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I am not an expert in the field of psychiatry, but there is a test which can be applied to personality traits to ascertain the likelihood of psychopathy. Dr. Robert D. Hare, one of the foremost experts on psychopathology, developed a classical checklist of traits which determine the probability of a psychopathic personality. The test consists of 20 questions which can be answered either by “applies, “does not apply” or “applies somewhat” corresponding to an answer of zero, one or two. A score of 30 or higher is indicative of psychopathic tendencies.
One of the questions asks whether or not the person is a pathological liar. One obvious example of Bush’s lying relates to his emphatic insistence that Iraq had WMD. There are many other examples such as the time he appeared on Meet the Press with Tim Russert and falsely asserted that, “I got an honorable discharge and I did show up in Alabama” contrary to overwhelming evidence that he went AWOL.
Bush also scores a two on another trait, manipulativeness. Seymour Hersh, in an article in the New Yorker, referred to Bush’s intention to manipulate the public when he stated that, “The former intelligence official went on, ‘One of the reasons I left was my sense that they [Bush Administration] were using the intelligence from the CIA and other agencies only when it fit their agenda. They didn’t like the intelligence they were getting, and so they brought in people to write the stuff’.”
Lack of remorse or guilt is another trait which Bush possesses in great abundance. Professor Justin Frank, professor of psychiatry, notes in his book Bush on the Couch that “He disregards the pain he inflicts on Iraqi citizens, refusing to comment on civilian casualties”, and “Just before the March 20, 2003 speech announcing the commencement of bombing Iraq, Bush was captured on a White House monitor saying, ‘Feels good’.”
Bush also exhibits another trait, callousness or lack of empathy. One of the most disturbing example’s of Bush’s lack of empathy revealed itself when the about-to-be-executed killer Karla Faye Tucker, who had appealed to Bush for a stay of execution, appeared on the Larry King show. President Bush watched the show and, in discussing her appearance on the show responded contemptuously to King’s question about what would you say to Governor Bush with “please” Bush whimpers, his lips pursed in mock desperation, “don’t kill me”.
George W.’s inability to control his feelings is legendary. Many journalists, such as James Carney, Time Online Edition, Andrew Stephen, The Observer, Carole Coleman, EU Business, have referred to him as an “angry guy”, “short-fused”, and having a “fiery temper”.
Early behavioral problems are also indicative of psychopathic behavior. He once through a football through a grade three classroom window and often stuffed frogs with lit firecrackers and threw them in the air.
In Total, Bush scored a 32 out of 40 signifying that he may have psychopathic tendencies. Although most people have some of these traits, few people would score over thirty. There has been ongoing speculation about his intelligence but few comments about his mental health. I believe that his mental health is more relevant in explaining his actions as president.
