Does Bush's religious faith inappropriately dictatate policy

Jack Beatty in the Atlantic Monthly: "Bush's apparent belief that God has appointed him to lead a global crusade against evil."

He writes, "If this is what Bush believes, if his talk of Armageddon is not just catnip for the religious right, then he is on his way to becoming the American Ayatollah.

"Bush's belief in God is based on his personal narrative of divine salvation as a recovering alcoholic. He once told members of the clergy, 'There is only one reason that I am in the Oval Office and not in a bar. I found faith. I found God.'"

(First, I highly suggest that two articles noted be read by the author Michael O'McCarthy; Bush and Alcoholism from Counterpunch.org - October 19, 2002)

There is nothing, absolutely nothing to indicate in the lifestyle of George Bush that he is a "recovered" alcoholic. (As indicated above, Bush explicitly implies that he is an alcoholic.)

Secondly, recovery means more than that Bush is no longer plagued by the gross symptoms of the disease of alcoholism, i.e., being unable to stop drinking. Nor does it mean simply being relieved of the mental obsession to drink.

Those two effects in the alcoholic can and often are present in what is called "the dry drunk." As indicated in the mentioned articles the dry drunk functions upon 'self will,' or by willpower to resist the inherent urge to use alcohol in order to cope with day to day life. What often occurs is that the dry drunk finds another obsession.

In some of the more willful cases, the dry drunk internalizes a concept of "God's Will" to justify willful behavior. This mental obsession that the alcoholic now is possessed with the knowledge of God's Will allows the unrecovered alcoholic to justify ego-driven, highly aggressive attitudes and behaviors in the face of opposition of life on life's terms. Using this God-given mandate, the unrecovered alcoholic is driven by a form of "self will run riot" that becomes not only dangerous to the alcoholic, but to all those the alcoholic affects in the daily course of life.

The obsessive nature of the mental component of the disease of alcoholism is well noted. The alcoholic will go to any length to get the drugs they need. Conversely, the alcoholic who does not enter a collective program of recovery -- (for example as found in 12 Step Programs) where their attitudes and behaviors are contrasted with, confronted by, or helped by those of others who are recovering -- become more and more convinced of the righteousness of their behavior and only surround their lives with those who support or enable them. It is one way of saying: "You are either with me or against me."

President George W. Bush shows every sign of a mental obsession that is rendering him dysfunctional. This obsession that he alone is right in his view of the world is driven by the complex ingredients of egomania and inferiority symptomatic to that found in the medical diagnostic description of the illness of alcoholism.

A real-world analogy would be to see Bush as the chairman of the board of an international corporation whose majority members were opposed to his policies. In like circumstances, should he persist, as he is doing now, he would either be forced to resign or be fired, and/or the Human Resources department would be called in to require mental health counseling.

Michael O'McCarthy

Please see Michael 0'McCarthy's article entitled "George W. and Alcoholism" at http://www.counterpunch.com/mccarthy1019.html

Supposedly, Bush is praying to Jesus -- his favorite philosopher.

From what you're read of what Jesus preached -- how many of you honestly think that Jesus would be counseling Bush to take the path Bush is taking?

Seems to me either the prayers aren't being sent -- aren't being received.

If they are being sent and received, it seems to me they aren't being answered -- or if they are being answered, the answer is being disregarded.

perhaps Dubya considers Jesus just another focus group. not actually relevant to making war.

Bush seems to believe he is God's messenger sent to rid the world of evil.

And it's a toss-up as to who is more evil. c.i.

PDiddie, fascinating article. Are you familiar enough with psychological studies to know if the symptoms mentioned are generally agreed on in the psychological community?

As for praying to Jesus, why would he listen to Jesus if he totally disregards his own citizens, thousands of whom are protesting daily. Did you see his press conference? Pathetic.

His dismissive attidtude does seem to agree with PDdiddie's article.

Perhaps the forum moderators should discuss creating a new category.


"The Bush Bashing Category"

Though, sadly, it would be the most prevalently posted to of all the others.


Some may see that as a testament to the breadth and width of what we have to dislike, I see it as a tremendous utility among some to find a cloud around every silver lining.

I am sure it is good therapy though.

Please, continue.

No I am not, Diane; BumbleBeeBoogie has started a thread on the topic of dry drunk syndrome and GWB with several pieces of evidence from professionals experienced in the study.

Max, how 'bout posting on the topic or not at all, thank you. What you entered is nothing more than an ad hominem attack on everyone who does not share your POV, something you shamefully do too many times in this forum.

You have a lot to contribute but you need to figure out how to do so without being so offensive.

Bush is not religious. Bush is a flim flam man.

Yo BP-Bear! Nice to see you at A2K!

Yes, dadeo, given the 'leading question' nature of the topic, you are clearly out of place here.

Thank you Mr. Stillwater I drop in from time to time, there are many people here I like.

frank and bp .... nice to see both of you.

roger... I'm still deciding.

max... re Bush bashing...goodness gracious, how awful of us. Ought I to check abuzz for your postings while Clinton was in office? I'm Canadian, so have no vested interest in either party. I have a set of notions as to how we humans, given all our various abilities and failings, ought to organize ourselves in community (eg I think some redistribution of wealth is a good idea, and I think that human groups will often tend to enforce unanimity of view and belief and that that is a bad thing). So, I tend on many issues to side with liberal policy proponents. As regards Mr Bush, my notions of the fellow are that he is one of the least intelligent and educated leaders of any Western nation that I've seen in office during my lifetime. That he is a particular sort of evangelical Christian does not improve his standing with me. And all this at a time of such need for sophistication and nuance, for thoughtfulness and knowledge. If the US was a little backwater state, no big deal. But that's not the case, and I think the fellow dangerous in the extreme. It was nice having this little talk with you.

Well put blatham, I concur.

The Atlantic

I can probably learn to live with that.

roger

You want my lovin and you know you do.

rog, bernie:

Do you two have any idea how we separate the men from the boys down here in Texas?

With a firehose and a crowbar.

blatham: talk implies conversing which implies listening, of which you do very little.
Now THAT PDiddie, was an ad hominem attack, I use it to point out that my previous post was not one. (Thanks for your indulgence, blatham!)

Perhaps the stuffy rarified genteel air of these parts has clouded your perception of what does in fact constitute an ad hominem attack.

blatham: It sounds like you're wishing a Neville Chamberlain on us, thanks, but no thanks.

Eyes Wide Shut

George w. Bush is out jogging one morning, notices a little boy on the corner with a box. Curious, he runs over to the child and says, "What's in the box kid?"

The little boy says, "Kittens, they're brand new kittens."

George W. laughs and says, "What kind of kittens are they?"

"Republicans," the child says.

"Oh that's cute," George W. says and he runs off.

A couple of days later George is running with his buddy Dick Cheney and he spies the same boy with his box just ahead.

George W. says to Dick, "You gotta check this out" and they both jog over to the boy with the box. George W. says, "Look in the box Dick, isn't that cute? Look at those little kittens. Hey kid tell my friend Dick what kind of kittens they are."

The boy replies, "They're Democrats."

"Whoa!", George W. says, "I came by here the other day and you said they were Republicans. What's up?"

"Well," the kid says, "Their eyes are open now"