# The Bush apology was wrung out of him by staff!  Is he a psychopath?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bush-apology-was-wrung-out-of-him-by-staff-is-he-a-psychopath/244217>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [May 8, 2004, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bush-apology-was-wrung-out-of-him-by-staff-is-he-a-psychopath/244217 "2004-05-08T20:43:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2004, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bush-apology-was-wrung-out-of-him-by-staff-is-he-a-psychopath/244217/21 "2004-05-10T18:40:59Z")

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> [@Jinx](#):
>
> You’re right. We should never question our leaders for we are but too meek and ignorant to understand such greater matters. We should just roll over instead of asking them to be accountable for their actions. I mean, like Nixon…why didn’t we just lay off the poor guy, right? 😉
> 
> WRONG! You know, little you and little me are an active part of the checks and balances. And, it’s not just voting. But, watch-dogging and keeping our voices heard in government that makes our American system work. Otherwise, we might as well elect an infallible dictator to tell us how it’s gonna be! - Jinx

You make some very good points. They have nothing to do with what I said, but they were good points.

I simply said our leaders shouldn’t apologize because we are an immature society that cannot simply accept and apology and not hold a singular mistake against someone for the rest of their careers.

I don’t remember saying we shouldn’t hold our leaders accountable for anything.

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**Author:** ![bughunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@bughunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bughunter)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2004, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bush-apology-was-wrung-out-of-him-by-staff-is-he-a-psychopath/244217/22 "2004-05-10T18:57:13Z")

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Actually, that kind of behavior, and others that many find objectionable of the current administration, are consistent with the personality disorder known as [narcissism](http://www.halcyon.com/jmashmun/npd/).

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**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2004, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bush-apology-was-wrung-out-of-him-by-staff-is-he-a-psychopath/244217/23 "2004-05-10T19:08:01Z")

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> [@Martin Hyde](#):
>
> When a company makes a product that kills a child, do they apologize? No, they never apologize, they may settle a lawsuit and pay out the money. That is how they apologize.

Really? Odd how I found a counterexample in under five seconds:

> [@](#):
>
> NHTSA says 88 U.S. deaths may be linked to the tires. The agency has warned that an additional 1.4 million Firestone tires also are dangerous and should be replaced. … The measure grew out of House and Senate hearings last week at which **Bridgestone/Firestone CEO Masatoshi Ono apologized** for the tire problems.  
> [_Firestone withheld information on tires, Ford CEO testifies_](http://www.detnews.com/2000/autos/0009/12/autos-118898.htm)

Besides, even if we accept your (false) premise that corporations never apologize, how does that make it morally acceptable for the President of the United States to do the same? “Hey, the multinational corporations are heartless bastards, so it’s okay for our leaders to be heartless bastards too”. 😕

> [@Martin Hyde](#):
>
> I’ve said before that I don’t want the president, any president, be it Clinton for his purjury or Reagan for Iran-Contra to openly apologize for their actions. Because in the modern world we can’t accept apologies, apologies just seem to bring crucifixion.

Nonsense. That’s just a glorified version of the old schoolyard refrain that “real men never say they’re sorry.” It’s all machismo bullshit; to apologize when one has committed a genuine error is a sign of honor and maturity, and only a coward would find it distasteful.

> [@Martin Hyde](#):
>
> That is the type of society we live in and that is how partisan people view their presidents.

That may be how you view things; please don’t claim to speak for the rest of us.  
Oh, and the comparison of Dopers to card-carrying members of the Communist Party merely for not kissing the President’s posterior shows the monumental and blithering idiocy and uninformed nature of some people around here.

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**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2004, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bush-apology-was-wrung-out-of-him-by-staff-is-he-a-psychopath/244217/24 "2004-05-10T22:50:55Z")

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> [@Martin Hyde](#):
>
> The hypocrisy of members of this forum when concerning people who aren’t card carrying members of the Communist party is distressing.

We’re infested with Reds, eh Senator?

It might be hard to tell the difference between a real Commie and a moderate or liberal from over there at (10.00, 3.49) on the political compass, but surely a thoughtful, intelligent person like yourself has the capacity and will to understand who he’s debating with.

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**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2004, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bush-apology-was-wrung-out-of-him-by-staff-is-he-a-psychopath/244217/25 "2004-05-10T22:51:48Z")

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Bypassing the psychopath and Nazi references that belong in the Pit, there may be some sort of debate here as to whether and when Presidents should apologize.

Everything Bush does between now and the election (policy speeches, timing of vacations, casual comments, farting in church etc.) has _intensely_ political overtones. Issuing apologies will naturally be exploited as admission of failure/wrongdoing. While some of his advisers claim they’re disappointed he didn’t apologize sooner, there are probably other advisers bending his ear about apologies being perceived as weakness abroad or at home.

Still, I think he comes off looking poorly here. Sometimes you do what’s right and face the music, instead of looking foolishly stubborn, which can also be viewed as weakness.

Bush saying he doesn’t make decisions on the basis of polls pins the needle on the Bullshit-O-Meter every bit as much as Hillary Clinton claiming she hasn’t thought about running for the Presidency.\*

- And why not mention both Great Satans in one post?

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**Author:** ![alaricthegoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@alaricthegoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alaricthegoth)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2004, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bush-apology-was-wrung-out-of-him-by-staff-is-he-a-psychopath/244217/26 "2004-05-10T23:51:22Z")

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I guess I sort of meant to conflate this thread with a companion,.

Apparently he was SUPPOSED to cop on arab tv

(which would have made sense)

He couldn’t wrench himself around to do it,

he double crossed his staff

this is all  
AFTER

they had all sat down,

brainstormed the political pros and cons

(just like we’re doing here)  
That’s what blows my mind—

that’s why I raised the issue of something that  
belongs in the DSM six ,

(or whatever they’re up to)

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**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2004, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bush-apology-was-wrung-out-of-him-by-staff-is-he-a-psychopath/244217/27 "2004-05-11T02:02:36Z")

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> [@alaricthegoth](#):
>
> That’s what blows my mind—
> 
> that’s why I raised the issue of something that  
> belongs in the DSM six ,
> 
> (or whatever they’re up to)

Help me out here, **atg**.

Where in [the DSM](http://www.behavenet.com/capsules/disorders/dsm4tr.htm) (and I thought they were only up to DSM-IV, not DSM-VI) is there a disease, condition or syndrome characterized by reluctance to apologize? I know they’re coming up with new disorders all the time, but I never heard of this one.

Or is there a syndrome which involves baseless speculation on the nonexistent psychiatric disorders of one’s political opponents, based on personal animus?  
If not, perhaps we could suggest one for the next DSM revision.

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**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2004, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bush-apology-was-wrung-out-of-him-by-staff-is-he-a-psychopath/244217/28 "2004-05-11T02:59:30Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> Where in the DSM (and I thought they were only up to DSM-IV, not DSM-VI) is there a disease, condition or syndrome characterized by reluctance to apologize? I know they’re coming up with new disorders all the time, but I never heard of this one.

Try _Pervasive Developmental Disorder, NOS_. The subject is (among other issues) incapable of admitting error and finds it nearly physically painful to apologize (because that would indicate that the problem or incident was not _really_ all the fault of _other_ persons). The DSM-IV does not list a failure to apologize, explicitly, but I can attest from personal experience with a victim of that syndrome that it is part of the constellation of symptoms. (Interestingly, PDD-NOS also manifests in problems with verbal communication. 😉 )  
Mind you, I do not believe that GWB is psychotic, (smug self-righteousness combined with intellectual laziness provides adequate explanations for his actions), but the question was whether one might find a condition related to a failure to apologize in the DSM-IV.

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**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2004, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bush-apology-was-wrung-out-of-him-by-staff-is-he-a-psychopath/244217/29 "2004-05-11T06:11:55Z")

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@Rjung

It looks like to me Firestone apologized for the _tire problems_, hey sorry your new tires didn’t work out, we’ll send a refund your way. It doesn’t seem like they apologized for what actually mattered, the 88 dead people.

Where are you getting this machismo bullshit? Tell me one time a President has ever sincerely apologized for something big? I mean, Nixon may have, I cannot remember the exact words he used, but that was at a point when his political career was over and it didn’t matter anymore. In fact you prove my point. Bush is damned if he does, damned if he doesn’t. He apologized, but not “fast enough” for the leftists here at the tinfoil hat crowd infested Straight Dope message boards.

I’m sorry that I spoke for you, I know you are a very enlightened person that would _never_ use Bush’s apology as a way to attack him.

Something you have never learned it seems is how important legitimacy is in politics. It IS a genuine fact that when you apologize, you admit that YOU PERSONALLY, have fucked up. Your legitimacy is BLOWN, and that apology will be thrown back in your face a thousand times.

To boil it down to some bullshit latin machismo crap is insanely idiotic. It has aboslutely nothing to do with machismo. Bush does things based on what will bring him the most political capital. If you have a problem with that vote for Jesus or someone for elected office, because you won’t find a serious mortal politician that decides his actions any other way.

If you insist otherwise, you are obviously too naive to warrant any further responses.

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**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2004, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bush-apology-was-wrung-out-of-him-by-staff-is-he-a-psychopath/244217/30 "2004-05-11T06:13:52Z")

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> [@Mr2001](#):
>
> We’re infested with Reds, eh Senator?
> 
> It might be hard to tell the difference between a real Commie and a moderate or liberal from over there at (10.00, 3.49) on the political compass, but surely a thoughtful, intelligent person like yourself has the capacity and will to understand who he’s debating with.

The 10.00 is purely economic number. I can agree that I _may_ be nearly that right on economic issues, but my “real” numbers are probably more like (8.50, 1.50). Due to the biased nature of the questions on the political compass there were a few I had to answer in the affirmative that I was fairly on the middle over.

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**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2004, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bush-apology-was-wrung-out-of-him-by-staff-is-he-a-psychopath/244217/31 "2004-05-11T08:07:15Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> **alaricthegoth** : Why is this not psychopathic failure to display empathy–I’‘m talkin’ clinincally here, and using the term advisedly.

I think the term that is used for psychopaths now is _sociopath_. They are characteristically very intelligent. I think we can safely exclude the President.

He suffers from acute shallowness.

Like the man is a saucer.

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**Author:** ![iamme99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/57b2e6/32.png) [@iamme99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamme99)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2004, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bush-apology-was-wrung-out-of-him-by-staff-is-he-a-psychopath/244217/32 "2004-05-11T08:19:27Z")

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The Arabs are not at all happy with Bush’s “apology” and have called it mere “lip service”. I believe they are right. I don’t think Bush has ever apologized for anything. Why would he? After all, he couldn’t recall even one tiny mistake he had made in his last major press conference (try that in your next job interview). The man that claims God wanted him to be president is a bit too full of himself. What was that movie? The Man Who Would Be God? :rolleyes:

> [@](#):
>
> **Bush’s Backing of Rumsfeld Shocks and Angers Arabs**
> 
> May 10, 4:52 PM (ET)
> 
> By Firouz Sedarat  
> DUBAI (Reuters) - Arab commentators reacted with shock and disbelief on Monday over President Bush’s robust backing of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld against calls for his resignation.
> 
> Critics had called for him to quit after the furor over the abuse of Iraqi prisoners but analysts, editors and ordinary Arabs were united in their condemnation of Bush who said the United States owed Rumsfeld a “debt of gratitude.”
> 
> “After the torture and vile acts by the American army, President Bush goes out and congratulates Rumsfeld. It’s just incredible. I am in total shock,” said Omar Belhouchet, editor of the influential Algerian national daily El Watan.
> 
> “Bush’s praise for Rumsfeld will discredit the United States…and further damage its reputation, which is already at a historic low in the Arab world,” he added.
> 
> Analysts have said the damage from images seen worldwide of U.S. soldiers abusing naked Iraqi prisoners in Abu Ghraib prison would be indelible, incalculable and a gift to al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
> 
> What people saw, they said, was the true image of the occupation: humiliation of an occupied people, contempt for Islam, sadism and racism.
> 
> “After Mr. Bush’s decision to keep Rumsfeld, all their apologies seem like lip service,” Dubai-based political analyst Jawad al-Anani told Reuters. “Mr. Rumsfeld would have certainly lost his job if the prisoners were American.”
> 
> “The United States is spending so much money by setting up Alhurra television and Radio Sawa to improve its image in the Arab world…How can it reconcile that with keeping a man who has insulted every Arab through the abuses of Iraqi prisoners,” added Anani, a former Jordanian foreign minister.
> 
> University of Algiers professor Mahmoud Belhimeur agreed.
> 
> “I cannot believe the United States reacts the way an authoritarian regimes would. Bush should have done the honorable thing and fired Rumsfeld,” he said.
> 
> RUMSFELD “SYMBOL” OF IRAQ WAR
> 
> But Michael Cox, professor of international relations at the London School of Economics, said the repercussions of firing the defense secretary would have been very significant for Bush.
> 
> “This has been Rumsfeld’s war, and I suppose the political symbolism of trying to get rid of Rumsfeld would be huge.”
> 
> [Full article](http://news.myway.com/world/article/id/402589%7Cworld%7C05-10-2004::17:06%7Creuters.html)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Frankenstein\_Monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ccd318/32.png) [@Frankenstein\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frankenstein_Monster)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2004, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bush-apology-was-wrung-out-of-him-by-staff-is-he-a-psychopath/244217/33 "2004-05-11T10:40:04Z")

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Psychopath? Juan Cole today dredged up this old article arguing that he’s in fact a _sociopath_…

[http://www.commondreams.org/headlines02/1128-02.htm](http://www.commondreams.org/headlines02/1128-02.htm)

> [@](#):
>
> “Bush is not an imbecile. He’s not a puppet. I think that Bush is a sociopathic personality. I think he’s incapable of empathy. He has an inordinate sense of his own entitlement, and he’s a very skilled manipulator. And in all the snickering about his alleged idiocy, this is what a lot of people miss.”

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**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2004, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bush-apology-was-wrung-out-of-him-by-staff-is-he-a-psychopath/244217/34 "2004-05-11T12:42:32Z")

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> [@tomndebb](#):
>
> Try _Pervasive Developmental Disorder, NOS_. The subject is (among other issues) incapable of admitting error and finds it nearly physically painful to apologize (because that would indicate that the problem or incident was not _really_ all the fault of _other_ persons).

I think you’re aware that one can pluck a solitary descriptor out of any of a myriad of DSM-IV disorders and point triumphantly to some person one dislikes. I was unaware that you (or anyone else who prattles about the psychopathology of Bush) are a practicing shrink who has evaluated Bush in person over a sufficient period to make such a diagnosis.

Parlor psychology is just another failure tactic employed by clueless anti-Bush partisans. “He’s stooopid! He’s crazy!”

Just concentrate on all his failures of commission and omission and you’ve got enough ammo, folks, as long as you don’t screw it up offending potential supporters through dumb character assassination.

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**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2004, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bush-apology-was-wrung-out-of-him-by-staff-is-he-a-psychopath/244217/35 "2004-05-11T13:12:54Z")

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**Jackmannii** : Wow. That was a well reasoned post. People who discuss Bush’s personal failings are “clueless anti-Bush partisans”. Keep up the good work. It’ll really encourage people not to slap stupid labels on other people, won’t it! :rolleyes:

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**Author:** ![sinical\_brit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/48db29/32.png) [@sinical\_brit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinical_brit)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2004, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bush-apology-was-wrung-out-of-him-by-staff-is-he-a-psychopath/244217/36 "2004-05-11T13:51:35Z")

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Quote MartinH :" …our leaders shouldn’t apologize because we are an immature society that cannot simply accept and apology and not hold a singular mistake against someone for the rest of their careers. "

At last - some sence Martin.

Thing is, the Iraqis may not be as immature as you think you are. Maybe having been treated like shite for the last 30 or 40 years, they would be stunned that the POTUS had appologised to them - personally. They may respond by not throwing genades at US troops in Bagdad. They may even start to respect the occupation ( their words, not mine ). The statement may just sow the seed that would grow into a fruitfull relationship based on trust and respect.

Of course, now they KNOW that Bush doesnt really care.  
Well done everyone concerned.  
sin

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**Author:** ![alaricthegoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@alaricthegoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alaricthegoth)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2004, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bush-apology-was-wrung-out-of-him-by-staff-is-he-a-psychopath/244217/37 "2004-05-11T18:32:34Z")

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> [@Jackmannii](#):
>
> I think you’re aware that one can pluck a solitary descriptor out of any of a myriad of DSM-IV disorders and point triumphantly to some person one dislikes. I was unaware that you (or anyone else who prattles about the psychopathology of Bush) are a practicing shrink who has evaluated Bush in person over a sufficient period to make such a diagnosis.
> 
> Parlor psychology is just another failure tactic employed by clueless anti-Bush partisans. “He’s stooopid! He’s crazy!”
> 
> Just concentrate on all his failures of commission and omission and you’ve got enough ammo, folks, as long as you don’t screw it up offending potential supporters through dumb character assassination.

I am not a therapist, but I have fucked a few and married one…

You are quite right, of course, to cavil at my diagnosis.

If anything, I suppose a psychopath would apologize with no problems since sincerity is not an issue.

I guess I’m trying to track down something mor along the lines of compuslive behavior

As I understand the scenario, he and his aides sit down, scope out the issue and the say,

Go ahead big guy, go to the towelheads and say you are sorry.

But then he can’t carry it off.

One would think it relatively straghtforwrd unless some unconscious processes are at work…

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2004, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bush-apology-was-wrung-out-of-him-by-staff-is-he-a-psychopath/244217/38 "2004-05-11T19:25:16Z")

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> [@Desmostylus](#):
>
> **Jackmannii** : Wow. That was a well reasoned post. People who discuss Bush’s personal failings are “clueless anti-Bush partisans”. Keep up the good work. It’ll really encourage people not to slap stupid labels on other people, won’t it! :rolleyes:

We can only hope so.

You zeroed in on a stinging remark\* and ignored everything else. In much the same way, Bush supporters (or those on the fence) tend to seize on poorly documented, over-the-top personal slams by opponents and fulminate about those, and the debate shifts away from Bush’s bad policies and screwups.  
Advantage - Bush.

\*if it makes you feel better, I’ll rephrase it. The invoking of psychopathology by those unqualified to do so is foolish and counterproductive, no matter which political target one chooses.

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**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2004, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bush-apology-was-wrung-out-of-him-by-staff-is-he-a-psychopath/244217/39 "2004-05-11T19:40:47Z")

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> [@Jackmannii](#):
>
> \*if it makes you feel better, I’ll rephrase it. The invoking of psychopathology by those unqualified to do so is foolish and counterproductive, no matter which political target one chooses.

Yes, of course you are right. Not being licensed psychologists, the vast majority of Americans should **_not ever_ speculate** on the possible psychological forces driving their leaders to behave in odd ways. By bringing this up, you’re doing a superb job **Jackmannii**. You’re a strong voice for the defense, and our nation owes you a debt of gratitude.

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**Author:** ![alaricthegoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@alaricthegoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alaricthegoth)\
**Post date:** [May 12, 2004, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bush-apology-was-wrung-out-of-him-by-staff-is-he-a-psychopath/244217/40 "2004-05-12T00:02:19Z")

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> [@Jackmannii](#):
>
> I think you’re aware that one can pluck a solitary descriptor out of any of a myriad of DSM-IV disorders and point triumphantly to some person one dislikes. I was unaware that you (or anyone else who prattles about the psychopathology of Bush) are a practicing shrink who has evaluated Bush in person over a sufficient period to make such a diagnosis.
> 
> Parlor psychology is just another failure tactic employed by clueless anti-Bush partisans. “He’s stooopid! He’s crazy!”
> 
> Just concentrate on all his failures of commission and omission and you’ve got enough ammo, folks, as long as you don’t screw it up offending potential supporters through dumb character assassination.

Not to tempt you to stray into the perilous swamps of remote diagnosis, how do YOU explain w’s inability to effectuate the planned apology on arab tv–which we are told surprized his aides (i’ll bet it did) and raised tentime the ruckus if he had just shut up and did his little dance with abdullah the next day.

so wassup?

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