new book "Bush On The Couch" written by a psychiatrist

[donsu]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A30085-2004Jun10?language=printer

We can assure you nobody will be caught perusing this book in the White House. "Bush on the Couch," authored by a longtime Washington psychiatrist who has never met or treated the president, offers "an exploration of Bush's psyche" that delves into such touchy topics as his baby sister's death, his relationship with his mother and father and his drinking history.

In the book, to be released Tuesday, Justin A. Frank, a clinical professor at George Washington University Medical Center, claims President Bush exhibits "sadistic tendencies" and suffers from "character pathology," including "grandiosity" and "megalomania" -- viewing himself, America and God as interchangeable. Frank told us yesterday that his opinions are based on publicly available materials, adding, "I've never met the president or any members of his family."

-snip-

Frank, who has practiced for 35 years, told us he began noting Bush's mannerisms in the fall of 2002. "I was really very unsettled by him and I started watching everything he did and reading what he wrote, and watching him on videotape. I felt he was disturbed." In the book, he writes that Bush "fits the profile of a former drinker whose alcoholism has been arrested but not treated."
-snip-
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[ewagner]

1. I'm a bit worried about this book

References to it have been posted a couple of times, and I've refrained from commenting but I think I need to express my fears about the effects of this book.

First, Conservatives love to belittle shrinks...at least that's my experience. This will be belittled by all RW talking heads.

Second, analyzing dubya from his public statements alone seems a bit suspect and I doubt that it will be taken too seriously.

Third, there are as many opinions as there are psychiatrists and the RW will pull in as many dissenting opinions as it can to discredit the book and its conclusions.

JMHO

[donsu]

2. stop being afraid

nt

[ewagner]

3. We have to be smart

if we're going to defeat Bush*.

Just don't want to see our side "go over the top."

[jobycom]

6. It takes more than being smart to beat W

Ask Richards, Gore, or Gary Mauro.

Bush wages war on an instinctual level, not an intellectual one. A few attacks in that region won't hurt us, and might help. We have to get a few dummies to vote for us, too.

[delete_bush]

4. Nothing to worry about

RW talking heads belittle anything that doesn't comport with their world view, of course they will do the same with this book. And you're right, the very nature of the methodology employed certainly gives them a valid point.

Regardless of what they say, most people will be able to relate to some of the issues brought up by the author and more seeds of doubt will be planted on the mental state of the chimp.

It's another straw on the back of the camel, and the way they've been piling on of late I think the back is about ready to break.

[jobycom]

5. It might play to the Oprah crowd

People who like pop-psychology might take it seriously, I guess.

I've said all those things about W since before 2000, and many other non-psychologists have, too, so I don't see how this book is anything other than a long political opinion piece, especially since most serious psychologists would say you can't analyze someone from their public statements. There were people who did the same to Clinton and Gore, and came up with nonsense.

But people who are already beginning to believe this about Bush may take it seriously. So bring it on. It can't hurt.

[KittyWampus]

7. If "Doctor" Laura Can Offer Her Unqualified Advice Daily

to the American People daily via the radiowaves...

Then a professional psychiatrist should be able to write a book offering their insights into what the heck is wrong with Junior.