Is the Chimp Mentally Ill, Stupid, or just plain Evil?

[Sparkly]

It's likely a combination, but what's the most prominent problem affecting his outrageous behaviors, statements and decisions?

[jody]

1. All of the above. n/t

[northernsoul]

4. That would be my pick as well

Although the confluence of all three characteristics is rare, none of them are mutually exclusive and I believe that George W. Bush stands in the center of their Venn Diagram.

[Sparkly]

9. Yes, but which is the most prominent problem?

Which one is worst and/or affects his poor judgment, poor speaking, blundering incompetence and dangerously reckless decisions the most?

[ginnyinWI]

2. he's got a bad case of Conservatitis

And no amount of reason or reality seems to help the severity of his disease.

He's also stubborn and arrogant, which I suppose goes along with the above condition.

[spirit of wine]

3. Korsakoff's Syndrome

http://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Atoz/common/standard/transform.jsp?requestURI=/healthatoz/Atoz/ency/korsakoffs_syndrome.jsp

That is my bet, it may have been because his mom drank a bit too much during the time she was pregnant with him. It is of no coincidence that a wing at the Maine Medical Center was named the Barbara Bush Center, specializing in neonatal care, talk about a guilty conscience. Watch the quick demise of Bush after he is out of office, if he does not keep up with proper medical care.

[TechBear_Seattle]

5. Those are not mutually exclusive options n/t

[Sparkly]

7. "It's likely a combination, but what's the most prominent problem...?" nt

[rooboy]

6. An interesting bit on the Lionel Show a week or two ago...

was illuminating... He played a clip of * debating during the early/mid 90's where he spewed the same right wing sort of crap but was FAR more articulate and coherent than he is today. Clearly there is something medically wrong with the man that is getting worse.

[rox63]

8. There needs to be an "All of the above" choice

Because he is mentally ill, stupid and evil. As for his particular mental illness, I'd say he probably has Narcissistic Personality Disorder, with a sprinkling of brain damage from all the years of booze and drugs.

[Sparkly]

10. That's too easy -- everyone would just pick that. nt

[mohc]

11. This is a debate for the ages

Bush's intelligence is certainly below what I think most of us expect from the "Leader of the Free World" (or does he prefer Decider of the Free World?). More that his stupidity, his disdain for reason plays a more significant role in guiding his "decidering". Then again low intelligence and disdain for reason seem to go hand in hand, so there is a strong vote for "Stupid".

At the same time, he seems to have a disconnect from reality. That along with his black and white view of things, seems to suggest a possible BPD. He follows the classic splitting to the extreme, and the only thing missing from his behavior would be suicidal tendencies, otherwise it could be a easy diagnosis. Put one in the "Mentally Ill" column.

Lastly we come to evil. Someone just being mentally ill or stupid certainly does not make them evil, but I think it makes them susceptible to evil influences. Being in his position, Bush's actions have more impact than just about any other human being. When his actions have bad outcomes, and they most certainly have, its hard not to characterize that as being evil. The only mitigating factor here may be that he is not intentionally malicious, but due to his possible mental illness does not truly appreciate his actions, or due to his stupidity simply has no idea what is going on.

So I guess what I am saying is all of the above.

[Totally Committed]

12. Mr. Cheney (aka the REAL President), is sane and evil as Satan.

I think Bush is a curious blend of mental illness, incompetent, and evil-as-hell wannabe.

TC

[saltpoint]

13. There are some 8-year old bullies who never ever make it out of the playground

and remain emotionally and intellectually arrested at that level the rest of their lives.

Bush.

[Maribelle]

14. First and foremost, Bush appers to be an egomaniac. If true, his egomania is a mental illness.

Egomania, narcissism, is the natural condition of the infant; the world exists merely as gratification or denial of personal desires. The caretaker--parent, nurse, teacher, religious authority--tells the infant what reality is and how he or she must behave in response to this defined reality.

It's at this stage of egomania and narcissism where most personalities stop developing; they remain in an infantile state even though they have matured physically. Ego-satisfaction is the only concern, avoiding punishment by authority figures and achieving one's individual goals is the life-game, and understanding or awareness is totally unnecessary and boring. The authority figures will tell us what is real and what we're supposed to do, so we have absolutely no need to think for ourselves. Since personal satisfaction is primary, however we achieve our goals is okay. There are no moral values beyond feeling good about ourselves and making others fear and respect us. Any consideration for the good of others is weakness and stupidity.

Egomania is not just an arrested stage of development, not merely a slight malady or a minor social aberration; it is a blindness to reality which leads to death: death of oneself and others. The obsession with self and the grudging obedience to authority becomes so pervasive and consuming that we lose touch with reality and begin to live in solipsistic fantasy worlds. The infantile personality responds only to gross symbols, ideas, and commands: TV images of 200% patriotism, slogans ("dead or alive), bluster ("we'll rid the world of terrorism"); norms ("don't think about what American leaders did which led to the terrorist attacks; vote more money for an incompetent intelligence industry; forget about the workers laid off, give tax breaks to corporate executives").

http://www.hermes-press.com/egomania.htm

[Eurobabe]

15. All of the above and then some. n/t