[Mb-civic] Psychopathic Behavior

[richard haase]

i dont agree al
i think he is a front man
pure and simple
obviously from that neck of the woods etc
the right wing
but i think hes got habits etc
and they give him his shit and whatever else he wants
and hes happy
and could care less
now maybe that is sociopathic
but i think the active monsters are the ones pulling the strings behind him
a la shaw and eliza dolittle on the album cover of my fair lady
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Alexander Harper" <harperalexander at mail.com>
To: <mb-civic at islandlists.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2005 12:07 PM
Subject: Re: [Mb-civic] Psychopathic Behavior


> Thanks, Lyle - that is really interesting and seems spot on. He is not the
only world leader, who is basically a frightened psycopath, who has never
properly emerged from adolescence. Unfortunately though he leads the world's
only hyper-power. Clearly many voters vote for what they recognise in
themselves.
> AlBaraka
>
> From: "Lyle K'ang" <lyve at netzero.com>
> To: mb-civic at islandlists.com
> Subject: [Mb-civic] Psychopathic Behavior
> Date: Thu, 18 Aug 2005 03:52:50 GMT
>
> >
> > Of Course He Is a Psychopath ...
> >
> > A BUZZFLASH READER CONTRIBUTION
> > by Elizabeth
> >
> > ... or a sociopath -- the distinction here is insignificant.
> >
> > I'm a mental health professional and psychopaths are a professional
> > interest of mine. There is little doubt that Bush's is a
> > psychopathic character structure.
> >
> > Another, and I think very appropriate term to describe psychopathy
> > is emotional retardation -- an inability to experience higher
> > emotions expressive of the highest human values (such as empathy
> > and guilt, sympathy, compassion, devotion to common human ideals
> > such as peace, for example, etc.).
> >
> > A psychopath is a person who uses his often considerable
> > intelligence in the service of his primitive drives (think sex,
> > aggression, power). Being fairly bright, he learns, imperfectly, to
> > mimic emotional expressions suggestive of some higher emotions
> > (compassion, for example), but his reactions hardly fool anyone
> > because they ring hollow as there is no truth and authenticity in
> > them. He can use lofty words when needed -- an easy thing for a
> > fairly intelligent psychopath -- but there is no emotional content
> > to them.
> >
> > Just look at Bush's responses whenever he is asked, unscripted,
> > about anything that would require him to express either empathy, or
> > caring and compassion for others, including his own family members.
> > He stammers and stumbles, tries some platitudes or inappropriate
> > jokes, and eventually makes a fool of himself. It is always painful
> > to watch and it clearly demonstrates his emotional retardation.
> >
> > Even most recently, when asked about Cindy Sheehan, he responded by
> > saying "And I think it's important for me to be thoughtful and
> > sensitive to those who have got something to say." He followed it
> > with "I think it's also important for me to go on with my life, to
> > keep a balanced life."
> >
> > This statement in itself is very revealing. First, it sounds like
> > something Bush has just learned to say on advice of his handlers
> > who reminded him to pretend to be human (he *thinks* it is
> > *important* for him to be thoughtful and sensitive ...). Not that
> > he knows what this means, or that any of it resonates emotionally
> > for him, as evidenced by how quickly he closed this statement with
> > a glib reference to, what else, his own need for a "balanced life,"
> > a reference that sounds so incredibly insensitive in this context
> > that it completely invalidates the message intended in his previous
> > sentence.
> >
> > I have no doubt that this emotionally flat and highly inappropriate
> > statement came from the desk of one of his advisors -- which only
> > shows that psychopathic leaders surround themselves with
> > psychopathic handlers who are equally clueless about what it means
> > to be a feeling human being. It's nothing new or surprising -- we
> > have seen it before in the history of the world. But it's
> > horrendously painful to witness.
> >
> > Bush's fumblings with statements that are supposed to express
> > higher human emotions are not a proof that he is unintelligent in
> > the conventional sense (i.e. intellectually impaired). His
> > intelligence appears normal (= average at least) -- but it is the
> > emotional sphere that is so dangerously underdeveloped in him.
> >
> > Notice that typically he does not encounter similar troubles when
> > he talks about what is really close to his proverbial heart (not
> > that he possesses a real one): power. All those swagger-filled
> > threats, gestures of intimidation, and displays of bravado -- often
> > in the most inappropriate contexts ("Shock and Awe," "Mission
> > Accomplished," etc.) -- are further proof that we are dealing with
> > intelligence in the service of primitive drives, combined with
> > emotional hollowness. A.k.a. psychopathy.
> >
> > And while you're right that playing an armchair diagnostician is a
> > task of dubious value sometimes, in case of G.W. Bush the evidence
> > to support the diagnosis of psychopathy (or sociopathy) is just
> > overwhelming and in plain sight for anyone to see. So if the shoe
> > fits ...
> >
> > E.L. Doctorow's essay sums up the core of Bush's psychopathic
> > character so well -- and so painfully for all of us who have
> > retained humanity in our souls.
> >
> > The intelligence in the service of primitive instincts that Bush's
> > actions and words represent; the raw aggressive power, unmitigated
> > by thought or higher feeling; and the surge of compensatory
> > confidence it engenders, are what appeals to a great segment of
> > this -- or any other -- society, especially to its powerless and
> > emotionally underdeveloped members. They rally around their leader,
> > seeing in him both a reflection of themselves and a promise of a
> > "victory" that would release their fears and frustrations, and
> > avenge their sorry, hopeless fate. Of course what they do not
> > realize is that their leader couldn't care less about their fate.
> > To him, his minions are an echo chamber for his words and cannon
> > fodder for his missions.
> >
> > Tragically, as a nation, we will remain in the dark ages as long as
> > we keep choosing psychopaths as our leaders and pretend this is a
> > good thing. And no matter how hard we will try to convince
> > ourselves that what we yearn for are freedom and democracy for all
> > (and whatever other ideals we choose to endorse by our words), our
> > actions -- the choices we make, including our choice of the leader
> > -- will keep telling the rest of the world otherwise. As shameful
> > as it is, the psychopathic Bush represents America to the world.
> >
> > A BUZZFLASH READER CONTRIBUTION
> >
> >
> > Lyle K'ang, MBA/IM
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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>
>
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