Cognitive Dissonance Alert Posted by Shadi Hamid

Ok, I just read John Dickerson's piece on "why Bush stands by his incompetents," and now I'm really starting to wonder whether political science, or even journalism, can really explain the behavior of the Bush administration. I think it's really come to the point where we're talking about very complex matters of psychology which are beyond me, and most everyone else. I can't believe Bush actually said this to John Dickerson in 2004:

If I were interviewing a guy for the job of president, I'd ask, How do you make decisions? How would you get unfiltered information? Would you surround yourself with hacks? Are you scared of smart people? I've seen the effect of the Oval Office on people. People are prepared to come in and speak their minds, and then they get in there, and the place overwhelms them, and they say, 'Gee, Mr. President, you're looking good.' I need people who can walk in and say, 'Hey, you're not looking so great today.'

Comments

[Mark Dorroh]

Dear Sirs and Madams:

Cognitive dissonance is generally caused by an emotional desire coming in conflict with a rational need.

The Bush family is, by emotional nature, foolishly and excessively loyal. Had George H.W. Bush kicked the brain-dead Dan Quayle off the ticket in 1992, he probably would have won a second term. But he didn't. Do we see a pattern here?

Mark Dorroh, Richmond VA