Autism or genuinly heartless?

[Deja Q]

Our elected CEO of this country? (he likes to think he is the head of a business and wishes to treat our government as such. Like Enron, it seems, but I digress...)

[LiberalVoice]

1. Bush is definetly more stupid then he is heartless.

In fact its his stupididty that makes him so detached from emotion and reality.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. I have worked with autistic children

and I have friends with autism. They have heart-their problem is in communication, brought on by certain problems with body chemistry and being able to get rid of toxins. I volunteer for a nonprofit foundation that, among other things, works with autistic people (www.futurevisionsfoundation.org)

To compare Bush with these courageous people is an insult to them and to those who are working to find a way to help them.

[mitchum]

3. I also work with autistic children, and I agree with you 100%

[Deja Q]

6. Oh, so now I'm evil because I'm not politically correct? Oh, BTW,

I am an aspie. (coy colloquialism for "Asperger's") In case you don't know, Asperger's is a higher-functioning form of autism.

I stand by my post and if you or anyone else is upset by it, that's not my fault. Nor my problem. Grow up.

[mitchum]

12. But HypnoToad, bush exhibits signs of a narcissistic personality...

disorder, not autism. They are not the same things. We are not being "politically correct", but merely correct.
Relax, no one is pissed off at you.

[Arugula Latte]

4. I vote for "Sociopath." nt

[BrklynLiberal]

11. I second your diagnosis.

[Cleita]

15. Me too.

His whole administration and his wife seem to have this affliction.

[barb162]

21. that's what he is (and his whole family)

[pop goes the weasel]

5. the comparison is offensive

to people with autism.

Really.

The people with austism and people with Asperberger's that I have known all make genuine, heart-felt attempts to understand us neurotypicals. That is a world of difference from the sort of sociopathic indifference shown by Bush toward the world in general.

[Deja Q]

7. See my other post.

[pop goes the weasel]

8. Then you can answer your own question

Do you really think Bush acts like someone with any level of austism? You can't pick up a paper without someone gushing about how darn "charming" the rat bastard is. Sorry, but "charming" is not one of the words generally associated with autism--no, the word generally associated with autism is "tactless." It is, however, associated with sociopathy.

So, from an insider's perspective, what about * would get you thinking maybe he has some level of autism?

[melody]

9. yes, the LAST thing Bush acts like is an autistic

Bush appears to be a sociopath with NPD.

I DO get the initial poster's point, though. The Shrub could be autistic with the degree he is disconnected from reality, but his glib arrogance interlarded with unctuousness definitely leans toward sociopathy.

[eridani]

10. Jeebus, people! Bush is the exact OPPOSITE of autistic!

Aspies and autistic people can't read social signals, and many of the Bush college cronies (and at least one of his professors) remember him as a highly adept social manipulator. He's a sociopath, which is an entirely different thing.

[IN-dem]

13. My daughter has a severe Autism

Please don't lump my daughter with bush. I thought I found a nice place here? Another step back for me and my family.

[MadisonProgressive]

14. YES! My son has a mild form of autism (aspergers)

but he is the kindest soul I've ever known. And he HATES BUSH!

[AlienGirl]

17. I don't know why Hypno asked this, but he's an Aspie, too

As am I and a bunch of other DUers. This is a pretty welcoming place for people on the spectrum, actually.

Tucker

[Bluebear]

18. IN-dem, welcome to DU and please...

I have NEVER seen a comparison between Bush and the autistic.

Brightest wishes for you and your daughter.

[eridani]

22. I think you are having trouble getting used to the way replies--

--are laid out on this board. I think you were trying to respond to the original post (or OP, as we say here), and not to my reply to the OP, which specifically stated that Bush is the exact opposite of autistic, being an extremely adept social manipulator.

Not to worry--stick around and you'll get used to it.

[pitohui]

16. autistic ppl have perfectly good hearts

i rather object to the phrasing of this poll

the autistic or asperger's may not express his emotions to your aesthetic satisfaction but he perfectly well has a heart

perhaps you meant to say sociopath or psychopath

the two conditions are not even remotely similar tho

[killbotfactory]

19. He takes after his mother

He thinks his shit doesn't stink because he is rich, and people who are poor deserve their fate.

[earth mom]

20. Sorry, but I take great offense to your thread.

Equating * to Autistics is akin to likening Angels to the Devil.

* is a sociopath. Simple as that.

[eridani]

23. I think that some people just don't realize what autism actually is

They think that Shrubbie's frequently inappropriate affect must somehow be related to the inability to recognize social cues found on the autism spectrum. It most assuredly is not the same thing at all--Bush is by all accounts a very adept social manipulater, which autistic people cannot possibly be. As you pointed out, "sociopath" just about nails it.