A psychiatrist's impression of *

[mykpart]

A friend sent me the following email:

A psychiatrist's analysis of W's mental health, and its connection with
the "surge" in Iraq .
>
An interesting perspective from Dr. Paul Minot, a psychiatrist in
> Waterville , Maine . George Bush's "irrational" consideration of a
> "surge" in the wake of the Iraq Study Group report -- which apparently

> defies all credible counsel - has begun to generate speculation
> regarding his sanity - references to Bush's "delusions" have appeared
> in the mainstream media and throughout the blogosphere. There may be
> even darker mechanisms at work.
>
As a psychiatrist, I understandably get concerned when I see clinical
> terminology bandied about in political discourse, and thought it might

> be of interest to share a professional perspective on this question. I

> have a distinct clinical impression that I think explains much of Mr.
> Bush's visible pathology.
>
First and foremost, George W. Bush has a Narcissistic Personality
> Disorder. What this means, is that he has rather desperate
> insecurities about himself, and compensates by constructing a
grandiose self-image.
> Most of his relationships are either mirroring relationships -- people

> who flatter him and reinforce his grandiosity -- or idealized
> self-objects -- people that he himself thinks a lot of, and hence
feels
> flattered by his association with them. Some likely perform both
> functions. Hence his weaknesses for sycophants like Harriet Miers, and

> powerful personalities like Dick Cheney. Even as a narcissist, Bush
> knows he isn't a great intellect, and compensates by dismissing the
> value of intellect altogether. Hence his disses of Gore's bookishness,

> and any other intellectual that isn't flattering him. Bush knows that
> his greatest personal strength is projecting personal affability, and
> tries to utilize it even in the most inappropriate settings. That's
> why he gives impromptu backrubs to the German Chancellor in a
diplomatic
> meeting -- he's insecure intellectually, and tries to make everyone
> into a "buddy" so he can feel more secure.
>
The most disturbing aspect about narcissists, however, is their
> pathological inability to empathize with others, with the exception of

> those who either mirror them, or whom they idealize. Hence Bush's
> horrifying insensitivity to the Katrina victims, his callous jokes
> when visiting grievously injured soldiers, and numerous other
> instances. He simply has no capacity to feel for others in that way.
>
When LBJ was losing Vietnam , he developed a haunted expression that
> anybody could recognize as indicative of underlying anguish. For all
> his faults, you just knew he was losing sleep over it. By the same
> token, we know just as well that Bush isn't losing any sleep over dead

> American soldiers, to say nothing of dead Iraqis. He didn't exhibit
> any sign of significant concern until his own political popularity was

> sliding -- because THAT'S something he CAN feel.
>
Which brings us to his recent "delusion." To be blunt, I don't see any
> indication that Bush has any sort of psychotic disorder whatsoever.
> The lapses in reality-testing that he exhibits are the sort that can
> be readily explained by his characterological insensitivity to the
> feelings and perceptions of others due to his persistently
> self-centered frame of reference.
>
Mr. Bush knows that things aren't going his way in Iraq , and he knows
> that it is damaging him politically. He also sees that it is likely to

> get worse no matter what he does, and in fact it may be a lost cause.
> However, he recognizes that if he follows the recommendations of the
> Iraq Study Group, that Iraq will almost certainly evolve into a puppet

> state of Iran , and given his treatment of Iran he will completely
> lose control of the situation -- and he will be politically
> discredited for this outcome.
>
The ONLY chance that he has to avoid this political disaster, and save
> his political skin, is to hope against hope for "victory" in Iraq .
> Advancing the "surge" idea offers Bush two political advantages over
> following the ISG recommendations. One is that if it is implemented,
> maybe, just maybe, he can pull out some sort of nominal "victory" out
> of the situation. The chances are exceedingly slim, granted, but slim
> is better to him than the alternative (none). Alternately, if the
"surge"
> is politically rejected, he gains some political cover, so when things

> inevitably go bad, he can say "I told you so" and
>
> blame the "surrender monkeys" for the outcome. Most people probably
> won't buy it, but some (his core base) will.
>
Now, I know what many of you are thinking -- is George Bush willing to
> risk the lives of hundreds, maybe thousands more American soldiers, on

> an outside chance to save his political skin, in a half-baked plan
> that even he knows probably won't work at all? Yes, he is. Because
> George Bush is that narcissistic, that desperate, and yes, that
> sociopathic as well.
>
Especially interesting about Mr. Bush, but quite common, Narcissistic
> Personality Disorder is frequently associated with alcoholism. The
> insufferable "holier than thou" attitude associated with "Dry Drunk
> Syndrome" is indicative of underlying narcissism. Also, the way that
> Bush embraces Christianity is characteristically narcissistic. Rather
> than incorporating the lessons of humility and empathy modeled by
> Jesus, Bush uses his Christian faith to reinforce his grandiosity.
> Jesus is his powerful ally, his idealized "buddy" who gives a rubber
> stamp to anything he thinks.
>
Finally -- and this will sound VERY familiar to many readers -- those
> persons with NPD are notoriously unable to say they're sorry.
> Admitting error is fundamentally incompatible with their precarious
> efforts to maintain their sense of order. Anyone having this
> particular character flaw almost certainly has NPD.
>
ALLAN SCHNAIBERG
>
> Professor of Sociology & Faculty Associate, Institute for Policy
> Research

[Warpy]

1. I take exception to one part:

"Bush knows that his greatest personal strength is projecting personal affability, and tries to utilize it even in the most inappropriate settings. That's why he gives impromptu backrubs to the German Chancellor in a diplomatic meeting -- he's insecure intellectually, and tries to make everyone into a "buddy" so he can feel more secure."

I'm sorry, Prof, but any of us who has ever lived with a drunk recognized immediately that Stupid was blotto at the G-8. He wasn't just feeling a buzz from a purloined bottle of weak beer. He was nearly pee on himself, shitface drunk.

We all recognized the slurred speech, the slack facial features, the shuffling gait, the glazed eyes---never mind the completely inappropriate behavior.

Also notice that the only one he dared touch in such an inappropriate manner was the only powerful woman in the room. That wasn't a buddy thing. That was a power thing, even drunk.

[lyonn]

3. Sounds about right, his German back rub was a way of forcing

yourself on someone you know wouldn't like it but must be proper enough to not flatten him, hence he chose a woman. While at Walter Reed today it appeared many of the wounded and caretakers were not too pleased with his phony show of "compassion".

[cassiepriam]

5. Bingo. Chimp was intoxicated, as he is most of the time now.

[rudy23]

2. Right on the money! I've been saying he has NPD all along.

Binary thinking is also prevelant in NPD sufferers--you're either with us, or against us.

So is the whole idea of holding yourself to a lower standard, because of your assumed grandiosity. Addiction to routine (in bed by 10 every night). Obsessive exercising (because NPD's think they're immortal).

It also doesn't help if you have a narcisisstic mother.

If you look at some of the websites on the subject, it's astonishing how * fits the profile of NPD to a tee.

[DCKit]

4. I have looked at the sites, but I'm not qualified to make the diagnosis.

However, I have been in (too) close contact with people like him for most of my life and boy-howdy, did I have his number from the get-go.

[Flying Dream Blues]

19. Yes... it's known that narcissism often

begets narcissism...

[cassiepriam]

6. I agree with most of this, except that * is actively drinking and I do think

he is having psychotic episodes.

It is common knowledge that the personality disorders
can have psychotic breaks, especially as they begin
to experience consequences for the inappropriate behavior.

And Bush is using drugs and alcohol which further clouds the picture.

[CrazyOrangeCat]

13. I agree.

Anybody who's been around people like that, can see it.

My God, his glassy eyes just get more and more detached looking every week. He's really scared.

I hope that somewhere in the military, there's a group of generals that are ready to stand up to him, when his shaky finger tries to pull the trigger.

It's a long shot of a hope, I fear.

[cassiepriam]

15. Yes, if we are lucky he will just pass out. Til 08.

[nealmhughes]

7. The entire Iraq fiasco is telling, but his behavior re: Hurricane Katrina

even moreso. No one who is in a federal office leaves the capital or goes to the opposite shore when warned that a hurricane the size of the entire Gulf of Mexico from the Pacific to the Mississippi Coast goes to Arizona and California. No one. Except Bush and Rice.

Now, the SoS didn't have a lot to do re: hurricane relief, but it makes people in the SE look like turds while she is seen in the theatre and shoe shopping.

His photo ops and back slapping Trent Lott was insulting to even a piece of crap like Lott: "sitting on your front porch drinking iced tea" my ass. The guy's city was just destroyed! I am sure that replacing his house was first on the senator's list while the bodies were still being recovered and the FEMA trucks backed up in Arkansas and Georgia and a casino was blocking Hwy. 90!

If I might paraphrase Johnny Rotten: "God save the King! He ain't no human bein'!"

I don't know what is wrong with him, but as we say in the South, "He just ain't right" along with "He wasn't raised right."

[rudy23]

11. Big trait of NPD--feeling empowered the more people need you

NPD sufferers are notorious for turning their backs on people in need. It makes them feel even more grandiose.

Remember *'s awkward attempts to empathize with (was it the Chinese ambassador) when he was saying "I come from a big country, you come from a big country, too" like a third grader? Or the awkward jokes made toward the Katrina victims (and 9/11 victims, and parents of troops killed in action, etc.)

Also, remarks like "no one likes to see innocent people suffer". Why would you even address something like that unless you were covering for yourself? Classic NPD.

[Lisa]

12. and also the fact that he didn't even see the need to fake some concern

I've worked with and around politicians and their helpers enough to know that, while not all of them may care deeply and passionately about particular situations, most do have the political instincts to understand when they have to give the APPEARANCE of concern. Or, as one rather-unlovable Rove-type put it, "the optics". One of the many bad things about putting Bush in the highest office is that he doesn't seem to care anymore about creating a positive impression. At least when he was just a governor, he knew that he still had to put on an act if he wanted to seek federal office. Not anymore.

It wouldn't surprise me a bit if his aides tried to persuade him to do something, and he rebuffed them.

As an aside, I used to date a guy who was rather nice but was insecure -- not as self-absorbed as Bush, but he did have that kind of tendency. I suspect it was kept in check by the fact that he had a rather precarious job situation and would have been fired unless he kept everybody happy. He landed a book contract, along with which came a bunch of sycophantic attention from publicists, book tour organizers, etc. -- I'm afraid it went to his head and he began getting complaints from family and longtime friends about how obnoxious he was becoming. Instead of re-examining his own behavior, he turned to those who were giving him the most flattering image of himself -- his "new best friends". When his publisher eventually dumped him because he wasn't able to deliver the new book on time (too busy basking in the adulation of being on tour, as I frantically tried to pull his chapters together to meet deadlines) -- you guessed it, he never heard from those new friends again. In some ways, becoming famous was one of the worst things that could have happened to him. I see some distinct parallels in Bush's situation. Looking at descriptions of what he was like as a teenager, there are times where he did appear to have genuine empathy for other people (like the when he organized an alternative games league at his high school for those who were looked down on by the "jocks"). I almost feel sorry for Bush ... he probably doesn't even realize what he's become.

[Poiuyt]

8. Read: "Bush on the Couch: Inside the Mind of the President" by Justin Frank

http://www.amazon.com/Bush-Couch-Inside-Mind-President/dp/0060736712/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-3663871-0669400?ie=UTF8&s=books&sr=8-1

From Publishers Weekly
Bush Administration policies are not only a "great catastrophe" but the products of a disturbed mind, according to this provocative blend of psychological case-study and partisan polemic. Psychoanalyst Frank sifts through family memoirs, the writings of critics like Al Franken and David Corn and the public record of Bush’s personal idiosyncrasies for clues to the President’s character, interpreting the evidence in the rigidly Freudian framework of child psychoanalyst Melanie Klein. He finds that Bush, psychically scarred by an absentee father and a cold, authoritarian mother, has developed a galloping case of megalomania, characterized by a Manichaean worldview, delusions of persecution and omnipotence and an "anal/sadistic" indifference to others’ pain, with removal from office the only "treatment option." The author’s exegesis of Bush’s personality traits-the drinking problem, the bellicose rhetoric, the verbal flailings and misstatements of fact, the religiosity and exercise routines, the hints of dyslexia and hyperactivity, the youthful cruelty to animals and schoolmates, the smirk-paints an intriguing, if exaggerated and contemptuous, portrait of a possibly troubled public figure. But Frank’s attempts to translate psychoanalysis into political analysis are unconvincing. Indeed, if Bush’s reneging on campaign promises is a form of clinical "sadism," and his budget deficits an "unconscious attack on his own parents," then Karl Rove, the Cabinet, and both houses of Congress belong in group therapy with him.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

[MN ChimpH8R]

16. I am just now re-reading that book

Frank's calm, thorough and documented analysis of the Chimperor is absolutely terrifying. Bush is a narcissist and a sociopath. In layman's terms he is batshit fucking crazy and should be driven, in a rubber truck, from the White House to the place where the nuts hunt the squirrels and given a horse sized shot of Thorazine every three hours. :scared:

[TahitiNut]

9. Daily Kos: "Bush's "delusion": a psychiatrist's perspective" (Dec 22, 2006)

(Note: I, along with several other DUers, have long contended that Smirk is the poster boy for Narcissistic Personality Disorder.)

Bush's irrational consideration of a "surge" in the wake of the ISG report--which apparently defies all credible counsel--has begun to generate speculation regarding his sanity. References to Bush's "delusions" have appeared in the MSM (notable on "Scarborough Country") and throughout the blogosphere. As a psychiatrist, I understandably get concerned when I see clinical terminology bandied about in political discourse, and thought it might be of interest to share my own perspective on this question.

First of all, let me state up front that I probably hate Bush as much (or nearly so) as anybody here. I think he has done more damage to our country than Osama Bin Laden ever did, and probably is the manifestation of OBL's most wicked fantasies following 9/11. Frogmarching him to the Hague (along with Cheney, natch) is too good for him. I think the guy is both stupid and evil, and I have no intention of cutting him any slack here. But in the political/clinical tradition of Dr. Bill Frist's school of diagnostics, I have a distinct clinical impression that I think explains most of his visible pathology.

First and foremost, George W. Bush is a Narcissistic Personality Disorder. What this means, mostly, is that he has rather desperate insecurities about himself, and compensates by constructing a grandiose self-image. Most of his relationships are either mirroring relationships--people who flatter him and reinforce his grandiosity--or idealized self-objects--people that he himself thinks alot of, and hence feels flattered by his association. Some likely perform both functions. Hence his weakness for sycophants like Harriet Miers, and powerful personalities like Dick Cheney.

Even as a narcissist, Bush knows he isn't a great intellect, and compensates by dismissing the value of intellect altogether. Hence his disses of Gore's bookishness, and any other intellectual that isn't kissing his ass. Bush knows that his greatest personal strength is projecting personal affability, and tries to utilize it even in the most inappropriate settings. That's why he gives impromptu backrubs to the German Chancellor in a diploamtic meeting--he's insecure intellectually, and tries to make everyone into a "buddy" so he can feel more secure. (Pathetic, isn't it?)

The most disturbing aspect about narcissists, however, is their pathological inability to empathize with others, with the exception of those who either mirror them, or whom they idealize. Hence Bush's horrifying insensitivity to the Katrina victims, his callous jokes when visiting greivously injured soldiers, and numerous other instances. The guy simply has no capacity to feel for others in that way. When LBJ was losing Vietnam, he developed a haunted expression that anybody could recognize as indicative of underlying anguish. For all his faults, you just knew he was losing sleep over it. By the same token, we know just as well that Bush isn't losing any sleep over dead American soldiers, to say nothing of dead Iraqis. He didn't exhibit any sign of significant concern until his own political popularity was sliding--because THAT'S something he can definitely feel.

Which brings us to his recent "delusion". To be blunt, I don't see any indication that Bush has any sort of psychotic disorder whatsoever. The lapses in reality-testing that he exhibits are the sort that can be readily explained by his characterological insensitivity to the feelings and perceptions of others, due to his persistently self-centered frame of reference. By applying Occam's Razor to the question of what is psychologically driving Bush to endorse this "surge", I think it can be readily explained by his narcissism as follows. (Warning: Rampant speculation to follow!)

Bush knows that things aren't going his way in Iraq, and he knows that it is damaging him politically. He also sees that it is likely to get worse no matter what he does, and in fact it may be a lost cause. However, he recognizes that if he follows the recommendations of the ISG, that Iraq will almost certainly evolve into a puppet state of Iran, and given his treatment of Iran he will completely lose control of the situation--and he will be politically discredited for this outcome. The ONLY chance that he has to avoid this political disaster, and save his political skin, is to hope against hope for "victory" in Iraq. Advancing the "surge" idea offers Bush two political advantages over following the ISG recommendations. One is that if it is implemented, maybe, just maybe, he can pull out some sort of nominal "victory" out of the situation. The chances are exceedingly slim, granted, but slim is better to him than the alternative (none). Alternately, if the "surge" is politically rejected, he gains some political cover, so when things inevitably go to shit, he can say "I told you so" and blame the "surrender monkeys" for the outcome. Most people probably won't buy it, but some (his core base) will.

Now, I know what many of you are thinking--is George Bush willing to risk the lives of hundreds, maybe thousands more American soldiers, on an outside chance to save his political skin, in a half-baked plan that even he knows probably won't work at all? Damn straight he is. Because George Bush is that narcissistic, that desperate, and yes, that sociopathic as well.

Anyway, that's MY two bits.

Some more thoughts on this: Narcissistic Personality Disorder is frequently associated with alcoholism. The insufferable "holier than thou" attitude associated with "Dry Drunk Syndrome" is indicative of underlying narcissism.

Also, the way that Bush embraces Christianity is characteristically narcissistic. Rather than incorporating the lessons of humility and empathy modeled by Jesus, Bush uses his Christian faith to reinforce his grandiosity. Jesus is his powerful ally, his idealized "buddy" who gives a rubber stamp to any cockamie invasion he thinks up.

Finally--and this will sound VERY familiar--NPDs are notoriously unable to say they're sorry. Admitting error is fundamentally incompatible with their precarious efforts to maintain their sense of "okayness". Any friend, partner, or family member that has this character flaw almost certainly has NPD.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/12/22/101516/45

[havocmom]

10. Off to the Greatest Page for you and Dr Schnaiberg

ON THE NOSE!

We will sit by and let the powers that be tell us 'We just can't afford more help for mental health'.

LOOK at the results of ignoring mental health in America. We have whole populations allowed to get away with such horrible, destructive patterns of behavior, and then we allow a cabal of people like that to assume power.

Might have been cheaper to pay for mental health care, parenting classes, cognitive therapy and putting drunk drivers (yeah, bush was one) in jail to undergo forced therapy or rot....

My ol granny said 'Ya pay for what ya need, whether ya buy it or not.' Wish she was still around to do some stump speeches.

We can't afford to blow off the need for some resources going for mental health care and therapy. And for the NPDs who engage in criminal ventures to maintain their facades, lock them the fuck up.

[harrison]

14. 100% He has it nailed. My ex has NPD

and he is right on the money.

[TahitiNut]

17. Yep. You'll see this was nailed on DU four years ago.

A search of the DU archives will show several threads on this. DU pretty well nailed it down. The dolt is really the poster boy of NPD. I figure the next edition of the DSM (DSM-V?) will just include Smirky Boy's picture.

[Marie26]

18. Called it.

Except IMO Bush is decompensating into psychosis as well. I'm not kidding.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

20. Psychiatrist to Bush: "My receptionist has an interesting theory - she thinks you're an asshole."

From an old New Yorker cartoon.

[eppur_se_muova]

21. I'm sure there are plenty of people in this world who are as dangerously sick as Bu**sh**.

Such people should never, EVER, be allowed into positions of power. Thank you so much, Karl Rove, James Baker, and the rest of the cabal for elevating this man to a position carrying such momentous responsibilities he can barely comprehend, much less handle.

Thank you, Antonin Scalia and the other members of the Gang of Five, for selling out your responsibility to your country and letting this subversion of lawful government stand.

History will remember you all as traitors, and your descendants will disavow your name.