.

The unglued part seems more evident lately. Those who are unable to admit they make mistakes, and who lack the ability to accept responsibility for their actions, tend to project .... and I was reminded not only of Nixon, but also of the paranoid behavior exhibited by LBJ in '67 and '68, when he believed he was right about the war, and that others were at fault.

Odd time in history.

[Tatiana]

25. It is mental illness, exacerbated by aloholism and drugs.

He should be impeached and even members of his own party realize this. Joe Scarborough went on a crazy rampage against Bush last night saying "he stands alone."

As Nancy Pelosi said (and I believe she was very truthful), Bush is DANGEROUS.

He needs to be removed from office. He isn't even capable of rational thought or understanding.

[H2O Man]

27. I wonder

what the people around him are thinking. I know that with LBJ, some of the guys like Bill Moyers knew he was becoming ill. And with Nixon, there were times when a few administration officials carried on with business without including him.

[Patsy Stone]

37. I think he's always been "handled"

Let out of the box for photo-ops and moments when the US "President" needed to appear. I agree with your assessment in the second post, and, as such, the "handlers" knew they needed to be more cautious as the administration progressed. Now, however, it seems to me that no one's in charge over there. As an example I offer the recent trip to Vietnam. That was a PR disaster in the making. How could it possibly improve his image to be seen in a country which would remind people that he never served and that the US lost that war and that it seems very much like Iraq today? Who's idea was this? Certainly not anyone with a lick of political savvy.

In other words, I don't think he's changed -- he's as crazy and sheltered and intellectually lazy as ever. I think those keeping him in check have either given up or left.

[Tatiana]

73. Good point about LBJ. I also think Reagan is another example.

I'm sure we can expect more decisions to come from James Baker, with Bush looking clueless as to what is happening with Iraq policy.

At this point, I don't think they are even bothering to prep Bush anymore. All the leaks (especially the Hadley memo) are being directed by someone else (Bush Sr.?).

What the real people in power don't understand is that, for the sake of appearances, Bush *IS* president. And he's a loose cannon. There's no telling what disastrous decision he might decide to make on his own (and you KNOW how he is about pride). He's doesn't have a classic narcissistic personality, but he certainly exhibits the worst traits.

This is a very dangerous person and we need to get rid of him (and Cheney).

[elehhhhna]

50. the cheese stands alone. bush is the cheese.

[maine_raptor]

29. 25th Amendment, Paragraph 4.

"4. Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.

Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty eight hours for that purpose if not in session. If the Congress, within twenty one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session, within twenty one days after Congress is required to assemble, determines by two thirds vote of both Houses that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the President shall resume the powers and duties of his office."



Anybody wanna bet that ain't being passed around in the Halls of Congress these days?


Edit for Emphasis

[SmokingJacket]

30. He's really hollering at people lately.

He's always been a confused ass, but lately when I hear him speak he sounds like he's about ready to tear someone's head off.

[H2O Man]

33. Right.

There is a very angry edge to him recently. And he definitely is one of those people who thinks that yelling makes him somehow more correct.

[texpatriot2004]

31. It's untreated Alcoholism...it's a disease of DELUSION -

The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous gives great insight on many of his problems.

[H2O Man]

35. I agree.

A lot of his issues are related to this.

[lonestarnot]

32. My opinion.

I think that if he were subjected to a round of psychological testing that the tests would indicate that he is unfit to be running a country, let alone the United States.

[evilgenius602]

117. oh please, is his last name was anything but bush

the highest station in life this guy could expect is assistant football coach at Crap State.

[H2O Man]

124. Local dog catcher

would be too much responsibility.

[Annces]

131. Our local dog catcher is also a wildlife rehabilitator

He just drove 1000 miles south to release some cranes.

:-)

[diane in sf]

167. Bush's Career Options

I've always felt that if he wasn't born into this family and he was high-functioning he would have been selling real estate or investment schemes--low-functioning, he would either be dead or if semi-dried-up running the midnight shift at Jack-in-the-Box.

[lonestarnot]

171. Welcome to DU

:toast:

[jhain]

34. How The Hell Can We Tell??

What *is* the difference??????

Come on- the only difference is that his own people are just as sick of him as we have always been and they are leaving him twisting in the wind.

He is NO different.

[H2O Man]

38. I respectfully disagree.

I don't think that the only difference is that his own people are sick of him. The difference between the George W. who pranced about on the ship, declaring the war in Iraq was done and won, and the George W. who insists we will remain in Iraq until the mission is complete, isn't limited to what his own people think.

[jhain]

81. I agree with your disagreement

I agree there is a difference in his behavior yet I believe the difference in *behavior* stems from the fact that he is not being as HANDLED as he is was during all the years previous. The handlers no longer give a flying f*ck. Their 'work here is done'. They have their oil, they have their water rights, their billions and billions in military contracts. Their coup was more successful than even they could have imagined. They do not even blink at the election results. Who cares about elections? Their monkey was never elected and look what His Little Furriness I Could Drink A Beer With Him has done for them. They are quite pleased and in being so pleased are finished with him. They can not even be bothered to set up a photo op on the lawn with a puppy as they did on the Almighty Shock & Awe Day.

So, he is twisting...and foundering... and maybe even getting a glimmer of life on the outside of the bubble. And we have to watch as his true colors bleed through.

[Mme. Defarge]

137. Bingo!

That's my take on it. Even though he has no capacity for self-reflection, at some level he is internalizing the entire world's hostility toward him. This has got to be bewildering and crazy-making. He's a cornered animal and his choices are either fight or flight.

Those behind the scenes can silently agree that their real mission has been accomplished. Not that they wouldn't prefer to hang onto power into perpetuity, but, irregardless, they will be wallowing in their ill-gotten gains for a long time to come.

[xiamiam]

54. exactly..the only difference now is that the rats are jumping ship

scurrying to save their own necks...and the same crap that they supported and idealized is now being called delusional...what is delusional is that people like scarborough think that i will ever forget his loyal devotion to this madman and the policies of this administration...i think this president and these policies did us all a huge favor, by exposing the sheep who will follow and celebrate anyone in power regardless of their immoral or illegal actions...i remember every person who had the indecency to debate in favor of torture on national tv...i remember every pundit and politician who kissed his ass and now is trying to distance themselves..i remember every lame brained congress person who says they believed the lies of this administration which led us into iraq....i also remember those whose moral compass could not be fooled....
i know very few personally who ever believed any of his crap...and the ones who did, well, i just feel sorry for them and dont really trust their judgement any longer...* is, was, and always will be and arrogant bullying incompetent jerk....nothing has changed except for those who have now seen the light!!...which they would not have seen if the republicans had won the election ..the looming investigations, war profiteering, and lies would mean nothing and conyers and committee would still be facing locked doors and holding hearings in the basement...but thats all changed now and * is delusional...he has always been delusional and dangerous..

[roody]

70. Exactly! Thank you.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

36. This picture, taken during his APEC follies, is, for me, the scariest and most revealing.

The most hated man in the world.



MKJ

[maine_raptor]

40. Yipes!!!!

Why do I feel like it just got about 30 degrees colder in this room?

Those coal-black eyes...........

Thank God I didn't see this just before bedtime.

[Mme. Defarge]

139. I think some of the footage of him

in Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 911 was very chilling. Perhaps it was some kind of camera distortion, but there were scenes where he actually looked 2-dimensional, as well as malevolent.

[pdxmom]

39. I see him as a spoiled, petulent child who isn't getting his way. The

more he is told "no", the more he digs in his heels. I don't see it as a mental illness, but I see it as an adult tantrum, similar to what I saw from my kids when they were 6. He may be responding with more adult reactions and words, but I see the root of his behavior as more child-like, refusing to accept reality and just sticking out his lip and refusing to budge.

[H2O Man]

57. Interesting.

A large part of human behavior involves how we learn to get our needs met. And that, of course, usually starts within the context of our families. In a healthy family, children learn the skills to achieve goals by way of positive behaviors. Even good kids will, of course, have bad days. As parents, we do not give in to ill behaviors, because we do not want them to have the belief that pouting, shouting, or being a brat will help them get their own way.

Children in unhealthy families learn to get their needs met in other ways. I agree fully that George presents as a spoiled child. What is important about this is that when a kid with these behaviors brings them to the larger world -- usually starting in school -- they often find that they are not able to get their needs met in the same way. Some kids learn to adjust, wil others don't. Because of his parents' wealth and power, George never had to lear other skills.

When adults have those unhealthy ways of relating to the outside world, it's known as a personality disorder. It's not a mental illness in the same sense as a bipolar or schizophrenic disorder. And there can be biological influences, especially in cases of anxiety and depression. But in many cases, it's simply a behavioral disorder.

Most of us have encountered people with personality disorders in our personal lives, at work, etc. As it isn't based upon intelligence, those with such disorders can often appear very successful in life. In some cases, they become the president of a company, or ven a country.

What presents a real problem is when they don't get those needs met. Then we are faced with how they deal with frustration, anger, and failure. When one adds unresolved addiction-related issues into the mix, it can migrate into different diminsions. I think George is in one of those separate realities now.

[pdxmom]

104. I would agree with your analysis. I see him at the desparate, explosive

stage. How many times have we seen our own children, before they learn otherwise, behave in an almost manic way, to try to get what they want? They wear themselves out acting this way. The more they are denied, the more desparate they become, until they explode in a full-blown tantrum.

This is where I see Bush at this point. He's being irrational, saying any and everything in desparation to get everyone to agree with him. He will soon hit the full-blown tantrum, if that hasn't already occurred out of public view. What he will do when he reaches this stage is what scares me the most. I don't anticipate him just winding down...he's going to bottom out first.

[KarenS]

157. Add wealthy to that mix of spoiled & petulant,,,,

He's never really worked for anything,,, He's always been bailed out of problems & failures,,,, He is part of the "entitled" group.

I do agree though that he's gotten worse,,,, he seems to be teetering on the edge,,, When he 'loses it', I hope it's on live teevee,,,

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

41. Auth's cartoon today seems to be going right along with this

thread. Here's a link to it at yahoo comics:

http://news.yahoo.com/edcartoons/tonyauth

[spanone]

42. An elected official who defies the will of the people leaves the people no choice.

REMOVAL FROM OFFICE.

[H2O Man]

86. I agree.

His rantings about staying in Iraq as long as they want us is either totally irrational or totally dishonest. Every poll shows that at least 70% of Iraqis want the US out. Even a republican fool like Jay Severen has stated quite clearly that Bush needs to either resign or be impeached.

[Senator]

43. He's been drunk occassionally ... more so when travelling

If he was ever on the wagon, he's currently off. Or at best dragging along behind by a rope.

Yes, this was Nixon as well. Yes, this is dangerous. Not merely to himself and those around him, but not in the "gosh, he'll blow up the world" sense either. I'm not sure it even makes him more embarrassing to the nation than usual.

His public crimes, both domestic and international, far outweigh any of his personal failures/deficits.

All the more reason to impeach his as quickly as possible. Before they see the political advantage of his "(whispered) mental incapacity."

Don't think for a second that they have a microgram of shame that would stop them from evading accountability with even the lamest story they think they could foist on the public.

--

[Virginia Dare]

48. I read a quote by Nancy Dickerson recently...

as quoted in her daughter's new book about her. Apparently she received a late night phone call from Tricky Dick one night, and after she got off she told her husband, something to the effect, he wasn't drunk, but I would feel better if he was.

[Mme. Defarge]

140. Oh my!

[Pithy Cherub]

44. Bush & Cheney are daring republicans

to impeach them. They can't believe the free ride to absolute power is over. We're watching it live. President Pelosi anyone?

[H2O Man]

87. There seems to be

some mighty odd dynamics. I still find the Hadley "leak" curious. Do you think that Cheney or Rice instructed him to leak that? I can't believe Hadley would do that unless instructed to. And I can see very different reasons Dick or Condi would do that.

[Pithy Cherub]

107. The vested interest question

is disturbing me greatly. My opinion, it was no accident that it was leaked. The memo also refers to spying on Maliki and it seems like it was a shot across the bow directly to Maliki as if they were losing control of him.

Then on C-SPAN this morning there was an AP article that Brian Lamb read directly from with a unique perspective stating the snub of Bush had to do with Sunni King of Jordan overhearing what he said to Bush since he is Shi'a and that this portends the beginning of the regional factionalizing, nothing to do with Bush. The memo leak may have gotten out in front and they outsmarted themselves by of all people pulling some strings al Sadr by not anticipating that it was a wider regional issue. Meanwhile the ISG says by 2008 and Maliki is saying he can stand up "troops"/al Sadr's militia????, by June.

Second slight of hand by Bush administration is that they use the words troops/stand up for both the police force and the new Iraqi army. That is not clear to me and i should probably do some more close reading but its as if they are used interchangebly.

The leak also may have been meant for the ISG to say they were notwithout there own resources that they are not sharing with ISG and so therefore any judgment they come to is moot. (That I can sincerely believe Cheney is behind.) The disappointment I have with the msm right now is that ALL of them are going simplistic and forgetting how this works for infighting. The Titans Cheney & Baker are on opposite sides and have weaponry (leaks etc.,), then there is protection of sources and methods for whatever purpose that Cheney has had access to. IIRC, Negroponte used to work for Jim Baker's State Department, soooo... Then you have Gates & Rummy. Baker drew first blood by getting Rummy removed. Bush/Cheney may be trying to coopt Gates by saying if on this team here's how the loyalty part works. It's all swirling in my head right now, and that's just the little parts. Hope it makes a modicum of sense. Just not sure, but there is a lot going on beneath the surface.

[H2O Man]

125. There is, indeed.

What I think is fascinating is that when a group of DUers such as the old "Plame Threads" team tosses things around a bit, we usually come pretty close to the mark.

I find the timing of Cheney's trip to Saudi Arabia of interest, as a piece of this puzzle. I suspect that a faction in the US wants to take out this young al Sadre fellow, and they are anticipating an ugly reaction. I could be wrong.

[Pithy Cherub]

132. nope, you are not wrong.

That's why they were to cute by half in leaking that memo. Who says al sadr doesn't have the strength to mount a coup since Maliki is only in office due to al sadr forming a coalition with him. The Bushies are up the creek with out a show pony if Maliki resiigns under duress or a terrorist faction takes him out. Though if you really want to go :tinfoilhat: - a black op by pick your state actor who takes him out and blames it on al Sadr thereby giving the US permission to seek redress under terms Americans may be ok with, yikes. Just sayin'...

The House of Saud pobably set that up through Prince Bandar who has his fingers in many pies. Next Cheney is all about the oil and needing to find a replacement source should Iraqi oil be denied to the US. And what did the House of Saud ask for in exchange - that is the very scary part. Plus a certain high profile trial is starting during the first of the year... Just so much and from the Plame threads you are right - we probably are all aghast that it is now even more complex which means the average joe has no clue.

You should do a recap, hint, hint, super hint!;)

[H2O Man]

133. I would suggest

that people look to see when the last time the old Saudi intelligence chief, Prince Turki, was in Washington, DC.

[Pithy Cherub]

134. This month and on C-SPAN no less.

He delivered the first message and me thinks it had lots to do with Afghanistan as well...

[H2O Man]

136. Yes.

I saw that. Everything is being done in a regional approach today.

[trof]

45. Simple answer: Yes.

I think he's in complete denial.
And I really think he's unfit for duty.
I mean even more than before.

[H2O Man]

89. Right.

I think there is a decline since late October.

[Virginia Dare]

46. Yes, but not wholly unexpected in my view...n/t

[Richard Steele]

51. No major breakdown, just continuing the gradual slide we've seen for years now.

Perhaps people are noticing and commenting on it more often lately,
but it's certainly not a new development. He has been losing
cognitive function for quite some time now.

[H2O Man]

92. It would seem

that those near him must be aware of this. There is a section in James Carroll's "House of War" about Kissinger and James Schlesinger recognizing that Nixon was so impaired, that they took over the executive responsibilities. There are fascinating details in the pages 350-360, if I remember correctly. I've wondered to what extent this Baker business would move in that direction? And will the OVP create a conflict?

[Richard Steele]

109. I think they are very aware, and their actions show it.

We all know that B*sh has virtually been kept in
a bubble during his presidency. Every possible ploy
has been used to avoid any unplanned contact with
the public. Every audience he speaks to is handpicked;
every question is pre-approved, every photo-op is carefully
staged and choreographed to a degree previously unseen in any democracy.

Heck, not even members of Congress are allowed past the WH gate
without an appointment and an (R) after their name.

Many have chalked this isolation up to his arrogance and
elitist hubris, but I think it actually serves to conceal
his mental/physical condition. A condition which his handlers
clearly feel must be concealed at almost any cost.

And, I think my hypothesis explains some of the behaviors
and attitudes that we DO get to see.

Consider that he may not have the capacity to even REALIZE
that he lives in a bubble, isolated from reality, interacting
only with handlers and yes-men.

A lot of his behavior makes more sense if you consider the possibilty
that he TRULY BELIEVES that he is an effective and popular President,
that the majority of the Public supports him and his policies,
and that only a tiny vocal minority of lunatic-fringe radicals are in
opposition to him.

He believes this because EVERYONE he ever speaks with
TELLS him so, every day. And when he occasionally sees
or hears some evidence to the contrary, he doesn't really
UNDERSTAND it, so one of his inner circle kindly "explains"
it to him and gets him back on track again.

[H2O Man]

126. Very well said.

I agree.

[Richard Steele]

141. Thanks. That's very VALIDATING to hear, coming from you. nm

[ms liberty]

52. Yes I do...

It's interesting that you ask this question now; after watching the clip of *Bush on Countdown last night I said to mr liberty that I felt like we were watching *Bush have a breakdown in slow motion. Every time I see him he's a little bit worse - a little more strident and shrill, a little more incoherent, a little more disconnected from reality. He seems to be barely hanging on. I agree that the stress is a major cause of his current condition.

We know he has father issues, and seems to have spent much of his life trying to best or one-up his father. How devastating it must be for him to be faced with the fact that not only has he NOT triumphed in this, but is now having to be 'rescued' (yet again) by his father and his father's cronies?

I do think he came into the Presidency with some dysfunctional problems, such as those mentioned above, but he was in control of himself and recognized himself in relation to the real world. He was a functioning adult who could operate in daily life. I will add here that I'm not any kind of professional, so I could be wrong!

I've always felt that he never really wanted the JOB of being President, but that he wanted the title. He wanted to BE President - give the orders, the speeches, shake hands, be deferred to as the leader, and bask in the attention and glory. I think that is also catching up to him.

[H2O Man]

94. Countdown .....

I think the film clips of him they showed struck me as unsettling.

[ms liberty]

103. Unsettling to put it mildly!...

There have been times in the last 6 years when I've seen him and been unsettled. In the time since his approval ratings have dropped, and now the Democratic wins in the election, I'm beginning to see his behavior more and more as alarming and near-frightening. Animals are most dangerous when they feel trapped and cornered. And he's obviously feeling a lot of fear.

He's far more dangerous than Nixon ever was, IMHO. One reason being that I'm not sure his 'handlers' would stop him, or be able to stop him. Another is that the current Congress would not stop him, and when the Democratic Congress takes over, could they stop him before he committed an irreversible error? I'm not sure. When you add to the mix a complacent media who would (for the most part) be breathtakingly trivial in the face of a crisis...well, you see where I'm going. His condition could - in a worst-case scenario - lead to our complete destruction.

This is a very dangerous and scary situation. I'm not completely hopeless on it - the situation might not come up, and I think there are enough decent people in the right positions that a true disaster could and would be averted - but I don't feel terribly secure right now.

[H2O Man]

108. I might dig out

a few descriptions of LBJ and Nixon from when they weren't doing well.

[Annces]

53. Maybe in the sense of where he goes to get his normal sense of

reinforcement or validation is dwindling. If he basically just takes marching orders from those around him, like Cheney, Rove, and Rice - and these people are not supporting him that much any more, then he could feel abandoned.

[H2O Man]

96. Right, right.

I think he lacks the capacity to feel guilty for his criminal behaviors. Instead, I see him feeling others have abandoned and betrayed him.

[Ganja Ninja]

56. No he's too insensitive.

I guarantee the guy doesn't lose a wink of sleep over what he's done.

[H2O Man]

100. I agree that

he does not view anything in a way where he feels any responsibility. I think he feels that the nation is betraying him.

[DemReadingDU]

59. spoiled child, spoiled adult

Bush has never learned to deal with failure, and as he grows older, his symptom's are increasingly bizarre.

I hate the thought of a Bush meltdown and Cheney becoming president.

[Hepburn]

61. I think he is just plain stunned and back on the sauce. n/t

[Kazak]

62. He's been a little off for a while now...

'Remember those '04 debates? :eyes:

[Lerkfish]

64. he'd have to have had it together first in order to break down.

I think ol' pissypants is the malleable sociopath the neocons created. As long as things were going swimmingly, he vacationed more than he worked, and didn't have a lot of questions at press conferences, had a sycophant army of paid pundits and congressbootlickers, and surrounded himself with hand-selected audiences and lived in a bubble of fawning yes-men, he was able to project a semblance of sanity to the core supporters.

but now, I think even the core is beginning to see the truth.

[dmoded]

65. he takes it in strides..

A normal sane person wouldn't have a stupid grin on his face while detailing a plan about Nothing, yet again. I think he's immune to a breakdown, his brain isn't that large. He'll sit there and repeat the same talking points over and over, waiting till he gets back on Air Force one or crawford.

If he really gave a shit about the current conditions, then we'd definitely have a candidate!

-dm

[evilgenius602]

118. ugh, that press conference... to parphrase Rushkin

and his rambling beginningless endless topless bottomless affected sapless souless tuneless eternity of nothing that I ever endured the deadliness of.

[Kelly Rupert]

67. I don't think he's having a breakdown; I think he's in denial

and stably so.

[Zorra]

69. Consider all the evil things that Bu*h

has done.

Only a genuine sociopath could lie and kill like Bu*h has without going totally bonkers.

[Buzz Clik]

71. Nothing out of the usual. He is just what he's always been: entitled and dim

[april]

72. no he is still suffering from delusions of grandeur

maybe he will realize THE EMPERIOR HAS NO CLOTHS...

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

74. His comments on Iraq have always been irrational and ignorant.

He remains the same half-witted, self-absorbed frat-boy, sociopathic, frat-boy, he has always been.

[Alamom]

76. A mnemonic for the condition is CORRUPT

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antisocial_personality_disorder


A mnemonic that can be used to remember the criteria for antisocial personality disorder is CORRUPT:

C - cannot follow law
O - obligations ignored
R - remorselessness
R - recklessness
U - underhandedness
P - planning deficit
T - temper


Antisocial Personality Disorder (abbreviated APD or ASPD) is a psychiatric diagnosis in the DSM-IV-TR recognizable by the disordered individual's impulsive behavior, disregard for social norms, and indifference to the rights and feelings of others.



Central to understanding individuals diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder, or at least psychopathy, is that they appear to experience a limited range of human emotions. This can explain their lack of empathy for the suffering of others, since they cannot experience the emotion associated with either empathy or suffering. Risk-seeking behavior and substance abuse may be attempts to escape feeling empty or emotionally void. The rage exhibited by psychopaths and the anxiety associated with certain types of antisocial personality disorder may represent the limit of emotion experienced, or there may be physiological responses without analogy to emotion experienced by others.


According to the older theory of Freudian psychoanalysis, a person with antisocial personality disorder has a strong id and ego that overpowers the superego. The theory proposes that internalized morals of our unconscious mind are restricted from surfacing to the ego and consciousness. However, this explanation provides no insight into the cause or treatment of the problem.

Research has shown that individuals with antisocial personality disorder are indifferent to the possibility of physical pain or many punishments, and show no indications that they experience fear when so threatened. This may explain their apparent disregard for the consequences of their actions, and their aforementioned lack of empathy.


Or,

http://www.personalityresearch.org/pd.html



Dissocial Personality Disorder , usually coming to attention because of a gross disparity between behavior and the prevailing social norms, and characterized by:

-callous unconcern for the feelings of others;
-gross and persistent attitude of irresponsibility and disregard for social norms, rules, and obligations;
-incapacity to maintain enduring relationships, though having no difficulty in establishing them;
-very low tolerance to frustration and a low threshold for discharge of aggression, including violence;
-incapacity to experience guilt or to profit from experience, particularly punishment;
-marked proneness to blame others, or to offer plausible rationalizations, for the behavior that has brought the patient into conflict with society.




These conditions can be separate, one in the same or overlapping according to which association or group of physicians and therapist you believe. I have a friend whose (X)husband was diagnosed with overlapping conditons and he "COULD BE" GWB. Very real and very scary. Combined with substance abuse(alcohol), the relationship could have been fatal for her had she not left.

[Gregorian]

77. No.

But I believe he is being set up as the all purpose punching bag. The Republican scapegoat. Everything is going to be George W. Bush's fault.

After all, how could so many people possibly be guilty? I woke up in the middle of the night thinking about impeaching Bush, Cheney, Rove, Condi, and then some. It starts to get odd. I mean these people have so much power, there is no way they are leaving the scene unless they are actually restrained behind bars.

[Horse with no Name]

78. You know what the worst case scenario is?

It's absolutely diabolical.
However, are his handlers letting him out like this so that they can point to this during the war crimes trials and say that this man was not well? All of these decisions were made by a man who was mentally ill?
Thus escaping the death penalty for the crimes he has committed against humanity? Instead languishing in a private institution somewhere?
Maybe I need to adjust my :tinfoilhat:

[EFerrari]

84. I hadn't thought of that. I just thought his handlers are throwing him

under bus so they can live to play another day.

It wouldn't be hard to make George Bush look delusional and out of control since he's usually skating those situations anyway.

It would be pretty stressful if your "people" came in one day and said, "You're on you're own".

/oops

[zippy890]

79. Yes . he is definately at the 'talking at objects' stage

he's in denial of all the things he's done wrong, shows no sign of taking realistic advice. I think he's headed for a breakdown, if not already there.

I wonder how the WH powers-that-be will deal with this phenomenon. An unfortunate yet expedient exit of some kind for the delusional Decider-in-Chief.?

If bush were to have, say a heart attack or accident of some kind it would probably be to the republicans advantage politically.

or would it. hmmm president cheney. don't know how that would play out in the scheme of things.

[lpbk2713]

80. I sometimes wonder if the guy that carries around the *nukular* football

ever has his doubts about whether or not AWOL Monkey-Boy is entirely rational.

And would he put up a fight if Smirky grabbed for it in a fit of demented rage.

[hedgehog]

82. Every time I think he's auguring in, he manages to pull out of his dive.

I've been convinced that his liver is going for the last six months, but then a picture will turn up that makes him look healthy again.

[Catherine Vincent]

91. I don't think he's having a break-down.

He's just a f'd up individual.

:hi:

[mopinko]

95. i think he is brain damaged. he may be ready to crack.

maybe he realizes he should have been paying a little more attention to the "no men" and less to the "yes men". i am guessing that would cause a little mental torque.

[H2O Man]

99. I really like

the scales on your post!

[mopinko]

105. thanks. one of my best sellers.

a friend of mine loves that buttons so much, he bought a dozen. seems he can't say no to people who fall in love with it, and have to have one.

[diane in sf]

168. Sometimes I wonder if he

has tertiary syphillis. He has many of the symptoms and he may have been having unprotected sex with hookers and guys. This is a disease whose early symptoms are easily missed.

[seemslikeadream]

98. We all knew in '04

Bush's Erratic Behavior Worries White House Aides

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=602189

He's just deteriorating

[Clark2008]

101. That's not a break-DOWN...

It's a BREAK from reality.

Like what multiples and schizophrenics go through.

[porphyrian]

102. He should be if he isn't. - n/t

[Pawel K]

106. All the lies and all the crimes are coming back to bite him in the ass

He spent the last 6 years lying, cheating, and killing. Everything he did he went unchecked. Congress would not hold him accountable and the media would let everything slide. Finally, after this election this world he enjoyed for the last 6 years is crushing around him and everything he has done is coming back to bite him in the ass. If you think it's bad now wait another year, I will be shocked if he has any respect left even amongst the most evil of the neocons by the time 08 rolls around.

[BrotherBuzz]

110. John Doolittle (CA04) still supports him...

but then again, he may be bucking for a pardon from Bush* when the genuine investigations begin in January, and the indictments start rolling down the pike.

As for Bush... Well, he's an odd duck that is VERY ungrounded and extremely isolated from the pulse of what is really happening. His world is shrinking or being sucked into a black hole:

"See, people gotta understand that when the Iraqis stand up, we'll stand down. In other words, w e'll stand down when the Iraqis stand up".

"It's a great way of putting it, sir. Direct, unambiguous - very Trumanesque!".

"I'm going to have to disagree with Karl, sir. I think your call for resolve most closely mirrors Abraham Lincoln's."

Sir, with respect, I have to take issue with both those Assessments. When you speak, I'm hearing the steel of wartime Churchill!".

"See, I love that...".

"What's that, Mr. President?"

"The range of opinions. Keeps me honest."

"Good observation, sir."

"I disagree - it's brilliant."

(credit to Gary Trudeau's "Doonesbury")

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

111. Yes.

That image of him in Thailand - the one Jon Stewart mocked the other night with the caption along the lines of "not sure if dreaming or awke" - I found truly alarming. He looked detached - no, lost. In situations where he can't focus on his defiance or revert to small talk and jokes, he is in freefall.

[RiverStone]

113. The more evidence and election outcomes prove him wrong...

...the more he arrogantly refuses to accept the reality of the situation; then goes in the opposite direction (i.e. stay in Iraq till mission complete craziness).

I'd say he has an Oppositional/Defiant Personality Disorder

[H2O Man]

127. Interesting ....

there is a hostile "I'll do what the f__k I want" approach to the old boy, isn't there?

[catmandu57]

114. This is a scary ass thread

One that reinforces my feelings of powerlessness, to think that this buffoon is in a position to totally fuck up not only my life, nut the lives of the entire planet is frightening.

I only hope that we can slide into January in one piece, then we regain some control I hope. I have to wonder what this is doing to that ugly old bitch of a mother, and how much she's contributing to this, after all it's her baby we're fucking with.

[BelgianMadCow]

116. I caught a part of his speech in Indonesia on Malloy

and he sounded like a petulant, retarded malevolent child (insert chucky image here) where before he just sounded like a not too bright bully.

He is going downhill. I think the process involved is cognitive dissonance, and he won't be the last american to experience this.

There may be other aggravating conditions as well (Never seen anyone fall quite so much)- but I'm not well placed to judge those. I could ask my wife though :)

[PATRICK]

119. Not yet

or they wouldn't let him out to humiliate himself in front of world leaders. It is his last flames of pique as Resident Select. Obviously he has been let loose on his own to try to wake him up to his failure. Before so many people died THIS sort of pressure should have been brought to bear and cracked these two unhealthy nuts(bruising Bush and heartthrob Cheney) back in the day when they had to actually do some work to bulldoze bi-partisanship obsessed milquetoasts in the Dem Senate.

Cruel, unfair? Impolitic? These manners have cost a million deaths or more from various wars or policies and given the WH a false security and breathing space where MORE lazyboy tyranny practices abound because they have had yet to barely extend an ounce of gray matter or sweat in running the world around in counter circles. And any legislation for public benefit? Neglected, undercut, unfunded. Any real plans for Iraq? Bush can't understand why anyone really cares.

Make him care a lot. Whatever pressure it takes to get him out. It would have been better for his soul had he never been allowed to steal his country for murder and destruction if he had been broken on a more cynical political wheel than the rarefied monied aristocracy allows in their clubbish game nowadays.

[Canuckistanian]

120. Do you suppose they'll find him one day..

... curled up in a fetal position sucking his thumb? Desperately clutching his "GI George" doll?

No one can live that far from reality for long...

[Lone_Star_Dem]

121. I honestly think his own father is concerned with his mental state

Not just his poor decisions but why he's been making them. I get the impression that this psychotic behavior that son is predisposed to has always been swept under the rug by the family, "for the good of the family name." Poppy attempted to step up and "fix" his mess in an attempt to save the family name and agenda. Just like he's done for him so many times in the past. This time is different, however. Son is the President of the United States and the power that goes along with that title has fed his psychosis. He's not about to let anyone take that away from him. He's been flying too high in his imaginary world where he's above reproach and revered for his greatness for too long now to be easily brought under control.

As the walls he's created around his imagined reality crumbles more and more I expect to see his "oddities" escalate. A damn scary thing to be saying about someone with his power.

[H2O Man]

130. I agree.

I read an article about his father refusing to answer a question about his opinion on Iraq. He went further than usual in saying that he couldn't publicly disagree with his son. The journalist noted that Bush the Elder seemed slightly carried away with the topic.

It would make sense for a father to not try to undercut his son publicly. But there seems to be little room for doubt that the war in Iraq is going very poorly. His reluctance to say so struck me as based on his concerns for his boy's inability to deal with disagreement.

[lpbk2713]

122. It's remarkable how much he has in common with Hitler.

Dementia in his final days is just one more thing to add to the list.

[robertpaulsen]

123. Yes. With two years left, he might consider resignation a relief.

I think I remember reading in Schlesinger's biography of RFK that LBJ was going through a similar breakdown regarding Vietnam, lashing out at confidantes and speaking of opponents in grand conspiratorial terms. I think he was either seeing or considering seeing a psychiatrist (interesting if you've ever seen the satire The President's Analyst, which never said his name, but the description of LBJ seemed pretty clear).

But this was happening in '67 to '68, which caused him to decide not to seek re-election. Bush doesn't have that luxury, he's signed on to the bitter end. It's possible he might not want to stick around to see what Waxman and Conyers will uncover on him and shine in the media spotlight.

[cool user name]

128. He's psychotic and sociapathic ...

He's certifiable.

[Uncle Joe]

138. Yes or if he's not, he should be

I think you can only compartmentalize so much.

[ConsAreLiars]

143. The Press Conference in Jordan was a long disconnected rant

That 11/30/06 display is archived on this page at the moment.
http://www.c-span.org/VideoArchives.asp?CatCodePairs=,&ArchiveDays=100&Page=2

Rambling, incoherent, absolutely panicked bullshit blathering. I don't think I've seen anything worse.

[focusfan]

144. maybe the Moron will have a breakdown

and then maybe he will be taken away in the paddy
wagon:thumbsup: 

[eviltwin2525]

145. Shedon'tmind Shedon'tmind Shedon'tmind....

COCAINE


(with apologies to Clapton)

[fooj]

146. Little Lord Pissypants is in BIG TROUBLE.

And...he KNOWS it.

[lavendermist]

148. Remember way back, before the 2000 election

When so much was made of the fact that * liked to go to bed early and liked his naps in the middle of the day, had never traveled outside the US, had never been what could be called successful at any position he held, how he bugged out of flying(anxiety attacks?), how he just walked away from the service that his family connections got for him to keep him from going to Viet Nam, his alcohol and cocaine use....etc., etc..

From these kinds of behavioral characteristics, we can see Mr. Bush has been pretty consistently incompetent over the years before he assumed the presidency. Pretty narrowly focused, absolutely self centered, irresponsible and totally unable to take responsibility for even the smallest mistake or action.

Back when I was working as a clinician, I was pretty good at assessments. I think that Mr. Bush does indeed have more than one personality disorder and is very diagnosable. But the thing that bothers me is that the everyday neuroses that most of us have a touch of, are fairly easy to treat if they begin to interfere with our daily lives. But personality disorders, are difficult to treat, some only treatable with medication. And others, though treatable, will only improve with intense, voluntary therapy and a commitment to lifelong vigilance and effort.

Mr. Bush has no ability to put himself in other's shoes. This is one of the most important qualities of an emotionally mature person. As incompetent as we see him, he has no ability to see himself realistically, so how can he possibly see the rest of his world realistically.

This scares the heck out of me. For my kids, for my granddaughter, for my country and our place in the world.

[H2O Man]

149. Breaking down the presidency:

If anything, Johnson was more burdened than Kennedy by his nuclear responsibility, although he lacked Kennedy's gift for expressing its effect on him. Johnson, for example, reported a recurrent dream in which, as recalled by one of his aides, "he would wake up in the night, pick up his red telephone, and say, 'Secretary of Defense, you there? Joint Chiefs, you there? CinC-SAC, you there? This is your Pres-i-dent. I've been tossing and turning, and I've decided that we've got to hit the Russians with all our A-bombs and H-bombs. So I'm putting my thumb on the button. I'm mashing it down.' Johnson would then stop and say, 'And do you know what they say to me? they say,"Fuck you, Mr. Pres-i-dent".'
-- House of War; James Carroll; page 324

[H2O Man]

151. "White House aides,

Doris Kearns wrote, 'were frightened by what seemed to them signs of paranoia.' The President would enter a compulsive monologue, punctuated by irrelevant laughs:

" 'Two or three intellectuals started it all you know. They produced all the doubt ... And it spread and spread ... Then Bobby began taking it up as his cause and with Martin Luther King on his payroll he went around stirring up the Neghroes ... Then the Communists stepped in. They control the three major networks, you know, and the forty major outlets of communication. Walter Lippman is a communist and so is Teddy White. It's all in the FBI reports .... Isn't it funny that I always received a piece of advice from my top advisors right after each of them had been in contact with someone in the Communist world? And isn't it funny that you could always find Dobrynin's car in front of Reston's house the night before Reston delivered a blast on Vietnam?' "

-- Robert Kennedy; by Arthur Schlesinger, Jr; page 799

(Note: This may sound like a giggle to younger DUers. Older DUers will recall it was no joke. And George W. Bush ain't a pimple on LBJ's ass, to use one of his favorite sayings!)

[H2O Man]

152. More, you ask?

Okay. Some will recall that on the day that most of the nation was making note of the democratic victories in the House and Senate, George was lining up two press conferences to announce Rummy was gone, but he had done a heck of a job; the next day, another Bush meeting with reporters, etc etc.

In March, 1967, when he knew RFK was planning to speak out in opposition to LBJ's Vietnam policy, the president had "two unscheduled speeches in Washington, held an unscheduled news conference to announce thatRussian Premier Kosygin had agreed to talk on reducing the stockpile of nuclear weapons, announced he was inviting all the nation's governors to the White House, had Senator Henry Jackson of Washington read on the floor of the Senate a predated letter from him, explaining why the bombing was necessary, and confirmed the rumor that his daughter Luci was pregnan."
-- Schlesinger; page 831

[H2O Man]

153. One more:

"Bill Moyers was another guest. Afterward, Moyers drove me uptown. Johnson, he said, was by now well sealed off from reality; the White House atmosphere was 'impenetrable.' The President explained away all criticism as based on personal or political antagonism. Moyers used the word 'paranoid'."
-- Schlesinger; page 911

[spindrifter]

154. Borderline personality

is what I am thinking is wrong with the guy. But without regard to his psychological diagnosis I think he has always had a learning disability that causes him to have difficulty articulating what he wants to say. It looks like the oral mistakes are becoming more frequent with the increase in stress. He is going to have two major stressors to deal with: the M.E. and what he thinks he can do with it in order to salvage his legacy and the economy which is hurtling toward disaster at an increasing rate. This guy does not have the ability to listen honestly to expert opinions and make rational decisions based on facts and reasoned argument, nor does he even want to do that. It is not the Chimp's style, and I think he views that type of presidential decision-making as effete--a description he wants no part of.
I would not be surprised if he doesn't start relying even more on K. Hughes for advice. Both C*ndi and Pickles are strangely "absent" in this, the Chimp's hour of greatest need. And the twins are acting out!
We are definitely cruising for a self-defeating bruising. Just like when he ran the other ships into the ground.

[L0oniX]

155. Here's some proof he's a drunk.

...and check this video out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHSiqQpg7Uc

[Lena inRI]

156. Chavez nailed what is wrong with GWB. . .

. . .he's the darkest heart of darkness. . .impeachment is nothing to fear for the likes of Beelzebub.

Our only solace is IMAGINING, as Dante did, that Bush ends up like Satan here. . .


Satan frozen at the center of Cocytus, the ninth circle of Hell in Dante's Inferno.

:evilgrin: :grr: :evilgrin: :grr: :evilgrin:

[emald]

161. IMO bushit has never been in touch with reality

he is dangerous now because of his position given him in a political coup. He is falling apart watching his legacy crumble in Iraq's messopotamia.

[Solitaire]

162. Hasn't he always been irrational?

The day he decided to go into Iraq, was the day his ego took over for his brains.

Sol

[Blix Krieg]

165. Think again.

If you had not noticed. GWB is a Master
at playing the "stammering fool". You
can bet I Claudius is required viewing.

The President is simply talking the heat,
and providing cover for the more rabid
GOP Party members, and Office holders. He
engenders sympathy with his verbal hiccups,
and eccentric behavior.

Its all an act. Brilliant, but still an :evilgrin:
act none the less.

[steve2470]

166. Here's a stab at the future...

The Chimp has "an illness" and given some acceptable label such as heart disease. He resigns. Cheney takes over. Cheney gets more ill. Cheney steps aside. Both Cheney and Chimp haul ass to Paraguay, leaving the Rethuglicans to clean up the mess.

[Gwerlain]

169. I don't see anything different.

He's always inhabited a different reality, and he's always seemed pretty irrational to me. His comments on Iraq have always seemed detached from reality.

Maybe I don't watch close enough. My gag reflex kicks in after a certain point.

[cassiepriam]

172. Personality Disorders

Hi Pat,

Rigid ongoing distortion of reality is typical of the personality disorders, and this does not seem much different from how he has operated for many years. It is just becoming more obvious to the public as the situation in Iraq deteriorates, i.e., it becomes harder and harder to believe his distortions.

(The narcissist presents to the world a facade of invincibility, invulnerability. People with a narcissistic personality have a sense of superiority, a need for admiration, and a lack of empathy. They will cling to this coping style no matter what.)

More of a sign of decompensation are the reports for some time now of his explosive rage and anger. Occasionally in times of great crisis, the narcissistic facade is penetrated, the ongoing adoration and attention is no longer forthcoming from others. The narcissist then begins to fall apart, or decompensate, his defenses begin to crumble. His ultimate fear of being seen as an object of loathing and pity begins to come true.

Then you may see the narcissist acting out in a self-destructive and antisocial way. Displays of rage, self-loathing, self-pity, and strong attempts at manipulation of others become evident. He may strike out at those closest to him. He may also become quite depressed.

Also many are speculating that there are additional problems going on such as some sort of dementia and/or current substance abuse.