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Straight Up | Jan Herman

Arts, Media & Culture News with 'tude

DIAGNOSING BDS

December 9, 2003 by cmackie

A rightwing friend of mine worries that I’m suffering from Bush Derangement Syndrome. Here’s why he thinks so:  BDS,
according to the well-named Charles Krauthammer, is “the acute onset of paranoia in otherwise
normal people in reaction to the policies, the presidency — nay — the very existence of George W.
Bush.” I thanked my friend for the reference and pointed out that Robert Baer’s “Sleeping With the Devil: How Washington Sold Our Soul for Saudi
Crude”
provides a straightforward, easily understood explanation of
the symptoms — which in fact signal realistic fears rather than paranoia. Or to paraphrase Lou
Costello: “I know there’s no such thing as Dracula. You know there’s no such thing as Dracula.
But does Dracula know it?” And let’s not forget: BDS is a reaction not limited to the Maximum
Leader. His triumvirate of cronies — Cheney, Rumsfeld and Ashcroft — cause the same syndrome.

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Jan Herman

When not listening to Bach or Cuban jazz pianist Chucho Valdes, or dancing to salsa, I like to play jazz piano -- but only in the privacy of my own mind.
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