"There is no anchor-At core of admin-of the most powerful country on earth-there is-instead madness"

[kpete]

The Madness of King Donald

Andrew Sullivan: “Then there is the obvious question of the president’s mental and psychological health. I know we’re not supposed to bring this up — but it is staring us brutally in the face. I keep asking myself this simple question: If you came across someone in your everyday life who repeatedly said fantastically and demonstrably untrue things, what would you think of him? If you showed up at a neighbor’s, say, and your host showed you his newly painted living room, which was a deep blue, and then insisted repeatedly — manically — that it was a lovely shade of scarlet, what would your reaction be? If he then dragged out a member of his family and insisted she repeat this obvious untruth in front of you, how would you respond? If the next time you dropped by, he was still raving about his gorgeous new red walls, what would you think? Here’s what I’d think: This man is off his rocker. He’s deranged; he’s bizarrely living in an alternative universe; he’s delusional. If he kept this up, at some point you’d excuse yourself and edge slowly out of the room and the house and never return. You’d warn your other neighbors. You’d keep your distance. If you saw him, you’d be polite but keep your distance.”

“I think this is a fundamental reason why so many of us have been so unsettled, anxious, and near panic these past few months. It is not so much this president’s agenda. That always changes from administration to administration. It is that when the lynchpin of an entire country is literally delusional, clinically deceptive, and responds to any attempt to correct the record with rage and vengeance, everyone is always on edge.”

“There is no anchor any more. At the core of the administration of the most powerful country on earth, there is, instead, madness.”

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/02/andrew-sullivan-the-madness-of-king-donald.html
https://politicalwire.com/2017/02/10/madness-king-donald/

[Ms. Toad]

1. This -

“I think this is a fundamental reason why so many of us have been so unsettled, anxious, and near panic these past few months. It is not so much this president’s agenda. That always changes from administration to administration. It is that when the lynchpin of an entire country is literally delusional, clinically deceptive, and responds to any attempt to correct the record with rage and vengeance, everyone is always on edge.”

And, not only is it coming from the lynchpin, but it literally is the Emperor's new clothes. He's walking around buck naked, insisting he's wearing a gorgeous new gown, and his supporters not only agree with him but shout down anyone pointing out the truth AND insist that the photograph you are showing them is fake because it came from the dishonest NYT.

So it's delusional at the center and there is no effective way to discuss whether his public nudity is a problem because his supporters include over half of each elected body that is supposed to protect us against a naked dictator run amok.

[MousePlayingDaffodil]

2. To me . . .

. . . the very fact that Sullivan prefaced this by saying: "I know we’re not supposed to bring this up . . ." reveals (a big) part of the problem. Yes, Sullivan then goes on to "bring it up," but why even this rhetorical demurrer?

Donald Trump is self-evidently mentally ill, emotionally and psychologically unstable, almost certainly as a consequence of his being a malignant narcissist (and a dim-witted one, at that). And "we're not supposed to bring that up"? Why, exactly? Because it might lead one to conclude that a significant portion of the American people are unfit to govern themselves, as evidenced by their having elected a man who is manifestly unfit to serve as President?

Maybe that's what Sullivan is really afraid to bring up.

[kwassa]

3. Narcissistic Personality Disorder is a perfect fit.

People with narcissistic personality disorder are characterized by their persistent grandiosity, excessive need for admiration, and a disdain and lack of empathy for others.[8][9] These individuals often display arrogance, a sense of superiority, and power-seeking behaviors.[10] Narcissistic personality disorder is different from having a strong sense of self-confidence; people with NPD typically value themselves over others to the extent that they disregard the feelings and wishes of others and expect to be treated as superior regardless of their actual status or achievements.[8][11] In addition, people with NPD may exhibit fragile egos, an inability to tolerate criticism, and a tendency to belittle others in an attempt to validate their own superiority.[11]

According to the DSM-5, individuals with NPD have most or all of the following symptoms, typically without commensurate qualities or accomplishments:[8][11]

1.Grandiosity with expectations of superior treatment from others
2.Fixated on fantasies of power, success, intelligence, attractiveness, etc.
3.Self-perception of being unique, superior and associated with high-status people and institutions
4.Needing constant admiration from others
5.Sense of entitlement to special treatment and to obedience from others
6.Exploitative of others to achieve personal gain
7.Unwilling to empathize with others' feelings, wishes, or needs
8.Intensely envious of others and the belief that others are equally envious of them
9.Pompous and arrogant demeanor

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissistic_personality_disorder

[Big Blue Marble]

4. So glad to have Sullivan writing on a weekly basis.

He is a fine writer and an astute thinker.

[randome]

5. There is no anchor at the core of the GOP, either, or else Dolt45 would never have occurred.

This is a longer death spiral than I imagined but I truly think the GOP is headed for obscurity.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]The Dolt45/Spicer super-soaker fires a continuous stream of stupid and NEVER needs refilling![/center][/font][hr]