I'm gonna pull a Dr. Frist here...because I can:

[PCIntern]

I think Trump has what we USED to call: Organic Brain Syndrome.

Now this term is out of favor in the medical community but quite frankly, I care what they think like I care what Sean Hannity thinks...so THERE.

Organic Brain Syndrome is a catch-all term for non-psychiatric disease of the brain which, among other things, causes an impairment of judgement. Now have you looked at Donald lately from profile - and I don't just mean his face, but the whole torso? He's not just fat: it's like there's something wrong somewhere: thyroid, pituitary, something's not right. I can't put my finger on it but something looks weird about him and qualitatively different.

I know I know: it's beyond speculative, but then again, if I were the examining physician I would note that I would need to rule out metabolic disease given his appearance and behavior. He's become a caricature of himself in recent months and, as outrageous as he's always been, this little series of tirades in which he has been engaged is grossly inappropriate by any standard including the Republican standard which is nadiresque (not Nader-esque).

I think something's wrong with this guy: if an individual did the equivalent in the workplace or home or place of worship or relaxation, they'd be calling the docs immediately. the fact that he's apparently a billionaire gives him insulation but you know what? These people can suffer the same slings and arrows as the rest of us.

Sumpin's up with this guy which goes beyond his psyche...mark my words.

[Walk away]

1. I think you are being kind to the man...

He seems like a garden variety egomaniac to me. Albeit, one who's sense of self worth has been fertilize with millions of dollars and far too much attention. It's as if you were growing a prize tomato, used too much Miracle Grow and you ended up with a giant vegetable bursting with it's own crazy juices!

[Warpy]

2. I think he's a rich boor who has started to believe his own PR

However, he's never been particularly well spoken or tactful, he pays people for that stuff. He's also never been a very good businessman, bankrupt with other people's money more than once.

However, he is looking distinctly unhealthy, I'll give you that.

[PCIntern]

3. but that's my point...

he's always been horrible but this...THIS is a new level of wanton aggressiveness. I could be wrong...but it is fun to speculate, no?

[MADem]

4. Well, we know what Ahhhhh-nuld would say about that....

[PCIntern]

5. I use the line everyday...nt

[freshwest]

28. I know over a dozen people who have had tumors that turned them... well, let's just say they were...

Institutionalized for the behavior they displayed.

While they were recieving that level of care (those I know do recieve a very high level) they were diagnosed, got surgery and normalized. They'd been severely effected and very likely to become violent so they needed 24/7 care with several people available and well informed treatment plans. And a lot of monitoring.

Trump is nothing next to these guys, believe me. Also know some with brain injuries from childhood diseases, some had surgery which helped. Others, could not, because the amount of brain matter that would have to be removed would kill them.

I'd say Trump, Cruz, Rand and most of the clown car are just afflicted with too much money to give a shit what anyone thinks, have some intelligence, not brain disorders or brain disease of unknown origin.

They're just pigs with a point. Usually a very trite, but still resonating point with a certain demographic of voters. And people are angry about many things and looking for a cause which these demagogues will supply a reason or source.

JMHO, as one who visits those with profound to mild cases more than once a week and communicate with them. They are human beings just trying to survive and get along. They can't afford to antagonize any person around them, although lord knows they can be pretty exasperating. One would have to take into account their reality, which is not typical.

You can't say anything like that about the well protected and wealthy and powerful clown car passengers. They have been living with a sense of entitlement for so long, they are very distant from the most of us folks.

At his worst, I think Trump is just great for us. And I think he will give a boost. I even think that he believes what he is saying, that he has his own way of looking at the world that is not political at all. He was against the Iraq War, unlike most of his party if IIRC.

That makes him perfect for a third party run or GOP spoiler. I hope his supporters grow and he does just that. Half of the alleged 'Independent' voters are just GOP too ashamed to admit it and that's why polls get confused. Let them vote for Trump for a Democratic victory.

JMHO...

[MADem]

30. I'm no doctor, but it does seem to me (to Frist like the OP) that he's bloated and

pig-eye looking, like something isn't quite right with him, health-wise. Hey, if we wanted to be mean and nasty and cold and insulting (like he is), we could accuse him of having dementia as a consequence of syphilis or something!

It would be great if he decided on a 3rd party run--he and any one of the idiots from the clown car could split the hater's vote!

[lunatica]

6. There something definitely wrong with him

I think he must have a bet going with someone that he can do anything outrageous and he'll probably get elected, and all that without spending any money, just getting there on the press coverage.

He's the world's biggest cynic.

[Jane Austin]

7. If you turn the sound off when he's on (recommended)

he looks like he's about to have a stroke: red, contorted face, and shouting like he's in pain.

[XRubicon]

8. I concur with your diagnosis...

Definitely a case of organic brain syndrome or in lay terms "shit for brains"

[hunter]

9. Yep. Reaganesque almost.

I had the unfortunate "privilege" of seeing Ronald Reagan appearing live in California during his second term.

He was obviously a confused old man who didn't know where the hell he was or what he was doing there, pushed forward by his handlers. Air travel is hard on an old guy like that, even traveling in luxury on Air Force One.

Yet Reagan still managed to spew a few well rehearsed sound-bites that were broadcast on television and printed in the newspapers; his acting skills still intact, a good gig. I'm certain his awareness of the situation wasn't any deeper than that. The U.S.A. goes on, no worries. God Bless America!

The press ignored all his strangeness before and after and in between. Reagan clearly was not well.

As much as I hated Reagan, venal willing puppet of a human being he always was, just wiggle his dick and hand him money to make his mouth move, in learning the truth of his later dementia, it still makes me a little sad.

I honestly hope Trump is just an asshole unleashed, for his own sake.

All the forms of dementia suck, and I wouldn't wish them on my worst enemy.

Closer to home, one of my wife's grandmas, and one of my great grandmas, lost their minds years before the rest of their bodies failed.

[No Vested Interest]

10. PCIntern - How does one explain (medically/psychologically) the ever-present pursed lips?

That's not normal, no way.
At age 69, things begin to happen to some people.
Age and diminishment would be very hard to accept by a narcissist, I believe.

[jalan48]

11. He has the pesonality of a dictator.

[Johonny]

12. I assumed he was suffering from massive amounts of cocaine abuse

[TNNurse]

13. Love your reference to my ex-senator.

I am a recently retired RN. I diagnosed Reagan with Alzheimer's well (I mean several years) before it was admitted. I told my friends and family. Wish I had documented it. I often referred to myself as an amateur psychiatrist at work.

I have not formed a medical or psychiatric diagnosis on Trump. He surely has high blood pressure that red face looks bad. He has a horrific lack of impulse control (wives/business/personal grooming) and thinks he can get away with saying anything because he is so damn rich.

Wealthy business owners were some of my least favorite patients. Their families denied them nothing so they could stay on the payroll. No one ever told them NO, until they met nurses who made them follow appropriate restrictions...you know diet, activity, no smoking, "no you may not have a desk for your secretary in the ICU"

He has had so much money for so long, he has not had to care what other people thought. He thinks we admire him because he is so rich....well not paying your bills by declaring bankruptcy repeatedly is NOT admirable.

I really think he is delusional and thinks he can be king, emperor or whatever title he wants. So, I have done a psych assessment on him.

PS: I lost all respect for McCain years ago....but you do not insult people who were POWs....you just don't.

[chknltl]

14. Some of us channel 'stupid' better than others.

Mr. Trump currently is putting on a master-class demonstration of this ability.

[MicaelS]

15. "Something's not right...something looks weird"

I am a layman and I agree with you.

But, I also think it is sheer arrogance. He has not bee told "No!" by anyone in so long because of money, that he reacts very badly, and lashing out.

Someone once asked him "How much money was enough?" His reply ""One more dollar."

[SoapBox]

16. That is SO amazing!

Our house has said the same thing...not just that he's full on bonkers but something else looks weird.

[George II]

17. I think it's Tourette Syndrome, everything he says is obscene.

[ellennelle]

18. ill see your 'bill frist'

and pull a 'tyson,' as in neal degrasse.

haha; that's such a joke, as i don't pretend to enjoy his expertise. but, i do have expertise in my own field, and this is what i do, neuropsychological and psychological diagnostics. and i have been an expert witness in legal cases.

all that said, i respectfully beg to differ with the hypothesis. here is why. first, though his verbal offerings are arrogant and highly disinhibited, he shows no signs of linguistic failings. he doesn't hunt around for words, and he never displays any confusion.

no, imhbpo (humble but professional), here is a man long practiced in the art of BS, first and foremost BS of his own self. he is, no doubt, a classic narcissist, and long ago convinced himself he was better than any and all in the world. and then fox and their money channel gave him a mic, and then cbs gave him a show, and dear gawd, this is what happens when a narcissist is humored, even adulated.

he is committing all these faux pas because he has in the past always gotten away with it, so he has no clue what his limits are. and he's never had an internal editor, consistent with narcissism.

if he begins to dement, then you'll start to see him look more like reagan did: faltering, hesitant, uncertain, confused, lost. though in truth, trump is all these things, he is not behaving in these ways; instead, his behaviors compensate for his lifelong feelings of inadequacy, his failings and weaknesses, by contriving himself to be bigger than life. this is the very definition of narcissism.

he's gone after mccain because he believes he can. he believes he can run for the presidency w/o the RNC, and he may yet do that. bring it on, i say! delighted for him to split the party of billionaires and their useful idiots. of which, they (billionaires) always thought he was one (useful idiot). now the inmate has taken over the asylum.

pass the popcorn.

[NJCher]

23. I think you nailed it

very interesting post. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.


Cher

[PCIntern]

32. I accept your expertise...and thank you for it.

He's still a creep.

[steve2470]

35. yep you nailed it

Anyone who runs for President has to have a certain level of narcissism. With President Obama, it's very very mild and very well-controlled, only perhaps a small tad above the median. Trump is off the scale narcissistic, a 9.9 on the 0 to 10 scale. He's also not that terribly bright, since his father gave him his big bucks to get started. His father was probably brighter and much more humble than Trump the son.

Of course, usual caveats apply about lack of in-person examination yada yada yada. Yea, that's my best educated guess.

[MannyGoldstein]

19. Bad news:

I've been thinking the same thing, which prolly means you're wrong.

Sorry.

[mainstreetonce]

20. I thought the something.

He is not making sense the way he did on his show.

[scarletwoman]

21. Naw. He's just letting his inner pre-adolescent boy run free, saying whatever will get him attention

He's like the spoiled little kid with a potty mouth who's getting off on all the gasps of shock going off around him.

Physically, he's probably a mess. But mentally, he's just an asshole with a huge sense of entitlement.

[MicaelS]

29. That is really fucking insulting.

What does Trump's sex life have to do with anything? For that matter any man's? Unless you're having sex with him, it's none of your fucking business.

The penis / sex slurs against men are are really popular here, and god, the hypocrisy. If someone here said something similar about some woman's sex life, or breast size, or genitalia, the reaction would be thermonuclear.

[Historic NY]

22. His father had alzheimers.

[abbeyco]

24. Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Not unlike what the Klondike Kardashian (Sarah Palin) seems to suffer from - the inability to disengage whenever shade is thrown in their direction, pumping up their ego in every sentence and the absolute need to have the last word in any argument or disagreement.
Just remember, these 'supporters' were like the same fools who Swift-Boated John Kerry's service during the 2004 election - dare I detect some sort of a double standard when it comes to party? I think so!

[TheDebbieDee]

26. I think Rachel Maddow and Lawrence O'Donnell are right!

Trump is trolling the Conservative right with all his anti-immigrant talk! And what did the republicans say or do about what The Donald has said about Mexican immigrants being dope-dealing rapists? Nada - the republicans candidates (two of whom are of Cuban descent and one who is married to a Latina) didn't say a damn thing or refute in anyway anything that The Donald said....

UNIVISION will NOT fail to mention every night during this upcoming Presidential campaign that a Republican candidate slurred Mexican-Americans and other immigrants in the early stages of the campaign and that the other candidates never said "BOO!" about it......

[WinkyDink]

27. He's fine. "Stocky" is what we used to call his physique. "Drama Queen ("King")" is the rest.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

31. He screams Narcissitic Personality Disorder.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/conditions/narcissistic-personality-disorder

Reacts to criticism with anger, shame or humiliation

Takes advantage of others to reach his or her own goals

Exaggerates own importance

Exaggerates achievements and talents

Entertains unrealistic fantasies about success, power, beauty, intelligence or romance

Has unreasonable expectation of favorable treatment

Requires constant attention and positive reinforcement from others

Is easily jealous

Disregards the feelings of others, lacks empathy
Has obsessive self-interest

Pursues mainly selfish goals

[meow2u3]

33. Most dictators had been narcissists

Gets mad when criticized, even in a constructive way? Check.

Demands to be fawned over? Check.

Overly self-important? Check.

Selfishness on steroids? Check.

...etc, and so on, and so forth.

Donald Tramp isn't the only narcissist running for office that doesn't have a prayer.

[Buns_of_Fire]

34. It's a shame they didn't add "Raging Asshole" to DSM-5.

Especially since there seem to be so many politicians and wealthy types suffering from it these days. It would enable them to get the help they so obviously need.

(BTW, I got that issue of MAD you mentioned a little while back. 'Tis beauty, 'tis... )

[PCIntern]

36. Wasn't that the BEST! I congratulated him

personally for the concept.

[petronius]

37. Oh, thank god, it's a distance-diagnosis

I was afraid you were threatening to kill a cat!

[PCIntern]

38. that's FUNNY!

Dr. Frist WAS a man of many talents...he's sort-of missed around here.

In certain ways, I like to emulate these Republicans: distance diagnosis was fine for him to perform, so of course it's fine for me to perform.

Doesn't matter if I'm right or wrong...it's the thought that counts.