We already know he's an addict who abused alcohol.
But I wonder if he's an abuser in the sense of domestic abuse, which, at its core, is about self control.
This is from a domesetic violence website called New Beginnings
Emotional/Verbal Abuse: can include threats of physical abuse, humiliation in front of friends or family, destrucution of personal property, insults, disrespect for feelings and opinions, name calling, jealousy, possessiveness, mind games, stalking, ignoring you, isolation from family and friends, making all the decisions, yelling, shouting, swearing, talking over you, the silent treatment, and constant interrupting.
Economic Abuse: can include preventing you from obtaining employment, withholding money, not letting you know about family income, making you ask for money, and giving you an allowance.
From
Woman's Rural Advocacy Program, we get this as the signs of an abuser:
* shows extreme jealousy and wants to keep the woman isolated.
* has an inability to cope with stress and shows a lack of impulse control. (This may not necessarily appear outside the home)
* has a poor self-image and blames others for problems.
* shows severe mood swings.
* may have a history of abuse in his own family and may have been abusive in courtship.
* presents a history of personal and/or family discord; unemployment, cruelty to animals, abuse of alcohol or other substances, and other unexplained behavior.
As our "national father," which of these traits does Bush demonstrate?
He repeatedly attempts to humiliate people who don't agree with him, often by framing his worldview in binary, yes/no frames, such as "You're either with us or you're with the terrorists."
He continues to show a disrespect for opposing opinions.
He blames others instead of accepting responsibility himself.
He has isolated our nation.
Last night, he yelled and shouted.
His economic policies are designed, over the long term, to eliminate social programs that are important to the most needy in our country.
His choices and actions have resulted in a severe weakening of our military and our goodwill in the world, both destructive behaviors.
I want to point out one thing: domestic abuse is a common problem that often results in domestic violence. Many people are abused who don't suffer physical violence. Secondly, abuse is not just a problem suffered by women. I've known men who were abused, also.
I'm not an expert. But I can't help looking at this man, who won't hear dissenting voices, who aggresively invaded another country under false pretenses, who wants to economically control people's lives, and see an abuser. I wonder what other Kossacks think.