Must read! J. Smiley on GWB's "oppositional defiance disorder"

[pnwmom]

http://www.alternet.org/story/36281/


SNIP

"Every dispatch out of the White House indicates that temper tantrums are frequent, and we all know that blaming others is his calling card. Seeking revenge is his life work. So, what is this? This is "Oppositional Defiant Disorder," seen in lots of children, along with ADD, ADHD and depression. For our purposes, we can also note that ODD sometimes leads to another condition we are all familiar with called "Conduct Disorder."

SNIP

"But how does this relate to the unthinkables? Well, opposition arouses opposition. If the polls say that 91 percent of Americans DO NOT want to bomb Iran with any weapons, much less nuclear ones, then that just goads a person like GWB to want it all the more. As his polls drop into the 20s and then into the teens, he will be more and more tempted to do exactly what others DO NOT want him to do. Name something -- spying? making war? stealing elections? He'll show us what he thinks of us if we try to stop him!

"As I think about the unthinkables, I have to say that our only hope is to treat Bush like a child, that is, to never believe that he is capable of actual mature reflection or decision, to know that all of his thoughts and feelings are impulses, reactions and defenses. They make none but the most illusionary sense. The world relies on the adults around Bush to refuse to do what he wants -- generals have to refuse to order the bombing. Pilots have to refuse to fly the planes. Election officials have to refuse to steal elections or to have them stolen. Telephone companies have to refuse to hand over their records. Congress, including the Republicans, must simply ignore all of his wishes.

"He's 60 years old now, and there's no changing him. But if we pretend that he's mature, or sane or normal, we are doomed."

[opihimoimoi]

1. Well said and what a Warning......

:bounce:

[pnwmom]

4. The whole essay is well worth reading. She's as scared

of Jeb and the continuation of the dynasty as I am.

[opihimoimoi]

6. I had wondered about this very issue 5 years ago...that someday

they might wanna put Jeb in there for a full 20 years of Bush Rule...

Damn if ain't emerging as a Horror come "possible" from the "impossible"

Double Damn.....

[pnwmom]

10. And then comes the nephew -- you remember--as GHWB said

fondly, one of the "little brown ones."

It's a big family. Who knows how many they've got lined up after Jeb.

[Sydnie]

7. I think Jeb might have a touch of it too

The voucher issue shows that pretty well I think.

[pnwmom]

11. He's got more than a touch. He's neck-deep in Bushiness.

[HuffleClaw]

2. i concur

his actions reveal he IS a child. 'did ya see me in the dune buggy?'

[Erika]

3. Bush was a simple frat brat

He expected everything handed to him as a privileged upper class elitist. He got his way.

[pnwmom]

5. But now he's the man in charge of the nuclear "button."

[Dunvegan]

8. Anyone remember the "Twilight Zone" episode...

...with Billy Mumy, called "It's a Good Life?"

From Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It's_a_Good_Life

In the story, Anthony Fremont is only three and is only vaguely described as having a "wet purple gaze". He lives in the town of Peaksville, Ohio. The rest of the world does not exist; it was ripped away when Anthony was born, and outside the borders of Peaksville is nothingness. Nobody knows whether Anthony transported Peaksville somewhere or whether the rest of the world (or for that matter, the universe) was destroyed and only Peaksville remains.

There is no electricity, and the people of the town have to make their own things and grow their own food, which is difficult because Anthony controls the weather. They also have to satisfy Anthony's every whim or risk displeasing him and being turned into some horrible monstrosity. Nobody is safe from Anthony, including his own family, although they can sometimes influence him slightly; after a "cheerful" suggestion from his father, Anthony begins teleporting his victims into the cornfield behind the family's home after he has finished with them.

Even when Anthony tries to help other people, he has no understanding of what will actually help and usually causes things to be worse than before. Therefore no one wants to give Anthony a reason to change anything, and everyone pretends to be happy and content at all times, no matter how bad things are. Anthony thus passes his time manipulating animals with his mind, making a rat eat itself from the tail up, or building up a pleasant shady grove designed to suit the simple desires of animals, since he likes their happy and uncomplicated thoughts of satisfaction.

The story mostly takes place during a surprise birthday party for the Fremont's neighbor, Dan Hollis. In Peaksville, residents take turns passing around certain objects like books, music, or furniture since they cannot acquire it from the outside world anymore. Dan receives a Perry Como record for his birthday and wants to play it, but Anthony does not allow singing. Dan gets drunk and starts singing "You Are My Sunshine". Anthony turns Dan into some sort of horrific mutation before "thinking" him away to the cornfield. The next morning he makes it snow, which kills half of the crops.

But it is still a good day.

(All Wikipedia text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.)

[pnwmom]

9. Well, I'm old enough to, but I don't. Thanks!

[NMMNG]

12. Interesting

There seems to be a great deal of armchair diagnosing by non-professionals lately. Dozens of diagnoses are being tossed about, typically with less than favorable connotations attached to them.

We wouldn't want current or potential members of DU to think that this community is not a safe haven to those who have mental illnesses, would we? Society already inflicts enough stigmas upon people with mental illnesses without an allegedly progressive group adding more.

[Random_Australian]

13. Very well put, dear Buffy. This is getting very tiresome.

FAE! FAE! FAE! FAE! FAE!

That's right kids! It's THE FUNDAMENTAL ATTRIBUTION ERROR.

[Dunvegan]

14. Well, not being a therapist, I cannot speak to Blivet's state of mind...

...however, my state of mind is that since 2000, I've been living in George Bush's Twilight Zone.

And, it's personally depressing.

[pnwmom]

15. She's not saying that he has a mental illness, per se,

It's a "malignant" personality disorder. His personality is twisted. She's basically saying that all signs point to him being a sociopath.

And if sociopaths then feel unwelcome here, so be it.

[NMMNG]

16. A sociopath?

Is that your official diagnosis, doctor? The author of the article (who also is not noted to be a clinician) never mentions "sociopath". She does mention several other disorders, however:


(from the article)This is "Oppositional Defiant Disorder," seen in lots of children, along with ADD, ADHD and depression. For our purposes, we can also note that ODD sometimes leads to another condition we are all familiar with called "Conduct Disorder."



And if sociopaths then feel unwelcome here, so be it.

I take it then that your opinion is that if people with ADD, ADHD, depression and other disorders feel unwelcome here, "so be it"?

[pnwmom]

17. The adult form of conduct disorder, in its extreme form,

is what is called a sociopath. And Bush is a adult, in body if not mind.

But even if it were a mental illness, which it is not, I would still say that no one with an UNTREATED mental illness or serious personality disorder should be President. That's the issue, not who is welcome at DU.

However, I specifically singled out sociopaths and not the illnesses or disorders you mentioned. If, by linking Bush with that pathology, I have offended a sociopath, then so be it.

(On second thought, I think you can rest easy on that account. No one will be personally offended because no one, in his own mind, is a sociopath.)

[NMMNG]

24. Sociopathy, a.k.a. Antisocial Personality Disorder,

is a Cluster B personality disorder. As you noted it's not technically a mental illness but many people don't realize that including some people afflicted with psychiatric disorders.

The problem we have is the pervasive, virulent anti-mentally ill posts here at DU.


"A new form of mental illness?"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=1232483

This poster's friend can tell Bush is mentally ill just by looking at him.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=1155729&mesg_id=1156067

"Bush is clinically mentally ill"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=103&topic_id=207607&mesg_id=207630

"Bush is schizophrenic"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=103&topic_id=205483&mesg_id=205483

"Cheney is a paranoid schizophrenic"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x208484

Eating an ethical diet is a form of mental illness
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x200381#200442

"Neocons are mentally ill children"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=103&topic_id=204655&mesg_id=204816

Republicans are mentally ill
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=2270243#2271253

The Religious Right is schizophrenic
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=103&topic_id=201475&mesg_id=201557

This DUer doesn't like having to share "National Teacher's Day" with the Mentally Ill
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=1147647&mesg_id=1149134

"The media is schizophrenic"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2614125&mesg_id=2614133

Bush supporters are mentally ill
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2618282&mesg_id=2618316

"Letting the mentally ill vote is a baaaad idea"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2618282&mesg_id=2618316

"Iran would be retarded or mentally ill to attack Israel or the US"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=103&topic_id=199896&mesg_id=199905




The message?

1. DU brands those they don't like as "mentally ill".
2. Inasmuch as DU brands those they don't like as "mentally ill", it is obvious that mental illness is considered something distasteful and bad.
3. People with mental illness are not welcome on DU.

[Random_Australian]

25. Thankyou, wonderful post!

[Philosoraptor]

18. The mentally ill have enough problems, they shouldn't become presidents

Bush is obviously deeply mentally disturbed, but very few will admit or accept the fact that the president is a serious mental case who should be under a doctor's care, not ours.

[pnwmom]

19. Welcome to DU, Philosoraptor!

I think you're right, of course. But why is this so hard for so many to see?

[Philosoraptor]

20. Thanks!

I'm no expert, but I've always thought that I could spot crazy when I saw it. Within a week of observing him on t.v., I was convinced that we were in for a hell of a ride with this jerk.

[pnwmom]

21. Did you catch this essay? "Bush: Alpha Male on a

Cruise Ship"

It might also explain why so many of us had a visceral reaction to him.

http://www.consortiumnews.com/2006/051706.html

[Philosoraptor]

22. Yes, just a dude you'd like to have a beer with.

Great article, nailing his personality perfectly. He is a rare creature all right. If you met him in real life he'd make your flesh crawl.

[pnwmom]

23. My skin crawls just hearing him on TV. I can hardly

stand to have it on anymore because I never know when I'm going to hear that voice . . .

[NMMNG]

26. I'm amazed at how many psychiatrists we have here at DU

Who can diagnose people by seeing them on television. I bow to your superior clinical abilities.


And kudos to you, and everyone else at DU, who further the cause of stigmatizing people with mental illnesses. People with mental illnesses, no doubt, will greatly appreciate your efforts. :applause: