In Maureen Dowd's Sunday New York Times column on the shock resignation of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin ("Now, Sarah's Folly"), the proudly shallow columnist piled on with her usual self-satisfied (and pseudo-sophisticated) mockery.
More seriously, she regurgitated an extremely dubious anecdote from the recent Vanity Fair hit piece on Sarah Palin by former Times journalist Todd Purdum. It's a good example of how liberal media elites pass along their own prejudices by their willingness to believe even the most far-out stories that reflect badly on their political enemies.
Purdum was a long-time Times reporter who covered the Clinton White House before leaving the paper in 2006 (he is married to former Clinton White House press secretary Dee Dee Myers).
Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol found the anecdote flatly unbelievable, and even leftwing media critic Eric Boehlert at Media Matters said that it "doesn't pass the smell test." Which didn't stop Dowd from passing it along unchallenged:
Sarah Palin showed on Friday that in one respect at least, she is qualified to be president.
Caribou Barbie is one nutty puppy.
Usually we don't find that exquisite battiness in our leaders until they've been battered by sordid scandals like Watergate (Nixon), gnawing problems like Vietnam (L.B.J.), or scary threats like biological terrorism (Cheney).
When Lyndon Johnson was president, some of his staff began to think of him as "a sick man," as Bill Moyers told Arthur Schlesinger Jr. Moyers and his fellow Johnson aide Dick Goodwin even began reading up on mental illness -- Bill on manic depression and Dick on paranoia.
And so it was, Todd Purdum learned, as he traveled Alaska reporting on Palin for Vanity Fair, that the governor's erratic and egoistic behavior has been a source of concern for people there.
"Several told me, independently of one another," Purdum writes, "that they had consulted the definition of ‘narcissistic personality disorder' in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders -- ‘a pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy' -- and thought it fit her perfectly."
The White House can drive its inhabitants loopy. So at least Sarah Palin is ahead of the curve on that one.
Victor David Hanson at National Review Online found Purdum's claim, and Dowd's swallowing of it, laughable:
Yes, Palin must be crazy, you see because "several" of those in Dowd's wild-fowl honking Alaska (who, of course, must remained unnamed) had taken out of their denim backpockets their good ol' Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, and, lo and behold, apparently reported on tape to Todd Purdum ("and independently of one another," no less!) that they were struck that clinical "narcissistic personality disorder" "fit her perfectly."
The problem with all this nonsense is that it tells us far more about Purdum and Dowd than about Palin. And whether Palin is wise or silly, down-to-earth or naïve, an aberration or with a future career, seasoned or immature, etc. is lost because she excites a certain irrational impulse, an uncontrolled hysteria really, in the liberal and self-described sophisticated that precludes them from empirical analysis. I am sure that syndrome is in the Manual as well. Just ask those in Georgetown to whip out their handy copy
—Clay Waters is the director of Times Watch, an MRC project tracking the New York Times.
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Comments Policy
dowd
July 6, 2009 - 17:25 ET by charlietexasas if I care about what that slut writes.
Maybe Letterman could have said 'slutty NYT Reporter appearance'
July 6, 2009 - 18:33 ET by Cape Conservativeinstead of painting all of the hard-working flight attendants in a bad light. What a potty mouth...he should have been fired! I hope if he EVER has to fly commercial, he will be reminded of what a low blow that comment was!
This comment comes from a proud Tea Party attendee, otherwise designated by Homeland Security as a Right Wing Radical Extremist! It is no dishonor to be in a minority in the cause of liberty and virtue ~ Sam Adams
Palin the True Feminist
July 7, 2009 - 10:02 ET by allanfPerhaps Palin is the true feminist. As far as I know, Palin became Governor of Alaska without using her body to curry the favor of male superiors.
Dowd is rumored to have had an affair with her boss, former Times honcho Howell Raines.
...their def of narcissism
July 7, 2009 - 09:57 ET by TruthMonger...their def of narcissism fits these MSM preemies way better...
are these play-psych dolts not aware of self-loathing projection?! you can see em coming a thousand miles away for f-sake!! the irony of these toads is exploding my brain!!!
Palin/Prejean 2012
To heck with MoDo....she is
July 6, 2009 - 17:26 ET by bigtimerTo heck with MoDo....she is a lonely bitter woman.
I am so sick of the non reporting of all the incestuous marriages within the left wing media that no one realizes or talks about that has gone on for decades now....it is unbelievable this continues to be unreported...not just the media ties either, political ties in different govt, depts too that are very well related to pass on info....on and on they go.
Endless it is...endless.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Really....MoDo might want
July 6, 2009 - 17:37 ET by motherbeltReally....MoDo might want to be careful who she goes around psychoanalyzing...I think some shrinks might find her an interesting subject!
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
Laid
July 6, 2009 - 19:40 ET by nadadhimmiI've read Maureen Dowd's column for years and all her descriptions of her relationships, or lack thereof. What this frustrated women needs is, to quote the great actor Max VonSydow in the movie"The Immigrants", "acockupher as far as it will go".
there's got to be a tea*****g joke in there somewhere...
July 6, 2009 - 20:17 ET by puredmashiethe last time maureen got a shagging
that kinky slut got a tea*****g.
he pounded her throat,
never called, not a note.
now the mention of men leaves her gagging.
swing hard in case you hit it.
bt - The msm is proof positive of the results of in-breeding!
July 6, 2009 - 18:34 ET by Cape ConservativeThis comment comes from a proud Tea Party attendee, otherwise designated by Homeland Security as a Right Wing Radical Extremist! It is no dishonor to be in a minority in the cause of liberty and virtue ~ Sam Adams
"several" of those in
July 6, 2009 - 17:34 ET by motherbelt"several" of those in Dowd's wild-fowl honking Alaska (who, of course,
must remained unnamed) had taken out of their denim backpockets....
don't you mean out of their canvas backpacks? ;-)
Seriously, do these people even read what they've written??
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
What the heck are these
July 6, 2009 - 17:38 ET by MazziWhat the heck are these people talking about? Grandiosity is an exaggerated sense of self importance - a feeling of superiority which is not backed by commensurate achievements.
Palin has never shown anything but exaggerated modesty as far as I can tell. She has every right to feel superior, based on her rise through politics and her ability to juggle career and family, yet she is extremely humble and self-deprecating.
Where do they come up with this stuff? Maybe Psych 101 in their elite university - a class they obviously slept or partied through...
"I would rather be historically accurate than politically correct" ~ My husband's T-Shirt
Among those politicians with
July 6, 2009 - 17:58 ET by Radical1979Among those politicians with possible mental abberations she fails to mention Bill Clinton. Surely this man has a screw loose with his lying and philandering, and his ultimate belief that because he says something it's true. But I'm forgetting, he's a democrat. Rules don't apply to them...
Nor his wife, HRC! The Yale educated lawyer who 'couldn't
July 6, 2009 - 18:28 ET by Cape Conservativerecall' several hundred times during the Whitewater investigation. And also the one who was ducking bullets in Bosnia.
But, of course, we are NEVER reminded of these Democrats...nor Barney with his "I didn't do it" or Ted K /Joe B pointing their fingers at others without realizing that there were many more pointing right back at them!
I say good for Sarah! No matter what her future plans are, at least she is clearing her slate to be able to give those plans 100% of her attention. I believe by passing the baton to her Lt. Governor, she has allowed him time to show the Alaskan voters that he is capable of handling the responsibilities of governing the state. Guess that would mean the msm would have to say something positive about Sarah Palin and that is #1 in their reporting manual...NEVER say something good about the woman.
Was NO ONE besides me upset with all those 'senators' running for the presidency last year who were ignoring their current jobs (but collecting their paychecks) in pursuit of another job??? I'd like to know how many bosses in private industry would stand by idly and allow such a thing to happen.
Our country's election laws need major reform...I'd like to see mandatory resignation before running...a NATIONAL primary election day that would remove the decision-making from 2 lightly populated states...PHOTO ID required in all 50 states...those are just a few that make sense in this day of instant communication.
This comment comes from a proud Tea Party attendee, otherwise designated by Homeland Security as a Right Wing Radical Extremist! It is no dishonor to be in a minority in the cause of liberty and virtue ~ Sam Adams
"narcisstistic personality disorder"
July 6, 2009 - 18:41 ET by jdlybrandUh... isn't Purdumbass describing our Dear Leader to a tee? And Noel, with all due respect; I think contrary to your weekend post of Dowd that she's not necessarily a bitch... she is!
"What a revoltin' development this is!"
Chester Riley
→ brand
July 6, 2009 - 18:44 ET by Cool ArrowI thought he was defending Liz Trotta.
Cool
July 6, 2009 - 18:55 ET by jdlybrandI could be wrong about that. Wouldn't be the first time I was wrong. Just ask my wife. My hunble apologies if that is the case.
"What a revoltin' development this is!"
Chester Riley
MD on the couch ...
July 6, 2009 - 19:25 ET by metaphorsbwithuYou want your psychological analysis?
Sarah Palin was born in 1964 and is still a looker, fit, inspirational, and "crazy" like a fox.
MD was born in 1952, is angry, resentful, and has been a fading wilting flower some long time.
Not PC, I admit, but you know these aging leftist feminist types just can't stand what Gov. Palin represents, her political philosophy aside.
Take a pill, Mo. Your looney friends on the left still adore you.
Oh, and no charge for the diagnosis. ;-)
metaphorsbwithu
Fear and loathing of . . . what?
July 6, 2009 - 20:39 ET by wjneillSo, the horrible MSM is flailing away at the Mother Theresa that is Sarah Palin. Whaddya gonna do about your uber-Nazi love child Jonah Goldberg and the 07-06-09 "Wall Street Journal", both creatures of Rupert Murdoch?
http://article.natio...
http://online.wsj.co...
You folks have real serious fungus, mold, and crotch rot problems from the inside and you oughta be treating that first before the poison gets to the heart of the beast.
Jeez
July 6, 2009 - 20:01 ET by ghost of Mary Jo KopechneDoes Maureen need to get la!d or what?
Support Our Troops. God bless the military.
http://adoptaplatoon...
I think she is far past
July 6, 2009 - 20:16 ET by bigtimerI think she is far past even that satisfying her....let alone putting a smile on her face without some kind of prescription drug to do even that.
She has been pathetic for years now....and I mean a good 10 yrs or more.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
"Grandiosity"? I guess
July 6, 2009 - 21:21 ET by RR GOP"Grandiosity"?
I guess she forgot the Drama Queen in Chief and his styrofoam Greek columns in Denver.
"Grandiosity" is not a word I could apply to Sarah Palin. In fact, the Leftists have made much as downplaying her as some kind of country bumpkin.
They indeed talk out of both sides of their a##es.
One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 61% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory (yep...approval for Congress now at 39%...do you believe that!?).
Its a shame, its not fair, its awful and more
July 6, 2009 - 22:02 ET by nwahsBut this is exactly what a serious Republican candidate for President of the United States is going to have to blossom in. George W. Bush may have been nowhere close to as articulate as Ronald Reagan, but he was the personification of Teflon. He was undaunted, unaffected, by some of the most vile hate in the media. They called him Hitler for Christ's sake. Yet that man never wavered. I guess watching planes explode buildings, does that to you.
Now it seems like we are being encouraged to whine more. It was really refreshing to see George W Bush making a speech on July 4th. Yup, his mom joke about her eating more corn since the valve replacement, might have made some wince a little, but it was refreshing to see a leader again. I really miss him being the President. Its like we have no compass now.
How can anyone seriously put Palin up as the hope of the GOP? She pales in comparison to a real leader. George W Bush was a real leader. Palin is a 2 dimensional icon. Call me nuts, but there is still a real leader out there. People will say no way, there have already been 2 Bush presidents. Its unprecedented.
Well so was a black President.
I've seen this man's leadership in catastrophes. He comes from good stock. If we're going to draft a leader for 2012 how about drafting a real leader and not the flavor of the month?
Why not Jeb Bush?
Why not Jeb Bush?
July 7, 2009 - 08:31 ET by EllisWyatt"Why not Jeb Bush?"
Because I've lived through two Bush Administrations and they both said one thing and did another. They tell us what they think we want to hear and then turn around and do the exact opposite. Why do think we're having such a hard time fighting all this massive new spending and taxes? Because the GOP lost its credibility on fiscal discipline between 2000 and 2006.
"George W Bush was a real leader."
As for leadership, yes he was a great leader in terms of fighting the War on Terror and in terms of foreign policy. But in other ways he fell woefully short. Take the Campaign Finance Reform Act. What kind of leader says, "I think the bill is unconstitutional but I'm going to sign it anyway and leave it to the courts to decide"? That's not leadership.
I have a lot of doubts about Palin as a candidate too. Hopefully someone else will emerge over the next two years. Above all, we need someone who will be able to say "no" to his or her own party when necessary and who will not be afraid to veto. A commitment to reducing the size and scope of the federal government is also a must. So far, I'm not seeing anyone who fits the bill when I look at the potential candidates for the nomination.
If you're not outraged at the media, you haven't been paying attention.
You're joking, right?
July 7, 2009 - 08:45 ET by motherbeltAbove all, we need someone who will be able to say "no" to his or her own party when necessary
You're joking, right?
Can you say John McCain?
After the McCain fiasco, you really think that's the way to win????
You really think that a Republican who goes against Republicans is the answer? That's the liberals' solution....a Republican who is like a Democrat.
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
Sarah Palin for multiple
July 6, 2009 - 22:03 ET by needleSarah Palin for multiple reasons concludes that it is time to resign as Governor of Alaska, so she makes an announcement from her yard in Wasilla. Considering the significance of the announcement I would say that it was executed rather modestly. But for fat head elitist Maureen Dowd it is an example of Sarah’s “grandiosity.” The irony and hypocrisy of this criticism coming from Maureen Dowd is what is truly grand. Of course, what Dowd wants is for Sarah to quit and go away forever. But that is not enough; Dowd simply cannot resist flashing a load of her high-toned hate.
Now when the NYT goes down or Maureen Dowd leaves it, will it be with the modesty of Sarah’s announcement July 3rd? I can’t wait to find out.
- Relying upon the MSM for your information is like relying upon an embezzler to manage your portfolio.
Why does an elderly spinster with her own emotional problems...
July 6, 2009 - 22:25 ET by OxyCon...like Dowd have the right to mock and ridicule a more mentally balanced Sarah Palin?
On the one hand you have Dowd, who is so emotionally damaged that she is incapable of enjoying a healthy relationship with a loving man. On the other you have Sarah Palin who is happily married along with being a devoted Mother and a succesful executive.
Yet Dowd calls Palin a "nutty puppy"?
OxyCon..."...emotionally damaged..."
July 6, 2009 - 22:32 ET by PrairieSkyPerfect...You perfectly worded what I've thought about Dowd for a very long time. What a miserable, lonely, and bitter woman she must be...To read her prose, one can come away with only that impression. Does this woman really like anyone or anything? I don't think she even likes herself much. Once I realized that, I stopped paying attention to or caring about what she writes.
Simply put, Ms. Dowd's just not worth it.
"The problem is not that people are taxed too little...the problem is that government spends too much." ~President Ronald Reagan
MO DO is a shining example of the old saying, "Misery LOVES
July 7, 2009 - 20:58 ET by Cape ConservativeCompany!" She can't stand herself and therefore if she can't be happy, then by damn no one else should be either! And if they even give a hint of being content with their lives, she's after them with her poison pen!!!
She is also a poster child for what went wrong with the so-called women's liberation movement...they all walk around now with huge scowls on their faces because they realize it was all a huge farce!
This comment comes from a proud Tea Party attendee, otherwise designated by Homeland Security as a Right Wing Radical Extremist! It is no dishonor to be in a minority in the cause of liberty and virtue ~ Sam Adams
Beauty and the Beast
July 7, 2009 - 07:18 ET by Blogger Guy00001Why is it that insecure women have nothing but vicious vile anger toward women who are more beautiful and confident than them? Ms Dowd could be considered somewhat attractive, if only she would lose the daggers and fangs.
PALIN AND NARRCISSISTIC PERSONALITY DISORDER
July 7, 2009 - 09:03 ET by TufrmoneYou really have to wonder if Maureen Dowd or any of these commentators have any journalistic standards whatsoever.
Had Dowd bothered to consult the current or even prior editions of Diagnostic & Statistical Manual she would have found that Palin exhibits virtually none of the characteristics necessary for this diagnosis. Dowd should have quoted the characteristics necessary for the diagnosis and explained how Palin fit them. She didn't because in fact, Palin's personality is exactly the opposite, she is highly family and religiously oriented, with a long term active marriage relationship. In short, in spite of being a Governor, the history of her term establishes that the very center of her world is other people, especially her family, not herself, so much so she travels extensively from her home instead of uprooting her family and moving them to the Capital of Alaska.
In fact, it from what is known about Dowd's own personal life together with her columns and writings, it is she, not Palin who exhibits aspects of this disorder.
I'm baffled as to how her editors at the New York Times or any responsible editor would allow something like that to be published.
It would be interesting to see that when one of these alleged New York Times Columnists or Reporters decide to pile on with another hit piece against someone they consider a political enemy they actually doing the minimum research necessary to have some idea of what they are talking about.
Tufr
The NYT needed MUCH urging to rid itself of Jason Blair - why
July 7, 2009 - 21:02 ET by Cape Conservativeshould we ever expect them to rid themselves of Dowd/Krugman/Rich et al - miserable losers every one! For heaven's sake...their fellow won and they still have to be fed raw meat every day to sate their appetities!!!
This comment comes from a proud Tea Party attendee, otherwise designated by Homeland Security as a Right Wing Radical Extremist! It is no dishonor to be in a minority in the cause of liberty and virtue ~ Sam Adams