I didn’t watch our shrub’s speech (see post below), but I’ve read the transcript (painful enough on it’s own), and something struck me: our shrub is an addict in denial. The rationalizations, denials of reality, and outright lies, are typical behavior patterns of an addict who won’t admit that they’ve lost control of their life.
By way of explaining, I am a former heroin addict. Years back, when I was in my early 20’s, I fell victim to that vicious drug. Like many addicts, I was able to maintain a semblance of functionality, which allowed me to remain in denial for several years. When family and friends would try to tell me how messed up I was, I would tell them that I was getting “better” and just needed some more time. It wasn’t true, but at the time I believed it. Finally, reality broke through. It was a very painful experience, and it took several years to recover. With the help of friends, I was able to restart my life. But I could have had a very different end.
Shrub is addicted to this war in Iraq. Despite the obvious deterioration in front of him, he denies the problem and calls for another dose. He’s able to maintain a semblance of functionality, and so continue his habit. The repeated falsehoods are his way of saying “I don’t have a problem” and that things are “getting better”.
There is one huge difference. My addiction hurt myself, my family, and my friends. Shrub’s addiction is destroying our entire country. Each time he shoots up, more soldiers and Iraqis die. We can see the steady deterioration. Last night, shrub basically said that he’s going to cut back his dosage to the level he was using last year.
He needs an intervention.
Unfortunately, congress lacks the courage to intervene (much like my own family was afraid to intervene with me). So it’s up to us. It’s time for all of us to step up and say “you must stop this behavior”.
Going through withdrawal is painful, and withdrawing from Iraq is going to hurt. But it’s the only alternative to the slow death that our country is facing.
Added: It should be noted, while shrub claims to have “recovered from alcohol and drugs”, he still exhibits the classic behavior of an addict.
(cross-posted from my blog http://www.pygalgia.blogspot.com/
Pygalgia