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Alex Knapp
Outside the Beltway
Sun, 11 May 2008 18:09 EDT

U.S. News

I know that Andrew Sullivan is a fan of hyperbolic rhetoric ("fifth column", anyone?), and I also know that a lot of time I enjoy his hyperbole, even when I don't agree with it. But the past few weeks of his tirades against the Clintons have gotten tiresome, and I say that as someone who was never a fan of the Clintons to begin with. But what really takes the cake is this post from today.

The trouble is: the Clintons will create mischief wherever they are. If Obama becomes president without them they will do all they can to undermine, destroy, and polarize him. The question is how one deals with sociopaths like them. It's not easy.

Andrew, do you honestly believe that the Clintons won't get behind Obama once it sinks in that they can't possibly win the nomination? Does anyone really believe that Hillary will try to undermine Obama from the Senate or Bill from the lucrative corporate speaking pulpit? Of course not. Not that they'll always agree with him or walk in step with him, but actively undermine? I doubt it.

I also really have to object to the characterization of Bill and Hillary as "sociopaths". This is a term that people like to bandy about loosely, but let's not forget that sociopathy is a real psychological disorder which is defined by the profession. While I'm no psychiatrist, I'm confident in my layman's assessment that a former President of the United States and a sitting U.S. Senator are not sociopaths. Indeed, given the nature of the disorder, I'm also pretty confident that a sociopath would be incapable of achieving either office.

The Clintons have their faults, lord knows. But sociopathy isn't one of them.

Comment: And as long as you keep telling yourself that these deviants "would be incapable of achieving either office", you're going to keep finding exactly those types of people in them.

For anyone who thinks that psychopaths are incapable of attaining positions of power, we suggest the book Snakes in Suits.


Discuss on SOTT Forum


Reader Comments
 
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Yep By Anart
Anart

Looks like Alex Knapp needs to get educated, and quickly - or maybe it's his job not to be and to keep muddying the waters with 'really?'...


Added: Sun, 11 May 2008 20:32 EDT

Astounding By Third_density_learner
Third_density_learner

All one needs to do is look up sociopathy in Wikipedia to realise that no position is immune from psychopaths. How blind is this Knapp guy? Not only that, he has a false sense of superior knowledge, being "pretty confident" and all. Someone should email him with a link to "Snakes in Suits" ASAP.


Added: Mon, 12 May 2008 00:10 EDT

Stupid Remark Of The Week: 'Sociopaths'? Really? By Fifth way
Fifth way

Its not just 'stupid'! It is a debunking remark to shield the sociopath in power. Whether the author knows this or not he is doing ALL sociopath in power the best service.


Added: Mon, 12 May 2008 09:53 EDT


 

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