Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Do we really want a torture victim for president?

Much has been made about John McCain's military record, his war service, his captivity, and the torture he received at the hands of the North Vietnamese. The subjects are often held up as evidence of John McCain's fitness and qualifications to lead America. It is widely assumed, often quite loudly, that these experiences in our leader provide all sorts of benefits to we, the people. It is widely regarded as bordering on heresy to suggest that his experience as a POW is anything but positive. I don't think America is well-served by avoiding tough questions, though.

Victims of torture suffer from a wide range of mental impairments, some of which do not manifest themselves for decades after the torture. Stressful situations can sometimes cause an otherwise normally functioning torture victim to experience an acute mental episode that renders them incapable of making rational decisions. Given there are few jobs more stressful than President of the USA is and given the magnitude of the president's decision-making authority, I find this combination disturbing.

Coupled with this risk is a huge risk multiplier; the secrecy and deception of the Republican party. Consider what we now know about how the Republicans lied to us about Ronald Reagan’s health throughout his entire presidency. They lied to us about the severity of his wounds when he was shot. They lied to us about his mental capacity while he was recovering from his wounds. They lied to us about his mental state while he was nodding off in cabinet meetings. They lied to us repeatedly and they lied to us often.

So where does that leave us? A crisis occurs and the stress leaves John McCain drooling on himself in the corner? Perhaps. Does Sarah Palin activate the 25th Amendment and assume power as required by the Constitution? My guess is that it would result in a power struggle in the executive branch. On the one hand would be the ambitious young Ms. Palin with the chance to become the first woman president of America. On the other hand would be McCain's camp. They know that if they follow the Constitution, John McCain's presidency will be over. Who's going to allow him to resume control of the presidency after having suffered a mental breakdown? Will they find a way to prop up Mr. McCain and wipe the drool off him long enough for a photo or two, the way they did with Reagan? And then run the government themselves, illegally, as if nothing were wrong? Or will there be a power struggle that takes week or months to resolve. Will the Republican Party fall back on their favorite tool: Governance by Lawsuit?

Who knows? But it sure seems like it would be an awful mess. It would also be a great time for the Terrorists/Russians/North Koreans/Iranians/etc. to attack us.

Is this pure speculation? Sure it is. But it's not idle speculation out of thin air. John McCain is a victim of torture. Years of it. Some torture victims do manifest acute symptoms decades after the torture. Stress can cause acute mental episodes in torture victims. The presidency of the US is a stressful position. And Republicans do lie about their health when it is politically expedient for them to do so. And if we believe the Republicans, the Terrorists/Russians/North Koreans/Iranians/etc. are waiting for just such a crisis in leadership to take us down hard.

I don’t think we can afford to take the chance. Our National Security demands that we prevent John McCain and the Republicans from exposing us to these risks. Much has been made about John McCain's military record, his war service, his captivity, and the torture he received at the hands ... more

Path_o_Logic

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