Serious ponder about the core of Palin's behavioral issues

[Siwsan]

Is it psychological, pathological or pharmaceutical?

Putting aside the malapropos filled 'word salad', her speech pattern/cadence is bizarre. Every speech she gives leaves her sounding manically breathless with inappropriate excitement. It was moderately evident during the 2008 campaign and has grown, exponentially, ever since.

It is so hard to watch her, now, because she's starting to turn into an out of control, babbling spectacle and I wonder if she is now just plain out of control, due to something she's doing to herself, or something that is happening to her, from within.

It begs to ask if there isn't ANYBODY in her management group who notices this gob-smackingly strange behavior, or is she just too profitable of a gravy train, for them. If that's the case, my words of advice to them would be, watch out. That train is in the process of a total derailment.

[SummerSnow]

1. It's her folksy speech.lol

[Siwsan]

2. Ah, but folks from which planet?

She's turned into a parody of herself and is in need of some serious intervention.

[SummerSnow]

4. Bagger planet of course

[Siwsan]

6. HA!

I wish they'd all phone, and then go home!

[nolabear]

3. I'd speculate three for three.

Can't swear to the pharmaceutical but the other two? She's got history and evidence enough in public to support it. I think one reason it's so obvious now is that she doesn't have the containment of high level staff and is, in fact, "going rogue." Part of her problem is the delusion of competence. She doesn't realize that she looks bad, sounds bad and does things (like brawling in the street) that reveal a whole lot. She is clever enough to know a dog whistle when she sees one but she's not smart enough to realize that she could make a whole lot more money (her real goal is money and attention, not office) if she said the same thing with more intelligence.

As to staff, I think it IS a gravy train and with someone who is reported to be like Palin with staff, they're hanging on as long as possible and just cashing the checks.

My opinion, but I've got an educated one.

[Siwsan]

5. It is almost sad to watch - she's still got children at home

I don't really remember their ages, but if any of them are in public schools - damn. To have to defend someone like Sarah has got to be one of life's more difficult tasks.

[catbyte]

13. You said it. Kids are embarrassed by normal parents. I can't imagine having to defend the

indefensible.

[Brother Buzz]

22. Longship recently pointed out she demonstrates the Dunning–Kruger effect

I do not disagree

The Dunning–Kruger effect is a cognitive bias wherein unskilled individuals suffer from illusory superiority, mistakenly rating their ability much higher than is accurate. This bias is attributed to a metacognitive inability of the unskilled to recognize their ineptitude. Conversely, highly skilled individuals tend to underestimate their relative competence, erroneously assuming that tasks which are easy for them are also easy for others.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect

[pennylane100]

23. That would explain how the Tea Party was formed.

[libdem4life]

24. A shorter version, "The less someone knows, the more they claim to be right."

And for irony, I saw it on one of those church signs ... like the Thought for the Day.

[Brother Buzz]

27. I subscribe to Mark Twain's antidote to this malaise

"It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt."

[libdem4life]

30. That's a good one too, but infers the fool knows him/herself to be a fool. Most fools don't.

Sarah Palin and George W. come to mind.

[uponit7771]

39. +1

[hifiguy]

61. Charlie Pierce capsulized it in "Idiot America"

The Three Great Principles of Idiot America:

1. Any theory is valid if it sells books, soaks up ratings, or otherwise moves units.
2. Fact is that which enough people believe. Truth is determined by how fervently they believe it.
3. Anything can be true if someone says it loud enough.

[DebJ]

28. Or as John Cleese said

"If you are very, very stupid, how can you possibly realize that you are very, very stupid? You'd have to be relatively intelligent
to realize how stupid you are."

[libdem4life]

31. ^^ This, too ^^

[dixiegrrrrl]

40. Oh man,Rubio was the poster boy for that syndrome.

He was on the Dailey Show Jan. 15th, I cringed thru out the interview. At some Stewart must have realized he was wasting his questions on the mentally unarmed, and he backed off, it appeared.
Cruz was totally oblivious to how he came across. he even walked funny, with heavy clomping steps, like he was not in touch with his body.
He smiled inappropriately several times, and was plainly waiting for Stewart to stop talking so he could resume the points he wanted to make,
even if they had nothing to do with what Stewart was saying.
And again with the deer in the headlights expression.

Palin's speech is slightly different..she honestly seems to be on uppers. Pressured speech, jerky movements, plus her FEAR comes thru in waves.

[dionysus]

50. John Cleese explains here:

[3catwoman3]

67. Toss in a little Peter Principle...

...for good measure.

[KingCharlemagne]

7. Palin is the poster child for what Christopher Lasch calls "pathological narcissism." - nt

[meow2u3]

8. It sounds as if she either has, or is faking, schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a brain disorder that affects the way a person acts, thinks, and sees the world. People with schizophrenia have an altered perception of reality, often a significant loss of contact with reality. They may see or hear things that don’t exist, speak in strange or confusing ways, believe that others are trying to harm them, or feel like they’re being constantly watched. With such a blurred line between the real and the imaginary, schizophrenia makes it difficult—even frightening—to negotiate the activities of daily life. In response, people with schizophrenia may withdraw from the outside world or act out in confusion and fear.

http://www.helpguide.org/articles/schizophrenia/schizophrenia-signs-types-and-causes.htm

The most common early warning signs of schizophrenia include:

Social withdrawal
Hostility or suspiciousness
Deterioration of personal hygiene
Flat, expressionless gaze
Inability to cry or express joy
Inappropriate laughter or crying
Depression
Oversleeping or insomnia
Odd or irrational statements
Forgetful; unable to concentrate
Extreme reaction to criticism
Strange use of words or way of speaking

Wikipedia has a couple of articles on the subject of incoherent speech: derailment and schizophasia.

Now we might know why Palin has gone off the rails.

[Jackpine Radical]

18. Schizophrenia would not be my first guess.

I would think maybe a unipolar form of recurrent mania overlaid on a mix of Cluster B Personality Disorder symptoms (Histrionic, Narcissistic & Antisocial).

But then I always yell at other people for playing distance diagnostician.

[libdem4life]

33. Where does the Antisocial come in? She seems to want to jump in front of every camera

in sight and blabber away which would express the first three? (We're not diagnosing, just discussing...that's OK)

[Jackpine Radical]

37. I think your confusion arises from the fact that I'm using the term

in a narrow clinical sense, rather than as meaning something like "Doesn't like being around people."

Antisocial Personality Disorder Symptoms
By PSYCH CENTRAL STAFF

Antisocial personality disorder is characterized by a long-standing pattern of a disregard for other people’s rights, often crossing the line and violating those rights. It usually begins in childhood or as a teen and continues into their adult lives.

Antisocial personality disorder is often referred to as psychopathy or sociopathy in popular culture. However, neither psychopathy nor sociopathy are recognized professional labels used for diagnosis.

Individuals with Antisocial Personality Disorder frequently lack empathy and tend to be callous, cynical, and contemptuous of the feelings, rights, and sufferings of others. They may have an inflated and arrogant self-appraisal (e.g., feel that ordinary work is beneath them or lack a realistic concern about their current problems or their future) and may be excessively opinionated, self-assured, or cocky. They may display a glib, superficial charm and can be quite voluble and verbally facile (e.g., using technical terms or jargon that might impress someone who is unfamiliar with the topic).

Lack of empathy, inflated self-appraisal, and superficial charm are features that have been commonly included in traditional conceptions of psychopathy and may be particularly distinguishing of Antisocial Personality Disorder in prison or forensic settings where criminal, delinquent, or aggressive acts are likely to be nonspecific. These individuals may also be irresponsible and exploitative in their sexual relationships.

A personality disorder is an enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior that deviates from the norm of the individual’s culture. The pattern is seen in two or more of the following areas: cognition; affect; interpersonal functioning; or impulse control. The enduring pattern is inflexible and pervasive across a broad range of personal and social situations. It typically leads to significant distress or impairment in social, work or other areas of functioning. The pattern is stable and of long duration, and its onset can be traced back to early adulthood or adolescence.

[libdem4life]

62. Now I get it. Thanks for the bit of info...always learning.

[dixiegrrrrl]

41. Totally agree with you on the Cluster B.

Not willing to rule out chemical use.

Whatever the label, there is such a pattern of using and abusing people and opportunities.

[Jackpine Radical]

44. I imagine they're at least pretty heavily into alcohol.

Somehow, the drunken brawls they seem to be forever getting themselves into are just not particularly reminiscent of the weed parties of my youth.

[eridani]

68. She's too old. Schizophrenia almost always manifests in young adults. nt/t

[Kip Humphrey]

9. crystal meth.

[Jackpine Radical]

45. Too many of them still apparently have teeth & whatnot

for meth to be a big part of the picture. Coke, maybe, &/or maybe some less-lethal forms of speed, but probly not meth. They have enough money to avoid meth, which is pretty much the drug of choice among the down & out.

Another of Jackpine's Laws: People who have adequate financial & physical access to clean coke are unlikely to do homebrew meth.

[dionysus]

52. if they're getting pharm quality meth like adderal, which they can surely afford,

I don't think they'd be getting meth mouth.

I can see them using tons of coke ,however...

[Jackpine Radical]

55. As I said, other forms of speed than ("meth lab") meth.

BTW, I would be somewhat surprised and very interested if any of them are into heroin or any opiate-class drugs, or benzodiazepines, for that matter.

[dionysus]

70. my guess would be oxys. to come down off of the insomnia from meth...

as far as benzodiazepines, sarah needs some; maybe she wouldn't be so annoying...

[Jackpine Radical]

71. No, Benzos would make it worse.

Benzos disinhibit. They release the energy that was otherwise bound by anxiety.

[Marr]

10. Politicians are well-known for their method of speaking without saying anything.

Palin's speech pattern is, I think, just what you naturally get when a truly stupid person tries to pull off that brand of political babble. You don't need to be particularly sharp to string together a few basic buzz phrases into a 'mom and apple pie' piece of boilerplate rhetoric, but Palin is a sincerely stupid person.

[spinbaby]

36. Stupid is the correct diagnosis

Also attention-seeking, but mainly stupid.

[undeterred]

11. She sounds like someone who truly think she has something important

to say - but has nothing but drivel coming out of her mouth. She thrives on wild exaggerations and personal attacks.

She is incapable of giving a serious, thoughtful answer to a political question.

Why would anyone vote for someone like this? You can see that there's "no lights on" after watching her a couple of times. But evidently there are people who identify with her. That's frightening.

[zazen]

12. she certainly fits the criteria for narcissistic-borderline personality disorder n/t

[L0oniX]

14. 'The man can only ride you when your back is bent' ...sexual Freudian slip?

[L0oniX]

25. adding another video here...

[L0oniX]

26. "The man is doing some dirty things..." LMFAO

[RufusTFirefly]

15. When Reagan fell asleep during cabinet meetings, he was praised for his "management style."

If you control the megaphone, you can spin anything to your advantage.

Ironically, I think we're fortunate in the fact that Palin frightens the Powers That Be. They need a candidate that they can be sure will do their bidding. (An ideal one would appear to be liberal but would in fact be a Wall Street water-carrier.) Palin's behavior is too erratic. They won't let her near the White House, but they'll be happy to let her play the role of distractor, while they continue pillaging the economy and the planet.

[TwilightGardener]

16. Few if any handlers left to control her, gigs drying up, and

she keeps trying to top herself on what made her famous--her performance skills as a political "celebrity"--to less and less effect. Her shtick is tired, but she just keeps milking it even harder because that's all she has. Her high water mark was her convention appearance in 2008, with the winky folksy bullshit. She attained stardom, and like any performer, that must be like a drug you can't quit. Edit to add: pretty soon guys like Ted Cruz will stop appearing with her, she'll be a liability, especially for anyone who wants to be President.

[Siwsan]

17. I think I should have added 'desperation' to the list

It sure is another explanation for her over the top, babble-fest delivery. I have to wonder if one of these appearances might just end up in a total melt-down. If Sarah can't see the handwriting on the wall, someone is BOUND to read it to her, eventually.

[Jackpine Radical]

20. Undesirables attract undesirables.

She'll last 'til the last rat has gotten the last crumb from the Palin enterprise, at which time she will be alone and adrift in the world with her pathologies and her crazy family. That's when the meth will take over.

[dixiegrrrrl]

42. Ya know...in thinking about her appearances during 2008...compared to now..

She was more relaxed then, as much as an uptight person can be, truly relishing the adulation.

Now, on video, she comes across as tense, unsure, No real smiles..in fact, the thing she did in Iowa she seemed to want
to get thru it, desperately, as you say.

[lpbk2713]

19. I think she is observing her audience as she goes along.

"Are they still with me?"

"Can I still get away with this shit?"

"Do I dare take it a step further?"

[Tom Ripley]

21. Psychological problems rooted in childhood traumas...

compounded by drug and alcohol abuse.

[Adrahil]

29. She's a celebrity hillbilly. Nothing more need be said. n/t

[truebluegreen]

32. Desperation to stay in the spotlight (and fill her coffers),

Dunning-Krueger effect and well, Wasilla is the meth capital of Alaska...also, I wonder just what she is doing/has done to keep her weight down. Can diuretics affect blood flow to the brain, or anything like that?

[dionysus]

54. diuretics, which i take for blood presure.. merely lower the amount of water

in your blood. you pee a lot, so with less water in the blood, the result is lower blood pressure. i'd assume blood flow would remain normal...

[immoderate]

34. She's got STYLE!

So what's wrong with an "out of control, babbling spectacle?"

--imm

[Wounded Bear]

35. I think one thing tells a lot...

She doesn't have a Faux Noise gig. If she could hold, or even pretend to hold a coherent thought and speak in complete sentences and paragraphs, she'd be a natural.

If they won't hire her, as 'popular' as she is with the rubes, what does that say? We know she's, in some way or another, damaged goods. I suspect the RW handlers do, too.

[AgingAmerican]

38. She regurgitates poorly memorized talking points

...in random order. They don't have to have any relevance to anything she is addressing. Her fans go mosh pit wild at the sound of her voice, which encourages her to repeat even more poorly memorized propaganda.

It's all standard right wing talking point nonsense. I see no deep meaning, or psychological whatever, in any of it. Just robotically spoken memorized nonsense.

[Blue_In_AK]

43. All I can say is that she is not the same person

who was Alaska's governor for a half term. I don't know what happened to her, but I blame John McCain.

[Siwsan]

48. Maybe somewhat due to her national exposure

It's the ramping up of the behavior that is alarming. It is kind of like the pain of losing the 2008 election has turned into some sort of psychological infection that is raging out of control.

[malaise]

46. All three

seriously

[Siwsan]

49. And to think that some actual vetting could have prevented this nightmare

Her lack of basic world affairs knowledge would have disqualified her, immediately. She could have stayed in Alaska, and faded into obscurity.

[malaise]

51. THey destroyed her but her own greed and Grifter disposition

sped up the process of complete self destruction.
Yesterday should be the final disaster and it was a disaster of epic proportions

[Siwsan]

53. The report I read (albeit in the Daily Mail) said the audience was 'confused'

The little bit of the video I could stomach had some cheering, but damn. You would have to be taking in the Kool Aid, non stop, via an I.V. to still listen to her and find any shred of credibility.

[malaise]

56. There was a live thread here

Let me find it and add it here - we were more than confused.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026132536
LOL - you posted on it as well

[Hassin Bin Sober]

58. She was Johnny Bravo. She fit the suit and they figured they could take care of the rest.

They really didn't miss by that much. They were only just a little too cynical.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

47. It's those sudden unpredictible piercing rises in pitch above the hearing of a dog that I find

especially disturbing. They seem to come on without rhyme or reason.

[Raine1967]

57. I don't know, but there is something seriously wrong with this person.

Did she sound like this before MCCain picked her as VP? Does anyone have any of her speeches as governor?

I was willing to say that in COlorado, she was either High or drunk, but the speech she just gave makes me truly wonder about her on two of your points of questions.

[hifiguy]

59. Heavy-duty narcissistic personality disorder and an IQ

of about 65-70, IMO. Probably a lot of Red Bull or maybe meth to get that hyperactive edge.

Princess Sparklemoose is a walking pathology.

[Boudica the Lyoness]

60. I think she is a very stupid person and craves her former fame.

She remembers how some people loved her little one liners and so, in her stupidity and over-excitement, she spews them out.

During the 2008 she wasn't allowed to wander too far off the script. What you're seeing now is Palin unsupervised. Palin going full-on rogue.

[Siwsan]

63. My Tortie cat is named Boudicca!

Slightly different spelling - same Queen. Since Torties were considered sacred to the old Celts, it seemed the perfect name for her.

And, yes, you are right about Palin. The first clues as to her strange quirks surfaced when she first started the rogue behavior, during the 2008 campaign. I guess she never quite understood how that helped swing the election towards the Democrats.

[Boudica the Lyoness]

64. I didn't know that about tortoiseshells and the Celts.

Perfect name for her then.

In hope Palin runs and then gets the R nod and then our candidate will have her guts for garters.

[Siwsan]

66. I can't wait to see the candidate she backs, run away in horror

I mean, really. Who the hell (other than maybe Huckabee) would want her endorsement?

[Phentex]

72. on top of that, she seems to be a nervous speaker...

I don't think she does drugs or has a disorder. I think she's just not very bright and can't think fast. When she goes off script, she gets very nervous in the way plenty of other nervous speakers do. Her brain is telling her to keep talking but she doesn't really hear what she is saying. During the debates, she would catch herself getting nervous so she would quickly jump to a rehearsed answer even when it did not answer the question she was asked.

She does indeed crave the fame she once had but I think even the repubs see her as a liability now.

[missingthebigdog]

65. She can't be helped, because she trusts no one

It should be clear to almost everyone that she has run off the rails, but anyone who has the audacity to suggest that to her would be immediately deemed "the enemy."
Whatever her issue, I think it has a paranoia component that would make an intervention pretty difficult.....

It's sad, really. I don't like her, but nobody deserves to crash and burn the way she appears destined to do.

[FSogol]

69. My opinion: Delusions of grandeur and prescription medicine abuse.

[TeamPooka]

73. Easy. She's an egotistical moron and gets excited w/crowds to see her. She's that into herself.