Bill Clinton And Bill Kristol Agree: Todd Purdum Stinks

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Media
Posted on Tue Jun 30, 2009 at 03:24:31 PM EST
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Eric Boehlert writes:

Kristol writes:

Here’s a highlight of Purdum’s reporting: “More than once in my travels in Alaska, people brought up, without prompting, the question of Palin’s extravagant self-regard. Several told me, independently of one another, that they had consulted the definition of ‘narcissistic personality disorder’ in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders . . . Is there any real chance that "several" Alaskans independently told Purdum that they had consulted the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders? I don’t believe it for a moment.

[MORE . . .]

. . . I'm with Kristol; this doesn't pass the smell test. Then again, Purdum's work for the mighty VF has often failed to pass any kind of common sense test [Link to Eric's critique of Purdom's hit job on Bill Clinton.] . . . Don't you love how Purdum zeroed in on how self-obsessed Palin is; how (clinically) narcissistic she is? I'd be curious to find out how many VF features in recent years about male politicians stopped to ponder the me-me-me tendencies of those powerful players.

Other than Bill Clinton, I bet the answer is never. But it's funny that Kristol calls Purdom's piece a Left wing hit job. Did he forget Purdom's hit job on Bill Clinton? Clinton called Purdom "sleazy," "slimy," and a "scumbag" because of the hit job by Purdom.

Speaking for me only

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Bill Clinton And Bill Kristol Agree: Todd Purdum Stinks | 22 comments (22 topical)

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Wow (5.00 / 6) (#1)
by squeaky on Tue Jun 30, 2009 at 03:30:12 PM EST

I thought that Narcissistic Personality disorder was a pre requisite for being a politician in the first place. No wonder that the issue comes to the surface when a youngish woman enters the game.

As gross as I find Palin's platform, she is no different than her male counterparts as regards egomania. This is out and out sexism.

I didn't think it possible, (5.00 / 4) (#6)
by Peter G on Tue Jun 30, 2009 at 04:04:01 PM EST

from my experience hanging around lawyers, judges, politicians, and (other) white collar criminal defendants, for a female to have Narcissistic Personality Disorder worth mentioning.


: lol (none / 0) (#7)
by squeaky on Tue Jun 30, 2009 at 04:06:56 PM EST

Let me get this straight (5.00 / 5) (#4)
by TeresaInSnow2 on Tue Jun 30, 2009 at 03:56:16 PM EST

A guy who writes hit pieces for the purpose of drawing attention to himself, for a magazine called Vanity Fair, feels free and clear to call someone else a narcissist.

Now there's some chutzpah

Maybe Somerby will give (5.00 / 1) (#5)
by Anne on Tue Jun 30, 2009 at 04:00:42 PM EST

Purdum the same treatment he gave Ceci Connolly...who, by the way, deserved it.


Too funny (5.00 / 1) (#8)
by Inspector Gadget on Tue Jun 30, 2009 at 04:17:34 PM EST

people brought up, without prompting

emphasis added

The guy is FULL of **it. His piece about Bill cheating on Hillary while he was campaigning for her was also a mob of unsolicited staffers/aids who were supposedly coming to HIM with their concerns over Bill's recreational activities. What is it about this guy that makes people who want to gossip flock to him?

Dee Dee must be really proud of this hunk of a man she married. His credibility isn't worth a darn, and I won't give Vanity Fair a site hit to anything this guy authors.


: It must be (none / 0) (#11)
by TeresaInSnow2 on Tue Jun 30, 2009 at 06:28:29 PM EST

his narcissistic personality ;-). He is an attention seeker, therefore an attention getter.

It's true (5.00 / 2) (#10)
by Steve M on Tue Jun 30, 2009 at 05:25:28 PM EST

I hear she's AMBITIOUS too, just like Hillary Clinton, and Kirsten Gillibrand, and and and...

and that Sotomayor chick too (none / 0) (#13)
by Militarytracy on Tue Jun 30, 2009 at 06:41:24 PM EST

But seriously (5.00 / 3) (#15)
by Steve M on Tue Jun 30, 2009 at 07:08:28 PM EST

the amazing thing is not that the same old sexist attacks keep getting leveled against every woman who comes along, but that so many people are completely deaf to it. Most people (except maybe VP Biden) have come to learn over the years that smart black guys always get described as "articulate" and maybe that's not so cool. But how many people perceive the similar pattern that has to do with labeling women in public life as overly ambitious? All too few, in my experience.

My co-defense counsel in this hearing I'm handling right now is a woman, and a darn good lawyer I might add, and I am constantly amazed at the gender dynamics in play. The way individual witnesses react to her and to me, completely different. The way the arbitrators respond to the two of us, completely different. (To the extent we're savvy about this, mind you, we're not shy about incorporating it into our strategy.) Gender is just an amazing thing. It pervades EVERYTHING and 99% of the people never even notice!


Meanwhile, it is rumored the McCain (none / 0) (#19)
by oculus on Tue Jun 30, 2009 at 09:08:00 PM EST

campaign wrote off some of Gov. Palin's "problems" to postpartum depression. Thanks, guys.


: Postpartum Depression (none / 0) (#23)
by Militarytracy on Wed Jul 01, 2009 at 10:27:41 AM EST

after Palin gave birth to McCain's campaign. Sorry oculus, I could not resist.

discrimination itself permeates all (none / 0) (#20)
by of1000Kings on Wed Jul 01, 2009 at 04:51:07 AM EST

things...

It is amazing that with all the narcissistic people in this country that someone actually takes the time to call someone out on it...

it's called CAPITALISM!

as much as I think Palin is a bigoted idiot (who has a right to her own views but shouldn't be allowed to espouse those views to anyone else for the safety of the country) I actually feel a tiny bit sorry for her...


I'm embarrassed to admit (none / 0) (#21)
by Militarytracy on Wed Jul 01, 2009 at 10:26:14 AM EST

that bartending was a lucrative summer job at one point in my life. And one summer when I worked with a very handsome young man we split the customers when it seemed it would serve our tip pool better and he served the women and I served the men. We talked about it stocking beer one night and followed through for the rest of the summer.


Anybody who thinks they can handle (5.00 / 1) (#12)
by Militarytracy on Tue Jun 30, 2009 at 06:38:49 PM EST

of the office of the Presidency of the United States has a giant enormous ego, no matter what naughty bits they may own. And if I run to the emergency room and tell them I'm going to be President one day they may medicate me :) But McCain, Palin, Obama, some wife of some philandeering politician...they all make such statements :) Even old dried up Hollywood actors say such things and that's just fine :)

how about if (5.00 / 2) (#14)
by cpinva on Tue Jun 30, 2009 at 07:03:55 PM EST

And if I run to the emergency room and tell them I'm going to be President one day they may medicate me :)

you tell them instead that speak directly to god?

there was a time that would get you a lovely padded room, and tranks. now, it gets you a tv evangelical church, possibly your very own university and law school.

: LOL! (5.00 / 1) (#16)
by Ga6thDem on Tue Jun 30, 2009 at 07:20:36 PM EST

Funny but very true and also sad.

Another losing campaign at work (5.00 / 1) (#17)
by KoolJeffrey on Tue Jun 30, 2009 at 07:55:33 PM EST

Step 1: Nominate tired, lackluster nominee.

Step 2: Run clumsy, uninspired campaign.

Step 3: Throw Hail Sarah, er, Mary, which, at first, seems to succeed.

Step 4: Ultimately lose anyway because of out-of-touch, ghastly statements like, "The economy is fundamentally sound."

Step 5: Blame loss on woman's "vanity", despite the fact that no one would have given two hoots about the campaign without her.

Step 6: Refuse to go on the record because you may have to end up working with her in the future.

Minor point of the spelling variety: (none / 0) (#2)
by Anne on Tue Jun 30, 2009 at 03:42:12 PM EST

it's Purdum, not Purdom.

: Is the silent "b" at the end (5.00 / 3) (#9)
by me only on Tue Jun 30, 2009 at 04:23:44 PM EST

just invisible?

: Thanks (none / 0) (#3)
by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Jun 30, 2009 at 03:45:57 PM EST

Oh Well (none / 0) (#18)
by squeaky on Tue Jun 30, 2009 at 07:59:33 PM EST

TPM (JMM) missed the sexism.. everyone has at least one blindspot, I guess.