Here's the deal.

She's definitely got some problems. But I find that almost all Republicans are so narcissistic as to make it a prerequisite for party membership. There are so very few that are without a bad case of that disorder that I had no choice but to vote for "just another wingnut."

Your "borderline" theory may have something to it, but I think the lady is just an extra-mean, cutthroat Republican politician who lies as often as most people breathe air, and feels justified in doing so because "she only wants what's right for the country."

In short -- she's the worst personification of Republican "values" and she and W could have been twins.

by JC Garrett (40 articles, 65 quicklinks, 7 diaries, 604 comments) on Monday, September 15, 2008 at 10:01:40 PM
 

We know that

right-wing-nut Republicans exhibit at various times all of the psychiatric symptoms described in the poll and are actually required disorders to be a Republican, and we know that in order to become a Republican, you must have a totally blank brain, ready for programming, we can then postulate that they are not victims of imposed conditions, but they have made a conscious decision to depart from being a normal person and instead to fill the blank spaces with these psychiatric disorders, to prevent the need for thinking.

Lacking the ability to think and being unable to deal with the reality of the world with the subtlety required of a normal, functioning brain, the Republicans adopt a set of rote, delusional, psychopathic responses that allows them to completely avoid that confrontation with reality.  It's absolutely required that you have a pre-programmed set of responses that you have adopted as a means of dealing with reality when you are completely lacking in the thoughtful analysis required to reach logical conclusions. 

This totally eratic, irrational response just happens to exactly correspond with the descriptions of the psychiatric disorders listed in the poll.  They are immune to reason, logic or remedy, since they are self-induced.   

by Ed Martin (123 articles, 0 quicklinks, 34 diaries, 145 comments) on Monday, September 15, 2008 at 10:13:54 PM
 

I'd say she's looking for the medicated vote...

...and that's over 50% of the US at this point.

I live across the street from a nice old man and I was sorry to see a McCain sign go up on his lawn. People literally take dozens of types of pills that clearly say side effects include dementia. 

But I'm not sure Palin is on anything at all except old time religion. She attended services with a Kenyan mystical priest so she branches out for sure. Maybe she's even been the subject of one of those theatrical faith healings at her church...

by Gustav Wynn (66 articles, 44 quicklinks, 5 diaries, 305 comments) on Monday, September 15, 2008 at 10:22:32 PM
 

Hillary -- help!

Look, we have to tread carefully here.  The pugs have set things up that we can't even "interview" the airhead withoug being sexist or "mean". 

But all the more reason to be creative about this.  She's not a "teflon" politician like Ronald Reagan.  She has not one, but SEVERAL Achilles' Heels, we just have to find them.   Rob's on the right track.  It's gotta be something "differrent". 

We're between a rock in a hard place in that she doesn't have a really substantive voting record to go after.  Yes, what she HAS done is vile, e.g., voting AGAINST children, voting AGAINST women, voting AGAINST animials and voting AGAINST the environment.  All of that is there, but she's such a newby the evidence is unsubstantial.

If only we could set up a "discussion" between her and Hillary Clinton!  Tigress Hillary would eat her lunch in five minutes.  I wonder, is there any chance of doing something like this.  I swear, Hillary would bury here.

And for that matter, Bill Clinton could zing the s___ out of her with his brilliant one liners, but Obama and Biden have his intelligence and aggressiveness locked up.  These FOOLS still think Obama is going to smile (GOD, I"m sick of that smile!) his way to the presidency.

The CLINTONS WOULD KNOW WHAT TO DO.  FOR GOD'S SAKE, LET THEM LOOSE!!!   ESPECIALLY HILLARY.

by W. Christopher Epler (Bill) (249 articles, 52 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 591 comments) on Monday, September 15, 2008 at 10:27:03 PM
 

comminted to failed conservative values.

Rob,

She's very committed  to her conservative values.  In her  interview she said, 'Never Blink'.  I read it as never blink, never question her conservative values, principles, and ideology.  That's one reason I think she is liked so much by conservatives. Here unquestioning, full speed ahead approach.  I'm not sure what that makes her, sort of a fanatic perhaps.   You might broaden the question to what are those Conservative Values she is holding on to so tightly? In interviews I've done, it's been mentioned the values of a psychopath growing out of fear? Then here is the possibility of fear leading an authoritarianism leading to Narcissism. Psychopaths and Narcissism having lack of empathy as part of their makeup. Would be interesting to learn about her childhood.

Failed Conservative Values: Gordon Wright on Psychopaths and Fear
		Gordon Wright values freedom but was raised by a conservative autocratic, dictatorial and bully of a father. He feels conservatives fear life's changes and it's spontaneity. An example is how all of George Bush's public events are totally choreographed and controlled events.   He also thinks  that the corporate conservatives value of heartlessness and unfettered self-interest, are the same values as a psychopaths.  View @:DemocracyforAmerica.com  - Opednews.com (Poll) - Dailykos.com

Failed Conservative Values: Louise Specht on Hierarchy Authoritarian Narcissism
		I asked Louise Specht about the the failure of conservative values. She addressed the hierarchal and authoritarian nature of conservativism and how this can lead  to narcissism for the people at the top. Steven Colbert does a great job of imitating a conservative on the Colbert Report. I just saw him begin his show lately by saying, "Did I tell you I love me lately?"  He hit's the nail on the head, as does Louise. (Poll) View @:DemocracyforAmerica  - Opednews  (Poll) - Dailykos.com - Groups.yahoo

by Edwin Rutsch (64 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 155 comments) on Monday, September 15, 2008 at 11:25:25 PM
 

It's a Bipolar World

I was recently inspired by David Lindorff to add my own list of 20 reasons why I feel I'm uniquely qualified to be VP or have any other job based on Sarah Barracuda's logic:

1. I've dated beauty queens, therefore I'm an authority on intelligence and natural selection.

2. I have even surfed big waves. I'm sure to qualify as a hydrologist or dam (sic) engineer.

3. I could even be a dictator. At least as good as our current Dick Tator, aka Mr. Potato Head, Richard Cheney. (If it weren't for his pacemaker he'd be a vegetable too.)

4. I can turn on a light switch. I have confidence to be an authority on power plays.

5. I've killed and eaten rattlesnakes. Dealing with Vladimir Putin would be cake. He don't even have fangs.

6. I can brush my teeth and even go to the bathroom by myself. Being a bioweapons expert would be microbial in comparison.

7. I've been very unsuccessful at business. As a top executive I could run the country even further into the ground than our current CEO. It's a no brainer job. Having one is evidently a disqualification.

8. I am very good at reading between the lines. With all that experience in dealing with space, I think I'm more than qualified to be an astronaut.

9. I've shot guns of all calibers. Heck, I can press a button and shoot off a missile just as easily as shooting off my mouth or pulling a nuclear trigger.

10. I'm an authority on money, credit, and cash flow because I have wallet. Managing the economy of a country is just a matter of deception.

11. I have a lot of friends no one else can see or hear. Therefore, I'm more than qualified at foreign correspondence.

12. The glasses I wear help me with vision. I can even see into the future. Not to mention being an expert at surveillance.

13. You can fool me once, you can fool me, uh... with that kinda background I can be a world class fool.

14. I've had square offices and round ones. I can run an oval office just as easy. It's just plane geometry after all.

15. I know how to pop blisters and put on bandaids. Surgical strikes are just bigger blowups and coverups.

16. I can tie my shoes, tie one on, or even find Taiwan on a map. It's over there between Takrete and Thailand.

17. I understand computer technology because I have a chip on my shoulder. I can bite or byte. I'd be good at vp because I can take it either way. I'm good at h(omon)yms because I go to church too.

18. It's true I'm bi-polar. But so is the earth. We've got a lot in common. I understand geography as well as psychology. That's what makes me a great leader. I can catch fish others only dream about.

19. I've studied math and have learned how to measure things. I could even be a great ruler because of my experience.

20. Best of all I'm a darn good liar. That more than qualifies me to be a competent politician.

by Cinderfella (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 113 comments) on Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at 2:30:47 AM
 

narcissistic sociopath of course

Name one high ranking Republican who is not one?

In fact, I have been informed from a very good source that, in order to become a member of the GOP, you must take  a "narcissistic sociopath proficiency test'', and if you fail, they don't accept you.

by francine (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 362 comments) on Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at 4:10:30 AM
 

Just Mental

I think this is an interesting way of looking at things.  Of course everybody demonstrates at least some behavior that could be interpretted as a mental health issue (for many the DSM-IV and DSM-IVR were "cookbooks" of diagnoses).  Maybe Governor Palin has such issues, maybe not (sometimes philosophies, beliefs, and practices seem----or are----insane to most "rational-thinking" members of society).  I did enjoy this perspective, however, and always enjoy your polls. Cheers!

by Jeremy Haumann (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 24 comments) on Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at 6:14:07 AM
 

ROTFLMAO!

This is easily the funniest "article" I have seen on OEN!!

Thank you for giving me something to laugh at this morning!

Ciao, CZ

by steve scheetz (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 673 comments) on Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at 7:34:29 AM
 

She's perfectly healthy

you know the rest! How could anyone in their right mind ignore the conference held on the 13th & 14th and instead rant day and night about a fish (or a bird, depending where you live) ?

by Tony Forest (7 articles, 18 quicklinks, 166 diaries, 1429 comments) on Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at 8:14:03 AM
 

I think that Dr. Kall raises pertinent questions ...

Comment from Ratings:   ... about the supposed "stability," of Sarah Palin, on many different levels, and issues.
As a nearly lifelong Bi-Polar manic depressive American-myself, I see far more of an ID-DRIVEN PSYCHOPATH, that Rob spoke about towards the end of his piece, than "merely" a bi-Polar Disorder, though either tendancy, especially toward the PSYCHPATHIC Personality, but really Bi polar disorder as well, should basically, DISQUALIFY someone immediately from being considered for the 2nd highest office in America, i.e., in the ENTIRE WORLD.
And on the subjest of FULLY releasing one's own FULL Medical(Including Physical and PSYCHOLOGICAL histories), be one named "Obama," "Biden," or "Palin," or YES, "McCAIN," they[The McCain/Palin campaign]have NOT released any truly current medical history information, about John mcCain's ongoing, CONTINUING Battles with MELANOMA, a highly serious to DEADLY form of skin cancer.
Further, some informed, and of course, "unnamed sources" have leaked that McCain's melanoma could well take the man's very LIFE, perhaps even [long-] before his first, "Elected" term has "accrued," for HIS Corporatis$tic, War Profiteers$(etcetera)as masters$, leaving yes, SARAH PALIN as "Our" Pres$ident?!
I too, am NOT at all a schooled nor licensed, medical doctor nor Psychiatrist, but still, in Sarah's VINDICTIVE, and INCREDIBLY INTOLERANT Personality, even if nothing hath ever been diagnosed, we have MUCH to worry about!
Such cynical RUTHLESSNESS, on the part of Senator McCain, all to try and MAKE a Dumbasses$-backed, BUM RUSH for the Presidential "Election" win, all riding on Sarah Palin's telegenic coattails, has{Sorry, Cynthia, God love YOU!] driven me away from myt Support for a TRULY QUALIFIED, Woman PATRIOT{she and Denny Kucinich, being the only 2 in congress, who have introduced the nEEDED ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT, against these 9-11 Attacks$ allowing, profiteers$) for the Presidency, Cynthia mcKinney of The truly, ALL-American, GREEN PARTY, and to back BARACK OBAMA and JOE BIDEN, at all costs!
I implore all true, progressive Patriots to do the same, while yes, still Hoping(and yes, Praying to any and "all people's Gods") that Cynthia mcKinney and ralph NADER can somehow MEET with Barack and Joe, and SOMEHOW, enter into a "COALITION" of some kind with Barack, wherein they may well then also bring Barack back a bit, to "the Left," to rhetoric which he HAD espoused during the primaries, ... ie to true SANITY, for the Long-Term true GOOD for this country.
("SANITY," is, a good word to use as metaphor, given Rob's piece on this poor, driven, but yes, cynical and CRUEL, power-maddened woman, named Sarah Palin.

All "national," and some local and state Politicians, may well be "megalomaniacal," at least to some degree, but most all of the SANER Leaders, are far more "EGO-Driven," than is the Current "elected," and apparently{according to psychiatrists] ID-DRIVEN, GW BUS$H and Dick CHENEY, and indeed THEIR TWO WILLING S$YCOPHANTS$, for NOW "Change"{?!?!] named MCCAIN and PALIN.
These ARE dire days, indeed, but we need not allow them to become the "Great Reckoning," ... that Ms. Palin doth also so love to play up her belief in the biblical book of Revelation, ... with that very book, having been so sorely MIS$US$ED, to put it mildly, by America's "Chris$tian" Rightists$.

by Brian O'Moore (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 43 comments) on Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at 9:57:36 AM
 

concerned reader

Comment from Ratings:   I cannot stand Palin and think it would be downright scary if she reached VP much less President BUT I think it is irresponsible and dangerous to publish articles such as this. To presume, even in jest, to put a psychiatric diagnosis on a public figure without corresponding medical data is just wrong! and this is from a person who stands stongly to the left!

by Judith McAdoo (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1 comments) on Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at 10:18:10 AM
 

LIke I said,

I've worked in the world of Mental Health for over 20 years of my life and something is off with this gal. Would you suggest that it is unreasonable to ask about the mental health of a person a heartbeat away from the nuclear trigger? I don't think so. I'm just taking the next step, speculating on possibilities.

by Rob Kall (858 articles, 3987 quicklinks, 343 diaries, 1821 comments) on Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at 11:13:23 AM
 

How about looking outside the DSM

Look at the behavior of GWB (a dry drunk), Cheney (who clearly suffered oxygen deprivation during his heart attacks), McCain (who is a walking textbook example of PTSD), and, frankly, the majority of those in our society who aspire to power.  (Those who are seeking genuine servant-leader status are marginalized for a lot of reasons I won't bore everyone with.) Most of them are behaving dysfunctionally, but more on a developmental scale for human behavior, not on a scale of pathologies like those in the DSM.  (Most of which, by the way, are being obsoleted quickly as we learn more about hrain function, and thank god, its time for us to stop marginalizing and stigmatizing mental health/illness, which is just as physiological as cancer, but just happens to include pathological emotional behaviors as symptoms.) 

 These people see the world revolving around them, yet paradoxically feel divorced from controlling it, making them all the more obsessive about exerting control.  (Often through hands-off mechanisms like war.)  They have no real concern for most of those around them, whom they treat like pawns serving their interests being at the center of the universe, although they probably do have very strong co-dependent relationships with a significant other. They are ignorant of anything that does not fit within their limited worldview.  Who else behaves like this?  Infants. 

I am writing a thesis about this phenomenon, which is societal, and affects us all to some degree.  I think we do ourselves and our neighbors a disservice if we try to put the behavior of any of these people into a box, when the culture exerts pressure on all of us to behave this way, and so many of us try to rise up above the pressure to act like grownups.   (None of whom appeared to be at the GOP convention; if they were there, they would have left those snarky speakers to speak to an empty convention center, rather than cheering them on like a bunch of bozos.)  Categorizing is very human, but it is usually very counterproductive.  Context is critical, and our society has created a context that makes it possible for people like Sarah Palin and the rest of the current crops of PTB to act like a bunch of babies.

by ear (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 44 comments) on Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at 7:15:21 PM
 

The Backstabbing Behavior...

...is definitely a BPD trait, but a real borderline wouldn't crave all the public adoration because it might expose them and reveal their hollowness.  They'd rather die than have the world know how broken and vacuous they are.

Which really only leaves NPD.  And she fits that bill very nicely.  Has her head buried so far up her backside that she can't see how in love with the view she really is.

Not a bipolar.  Not even close.  Dysthemic, possibly, but too high functioning to be a bipolar.  No artistic sensibilities.  Bipolars are almost always inclined towards art and creativity.  This heap is all about the green.  Total left brain.

by Richard Volaar (23 articles, 0 quicklinks, 114 diaries, 350 comments) on Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at 10:25:29 AM
 

Is that a clinical diagnosis?

all to try and MAKE a Dumbasses$-backed, BUM RUSH for the Presidential "Election"

 I am STILL laughing at this thread!  "Back stabbing?" who is Palin "backstabbing?"  The people who are attacking her??

You guys are flat out amazing!  Truly something of amusement on this Tuesday Morning...

Ciao, CZ

by steve scheetz (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 673 comments) on Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at 10:54:15 AM
 

why backstabbing?

I think this refers to her running against the mayor of Wasilla who helped her get into politics and running against the governor that also helped her politically. And there have been some reports from people (the kilkenny email) that indicate her use of power to attack people who don't support her.

She has been lying about important matter since she was selected as VP and spoke at the convention (bridge to nowhere, fighting corruption and pork, the flat out lies about Obama's policies, etc). Now I don't think she is as terrible as some people suggest and there have certainly been ridiculous attempts to smear her with little, if no evidence, but certainly nothing worse than the attacks Obama has gotten over the last year.  And the moe ridiculous attacks on her have stopped since real facts have started emerging, unike the continued smears of Obama that he is basically a muslim fundamentalist commie. Now THAT is a funny image

by Tony Duncan (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 48 comments) on Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at 1:20:45 PM
 

well...

I'd say she has a severe case of Pseudo-Christian Extremist disorder which means she in some ways believes she is on "Gods mission" and that makes her just as dangerous as Osama....

by BenMarbleMD (22 articles, 0 quicklinks, 216 diaries, 322 comments) on Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at 11:47:05 AM
 

my vote and a complaint

I voted Narcissistic Personality Disorder   and was pleased to see it got the highest vote total even though Rob unfairly scewed the result with his push toward Borderline personality disorder.

However it bothers me that so many people write disparaging remarks about republicans. While a great number of republicans are obviously severely disturbed and what I am calling proto- fascist, i find similar , if usually much less serious pathologies among democrats, progressives and independants.

I know a few republicans whose values are closer to mine than many democrats or progressives. I have been awestruck at the vast majority progressives who will rail about how horrible Bush is and what he is doing to this country, but are unwilling to spend any time or money to actually do anything constructive to oppose what has been done

 And there are republican politicians like Hagel in the senate and Flake in the House that seem to have a relatively high degree of integrity.

the republican party has been shanghaid by Bush and the neocons in the way that the right wing parties in Germany were by the Nazis. but it was the social democrats and communists, who allowed Hitler to come to power for political reasons of their own 

by Tony Duncan (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 48 comments) on Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at 12:55:25 PM
 

in agreeance

Republicans, Democrats, Blacks, Whites, Men, Women, etc.

The Division Bell

Silence that Bell, help us join together as one in our fight against tyranny and evil. 

My Dad is a Republican and I love him.

by Tony Forest (7 articles, 18 quicklinks, 166 diaries, 1429 comments) on Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at 1:20:48 PM