Review of "Bush on the Couch"

[trof]

Dr. Frank opens the first chapter with a crisp summary of his own, of what he meticulously documents in the 219 pages of text that follow: "If one of my patients frequently said one thing and did another, I would want to know why. If I found that he often used words that hid their true meaning and affected a persona that obscured the nature of his actions, I would grow more concerned. If he presented an inflexible worldview characterized by an oversimplified distinction between right and wrong, good and evil, allies and enemies, I would question his ability to grasp reality. And if his actions revealed an unacknowledged—even sadistic—indifference to human suffering, wrapped in pious claims of compassion, I would worry about the safety of the people whose lives he touched.

"For the past three years, I have observed with increasing alarm the inconsistencies and denials of such an individual. But he is not one of my patients. He is our president."

With clinical objectivity, Dr. Frank draws upon the mass of material available in the public domain about the President, particularly George W. Bush's own, documented remarks, to paint a picture of a man suffering from a number of serious, but potentially treatable psychological disorders. Among them: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), untreated and uncured alcoholism (what is commonly referred to today as "dry drunk"), an omnipotence complex, paranoia, an Oedipal Complex, sadism, a mild form of Tourettes Syndrome, and a diminished capacity to distinguish between reality and fantasy.

http://www.larouchepub.com/other/2004/book_reviews/3133bush_on_couch.html

And an interview with the author:

EIR: One of the at-least hypotheticals is that if the Halliburton scandals, and possibly the Valery Plame grand jury were to reach a kind of critical mass before the Republican convention, end of August, that there could be a change in the ticket, with Cheney stepping down, maybe for medical or other reasons. What kind of psychological impact do you think that might have on Bush, that kind of sudden change, and forced admissions of some problems?

Frank: Well, I really think that he has honed his defenses to a very fine point, and I don't see that that would really affect him that much. I actually think he is so disconnected that he would just disconnect himself, and go to his inner version of Crawford, Texas, just retreat to the Crawford of his mind. And I think that's what he does always when there is anything that bothers him: He zones out. You can see it on television; you can see him glaze over. So if Cheney left, I think he would zone out, and he would be taken care of by the three women in his life: Karen Hughes, Laura Bush, and Condi Rice. And they really do take care of him. I think that he would find some other vice president. But I really think that the only way to really break through, and get through to him, would not be losing Cheney. The only way would be for somebody to actually directly confront him in a clear way, to bring him out, so you would really see the bully, and you would also see the fear.

http://www.larouchepub.com/other/interviews/2004/3133dr_justin_frank.html

[Kanary]

1. and there you have it.

"The only way would be for somebody to actually directly confront him in a clear way, to bring him out, so you would really see
the bully, and you would also see the fear."

There's your strategy....... clear as a bell, and without charge, even.

Thanks for posting!

Kanary

[papau]

2. CNBC 7/4/04 Tina Brown w/ Gail Sheey & Dr Frank is worth a read

n/t

[trof]

4. Couldn't find it, but this is good:

Interview with Dan Froomkin, Wash. Post Online

Dan Froomkin: Justin, Thanks for much for joining us today. Your book is clearly generating some buzz. Before we get to the reader questions, give me a quick sense of what sort of reaction you've gotten thus far.

Justin Frank: Thank you for having me online. So far the reaction I've received has been positive from colleagues as well as media people. I had an interview last evening on Air America on the Garofolo/Seder show which was lively and informed. Reviews of the book are just starting to come in.


http://www.unknownnews.net/insanity061704.html

[papau]

5. Discussion of discussion is on web - transcript only at a cost

http://cnbc.burrelles.com/Products.asp?ParentID=49109

above is transcript for a cost

http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:FgUywmVXuSIJ:forum.johnkerry.com/lofiversion/index.php/t52831.html+Tina+Brown+CNBC+Dr.+Frank&hl=en

above is discussion of interview

[buycitgo]

6. yes it was; I saw it

Chris Hitchens, resident expert on all types of alcoholism: wet, dry, whiteknuckle, sweaty, dissheveled, obnoxious, etc, was a guest, and was VERY ineffective, uncharacteristically

you could tell he was uncomfortable with the subject, and Gail Sheehy slapped him back several times, saying that several of his assertions were UNTRUE. what a nice change of pace it was to see these liars being called on their mendacity occasionally

she had facts to back herself up, as well

she's been a WONDERFUL advocate for the 911 families, as well as Sibel Edmonds, btw

Gail Sheehy: media HERO! how often does one hear that word to describe on of THEM?

[trof]

13. Hitchens is the only guy I know

who REEKS of Scotch, even through the television screen.

[Jane Austin]

15. Scotch and stale perspiration.

n/t

[AmerDem]

3. nice read!

Thanks:toast:

[buycitgo]

7. you are aware that it IS LaRouche, of course?

that gives it instantly negative credibility

notice how he's not appearing on ANY mainstream shows, where those swiftboat traitors are on every time one turns the channel

they discussed it on MTP today, and gave VERY little discussion on just how disgusting the whole deal is, and concentrated MORE on the fact that news shows were playing it, and how it has potential to HURT Kerry!!!

once again, it's the MEDIA, stupid! (not you, just using that meme from 92)

[trof]

8. Yep, but I ain't shootin' the messenger.

I've found some other interviews and some backfround on Dr. Frank.
He doesn't sound like a wing nut.

[trof]

9. Oh yeah, I figured out the new repig meme on Kerry's service.

"We'll never know what happened 30 years ago."
Sen. Warner said that on Blitzer earlier, and I've heard it from 2 other repig talking heads.
That's it. "We'll never know."
We'll just leave ya with a little doubt.
Like the Navy records don't count.
And the Swiftboat Assholes (s'cuse me, but I am PISSED) for Bush* carry just as much weight as Navy documents.
:grr:

[Hampsterfoot]

10. Ineteresting.

Thanks!

[grasswire]

11. there is is, indeed

The key strategy. The key strategy. The key strategy.

The only way would be for somebody to actually directly confront him in a clear way, to bring him out, so you would really see the bully, and you would also see the fear.

We can only hope that the Kerry campaign fully understands this and plans to integrate the strategy into the debates.

[opihimoimoi]

12. Dasmn, the essence of:: Poor Voting gets you Poor Results/Presidents

[bobthedrummer]

14. I'm reading it now, also John Dean's "Worse Than Watergate"

got both of them from our local public library.