Antisocial Personality Disorder

"There is a pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others: 1) failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest; 2) deceitfulness, as indicated by repeated lying, use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure; ... 5) reckless disregard for safety of self or others; 7) ... lack of remorse by being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated or stolen from others." ~ Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Fourth Edition

A True Story

Some years ago, I had a confrontation with a bad-ass neighborhood dog. And while my recall of that incident as metaphor may be analogically imprecise, our encounter that day seems nonetheless worthy of mention.

See, across the street from my house and about two houses into the next block, there lived one mean son of a bitch dog. Most people in the neighborhood knew of the dog but, being contained within his own backyard, nobody paid him much attention. But then one day that dynamic changed.

While in my front yard, I suddenly got the sense I was being watched. Turning, I noticed just 50-60 feet away stood that mean son of a bitch dog eyeing me. As our stares collided just above the middle of the street between us, I sensed a momentary chill on the back of my neck.

What I did next surprised even me. Years of watching nature documentaries found me puffing up to present a more ominous stature to my challenger. I began slowly advancing on the angry dog raising my arms in a threatening gesture, demanding he "Go home!" For the fist couple of seconds, the dog just stood there, staring. My threats weren't working. I sensed the dog was considering his response options.

And for those first few seconds, I was getting increasingly more nervous he wasn't going to buy into my threat. That's why, when he suddenly turned and decided upon a reluctant retreat, my confidence soared. I backed that son of a bitch to his house and up into his yard. It felt good. I'd let him know people in the neighborhood wouldn't tolerate his bad-assed bullying and intimidations. My mission had been accomplished.

But as I turned to go home, my adversary's confidence experienced a sudden resurgence. He became the challenger and I was now the one in retreat! Our roles had been now reversed. That mean son of a bitch had called my bluff.

I don't know if he was bluffing me or not but, if so, his bluff trumped mine. Slowly shrinking from the advancing dog, it was my hope none of the neighbors were watching my unfolding drama with the one who had suddenly become "nice doggy, nice" and I timidly returned home. The end.

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I recalled that story again last night while watching a defiant president Bush explaining why he vetoed the Iraq war funding bill. It's not just that his logic is so fucked up, it's that the media analyzes his reasoning as though it's credible! And in so doing, they validate George Bush's Antisocial Personality Disorder as a "normal" and acceptable pathology for a leader of the Free World (with nuclear weapons).

And so last Saturday, I joined a small group of advocates downtown calling for impeachment of this administration. It ain't gonna happen, yet I admire them for trying. Bush knows it ain't gonna happen. That's because he knows congress won't and couldn't impeach if they wanted to because they don't have the votes. Just like they haven't the votes to override his Iraq funding veto.

Hence, the standoff continues in what seemingly would appear a game of bluffs. In the meantime, our sons, daughters, husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, loved ones and friends are being slaughtered on the sands of Iraq. And if we follow Bush's logic, they'll continue to do so forever or until some fantasy cessation of the violence against our being there ends, whichever comes first. But in that, no one is bluffing. The blood of the people dying for Bush's twisted logic is real.

Like the neighborhood mad dog son of a bitch, we've settled on a tenuous standoff. As long as Bush doesn't come in my yard--OK. As long as he doesn't impact me and mine (well, not too much anyway)--OK.

And bluffing or not, Bush says to us, "Nan-nan-na-nan-nah, you can't stop me." He's right. So tonight, look for more media analyses, more validation. And tomorrow night, too, and all the nights after that for the next 628 days.