Comments on: Is being a politician a personality disorder?

By: raf

raf — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 21:17:52 +0000

So when will Bill Clinton be investigated for firing *all* of the federal prosecutors when he first took office?

They are all political appointees.

By: Crusader

Crusader — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 13:43:56 +0000

Mike Shuster – post a link that proves the firing were illegal. Otherwise STFU.

By: Mike Shuster

Mike Shuster — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 21:16:10 +0000

Roger, I agree that Whitehouse is being silly and that it would be bad for the county for there to be full-fledged criminal investigations of the outgoing administration, but you are completely wrong when you write “everyone knows the executive branch has the perfect right to make such firings.” If such firings were indeed motivated by politics (to open up positions so as to reward allies with favors, etc.) rather than job performance, it is illegal for the executive branch to fire federal prosecutors– those aren’t political appointments like (for instance) the OMB or State Department or whatever. Seriously, do a little research before you write things!

Although again, I agree that it would be silly to pursue these sorts of investigations and Whitehouse et al should just be quiet, in the interest of unity, forward-thinkingness, etc.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 10:05:11 +0000

Dunno if it's a psychiatric disorder. *I* think it's more like substance abuse.

By: MB Kitchen

MB Kitchen — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 02:44:05 +0000

“It is an indictment of a person’s character, who wants to be a politician.” –MB Kitchen

By: bobby b

bobby b — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:50:27 +0000

“So why, Roger, should the guilty go unpunished? The innocence have nothing to worry about.”
– - – -

Ya’ know, I used to throw out the line that goes “yeah, but we have all the guns” as a joke, recognized as humor by both speaker and listener.

Both sides now seem to give it a quick, slightly surprised head-jerk before nervously laughing.

But, as you say, (almost – I fear that your “trials” might be run as exactingly as your typing), the innocent need have no fear. Just make sure you’re in that room when we define “innocent.”

You know – the room with the guns.

By: Fderfler

Fderfler — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:45:57 +0000

I laugh when I hear pundits talk about The Dems as having only a little time to please their voters before the voters turn nasty. I laugh because the American public, aided by the media, has cultural ADD. Yes, the pace of change (credit to the Tofflers, not the Democrats!) helps blur anything older than 12 hours, but failure to remember and to apply lessons is now endemic.

The new administration has so many problems, promises, and pressures that they will need circuses to keep the masses distracted. Really, any old thing will do for a while. Hearings that re-play how awful the Bush administration was will do fine …for a while. The issues that are too tough.. healthcare, social security, out of control spending.. those issues will never be heard of again. In there place will be… ??, but you can bet it won’t be anything important.

By: Andrew Garland

Andrew Garland — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:45:53 +0000

The Democrats know little about economics, or they don’t care. They know a lot about political infighting, accusations, and hearings. It builds their brand, so that is what they do.

By: Mike G in Corvallis

Mike G in Corvallis — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:30:06 +0000

Years ago I saw a cartoon in a magazine: The scene is a psychiatrist’s office, with three doctors and a nurse facing a patient. One of the shrinks is saying to the subject: “I’ve diagnosed you as a paranoid schizophrenic, Dr. Aaron thinks you’re a sociopath, Dr. Baker believes you have delusions of grandeur, and Miss Willoughby thinks you’re just an asshole.”

One or another of those diagnoses should fit most politicians …

By: brad G

brad G — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:00:25 +0000

Oh my god! — is being a politician a personality disorder? Are you serious? Have you ever watched Barney Frank, or Chris Dodd?? I mean in what area other than the political arena could two such obvious idiots actually represent such sucesses? In real life, at least in my neighborhood, they would have been pounded mercilessly by any redblooded boy…well wait a minute. I think that may have happened to Frank anyway…I mea what else could explain such a freak show.