Molly Ivins: Could Lunacy Explain Bush's Policies?

[Jack Rabbit]

From TruthDig.com
Dated Monday May 15

Could Lunacy Explain Bush's Policies?
By Molly Ivins

I hate to raise such an ugly possibility, but have you considered lunacy as an explanation? Craziness would make a certain amount of sense. I mean, you announce you are going to militarize the Mexican border, but you assure the president of Mexico you are not militarizing the border. You announce you are sending the National Guard, but then you assure everyone it’s not very many soldiers and just for a little while.

Militarizing the border is a totally terrible idea. Do we have a State Department? Are they sentient? How much do you want to infuriate Mexico when it’s sitting on quite a bit of oil? Bush knows what the most likely outcome of this move will be. He was governor during the political firestorm that ensued when a Marine taking part in anti-drug patrols on the border shot and killed Esequiel Hernandez, an innocent goat herder from Redford, Texas. That’s the definition of crazy—repeatedly doing the same thing and expecting a different result.

I suppose politics could explain it, too. It’s quite possible that lunacy and politics are closely related. It’s still damned hard cheese for the Guard, though. The Guard is heavily deployed in Iraq, currently 20% of those serving, down from 40% last year. Some soldiers are sent back for multiple tours. Lt. Gen. James Helmly, head of the Army Reserve, said the Reserve is rapidly degenerating into “a broken force” and is “in grave danger of being unable to meet other operational requirements.” Happy hurricane season to you, too. The Guard is also short on equipment and falling short on recruiting goals.

But right-wingers are very unhappy with Bush right now, and this is a strong, red-meat gesture that will make them happy, even if it does nothing to shut down the border. You want to shut down illegal immigration? You want to use the military as police? Make it illegal to hire undocumented workers and put the National Guard into enforcing that. Then rewrite NAFTA and invest in Mexico.

Read more.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

1. Yes, yes, yes, K & R, we need to start to question the mental stability

of the person with their finger on the button.

We are watching a presidential meltdown right before our eyes...When will this become an issue in the media?

I :loveya: Molly for raising this question and asking how any of the decisions gwb makes could possibly be reality-based.

MKJ

[rambler_american]

17. Bush Insanity?

March 25, 2003 CONTRIBUTOR ARCHIVES



A BuzzFlash Reader Offers Her Professional Services to George W. Bush

A BUZZFLASH READER COMMENTARY

Dear President Bush,

At this time of national crisis, I would like to offer my assistance to you.

As a practicing psychologist for more than thirty years, it has become clear to me that your mental health has been seriously neglected. In the interest of our nation, I would like to offer my services as a psychologist to you on a "pro bono" basis. It would, after all, be for the good of the country.

Of course, it would be presumptuous of me to attempt to diagnose your emotional difficulties without meeting you face to face. However, I believe that I have had sufficient opportunity to observe you to put forth a few hypotheses of "trouble" areas with which you seem to need assistance.

First, and of great concern, is evidence of delusional thinking - a symptom of psychosis. The delusion that seems most evident is that bombing a people into submission is a strong foundation for democracy, and for generating good will in a nation. There is also the delusion that Saddam Hussein poses an imminent threat to the USA. (Or was that just a lie, suggesting psychopathic deviance?)

Another symptom that many people have noted is disorganized and incoherent speech, which, unfortunately, can be another symptom of psychosis. Confused thinking is also a problem for you, as demonstrated by the idea that our reason for going to war is Iraq's defiance of the UN, yet you are defying the UN by going to war. This suggests rather muddled cognitive functioning.

These symptoms suggest that I would feel that a referral to a psychiatrist for medication might be indicated. However, your history of multiple substance abuse should lead to caution in the use of certain psychotropic medications.

While there are some indicators of psychosis, there are also many signs of Narcissistic Personality Disorder, which include arrogance and grandiosity, as well as a need for unlimited power. There is also a lack of empathy for others, and, in your case, no regard for them at all if they speak another language. You suffer from an excessive need for admiration and a sense of entitlement. Evidence for that includes your refusal to speak before the European Union unless you could be guaranteed a standing ovation. Your actions regarding attacking Iraq in spite of negative world reaction reveal your arrogance in a clear and obvious way.

Emotional immaturity has been in evidence as well. The tendency toward black and white thinking is one sign of emotional immaturity. Statements that divide the world into good and evil, and "you're with us or against us" reflect thinking typical of a young child. Emotional growth and development is known to be stunted by substance abuse. Could that be what happened with you?

Problems with the truth are also in evidence, as in such statements as "I am a man of peace", "I am a uniter (sic) not a divider" and "I’m hopeful that we can avoid a war." None of these statements enjoy the support of your behavior. While a certain amount of lying is expected from politicians, yours seems to be well in excess of the norm.

Although I have a busy schedule, I am confident that my current patients, in the service of their country, would be willing to change their schedules to accommodate you.

I also need to warn you that I cannot guarantee relief from all the above symptoms, as personality disorders are notoriously difficult to treat. Therefore, in order to pursue your recovery, it might be wise to consider resigning from the stresses of your current position to devote your time to your psychological well being.

Sincerely,

Diana DeVito
Clinical Psychologist

[sinkingfeeling]

2. I love Molly and her style of writting.

[ninkasi]

3. Molly's right

Bush is crazy, and getting more and more unstable all of the time. I guess that he and Cheney lead such different lives than the rest of us do, that they feel comfortable in their own delusions, because they surround themselves with people who fawn over them.

What astonishes me, is that so many members of Congress go along with their hare-brained schemes, and usually with only the barest whisper of opposing the worst of them. They might say a few tough sounding words, then go along with the massive and disastrous tax cuts anyway. Same thing for the recording every phone call...they make a fuss at first, then give in. Then are the enablers of the two lunatics ruining our country.

Every republican and every DINO in Congress need to be voted out of office, and we need to fill both houses with honest men and women who will put the interests of We, the People, first.

[Dudley_DUright]

4. Of course Bush is nuts

What I fear most is that he may be nuts enough to attack Iran (with or without nukes).

[Nothing Without Hope]

5. Me too. Did you ever see this video showing Bush's mental deterioration?

http://www.adbuzz.com/bushbuzz.htm

His increasing mental disability is not a subtle thing. You'll be amazed at the ease with which he gave seeches - without notes, let alone a secret prompter - when he was still governor of Texas.

I very much fear that both Cheney and Bush are mentally unfit and are quite capable of doing much, much more damage to the country and the world. The corrupt Congress and the bought-and-paid-for press have enabled this - madmen and monsters rule the country.

[mcscajun]

20. Interesting video.

The deterioration is marked.

[Demeter]

6. I Think It's Self-Inflicted Possession By Satan, Actually

Characterized by willful evilness.

[The Wizard]

7. So I see him

at a press conference and he starts telling the truth when Karl Rove emerges from behind a curtain with a tranquilizer dart.
Out pResident is a nut and rubber stamp republicans turned his insane agenda into failed policies. There's no valid reason for any of them to be in office. :bounce:
Their economic theory that cutting off the source increases revenue is bat shit crazy. By their standards if all taxes were to be eliminated the treasury would be overflowing. Perhaps some electro shock therapy is in order here. Can you imagine Bush and Cheney tripping while having a press conference. Their wild assertions indicate something at work outside the realm of logic and reason.

[ClayZ]

8. he is absotivly posalutley nucking futz

A straight jacke would help!



:crazy:

[NoAmericanTaliban]

9. Wasn't Bush governor of a border state - Texas & what did he do

then about the illegals crossing the border. One of Molly's themes was that the rest of the America will look like Texas if Bush is elected president & she is right about that so far. More pollution, more illegal immigrants, poor performing schools, sicker kids, idiots in charge, etc

[Dudley_DUright]

10. Molly often calls TX the

"National Laboratory for Bad Government".

http://www.freepress.org/columns/display/1/2005/1132

[OCDDAVID]

11. Don't Give him A Pass!

Calling Bush crazy is giving him a pass on his unconscionable behavior. Labeling him mental unstable gives the little fu@ker an excuse. Don't chalk up his and his administrations actions to anything less than stupidity, greed and hubris!

http://IHateRedState.com

[Nothing Without Hope]

21. He is mentally unfit. He is also a monster and fully culpable.

He knows what he is doing and his lies and crimes are deliberate - his deteriorating intelligence and instability do not absolve him.

[autorank]

12. K&R for the articulate Mr. Rabbit. n/t

[Jack Rabbit]

13. But Autorank, this is Molly Ivins' work

All I said was "read more" (which I cut and paste off a text file that I keep handy).

[autorank]

15. That was a delayed compliment from other pieces you wrote, which

were, btw, better writing than Molly (although she has her own charm and style;)

[msatty99]

14. Bush's sanity is clear.

1. He is the decider! Gaddammit.

2. His job is HARD WORk! BY GAWD

3. His TRUE father is a greater FATHER than GHW Bush. GAWD!

4. WE DID HAVE GOOD INTEL of WMD BY GAWD.

5. GORE WAS A BOZ0

6. OF COURSE I AM SANE!!!

:evilgrin:

[struggle4progress]

16. * is part megalomaniac and part idiot parrot. He was acceptable to ..

.. the traitors who plotted the 2000 coup because he shares their sense of upper-class entitlement and their general ideology, having a certain contempt for ordinary Americans, and (importantly) he's ignorant enough to be manipulated and too egotistical to notice the manipulation.

[Nothing Without Hope]

22. I agree. Bush is also continuing to deteriorate mentally and so what he

really is - the blower-up of frogs as a child, the man who mocked a woman on death row pleading for her life, the man responsible for the deaths of who knows how many thousands of people around the world - is showing through more and more. His good 'ol boy disguise has worn too thin to hide the monster within.

[McCamy Taylor]

18. Rove is clearly becoming psychotic. His grip on reality is getting weak.

Claims that Bush still has 60% personal approval and that the Iraq War is somehow to blame not Bush and his crazy faith that Immigration--his issue du jour--will save this election: these are all signs of a man who is losing his grasp on reality.

His mother committed suicide. It is not so far fetched to wonder if mental illness runs in his family.

[Pacifist Patriot]

19. I love Molly, but it's so hard to read her when....

the page has you glide right into assinine comments from the peanut gallery.;)