July 6, 2017Gronda Morin

aside President Trump Is Not Fit To Serve (Based On Army Manual)

Image result for photos of Dr. Gourguechon army manual

On the evening of July 5, 2017, I was watching the MSNBC’s TV host, Lawrence O’Donnell interviewing a psychiatrist from Chicago, where the guest, Dr. Gouurguechon was explaining how the Army has an 100 year old field manual which includes an updated section on how to evaluate if a  candidate is unfit for leadership positions and if a leader is no longer able to continue in such a role.

The republican President Donald  Trump, as the military’s Commander-In-Chief would fail this objective criteria. bigly. And this is who, the Republican Party has assisted to become our 45th President of the USA and, for political expediency reasons, the majority of republican legislators continue to enable and cover for his numerous missteps.

And this is what “we the people” are dealing with as we observe the president meeting with leaders from around the world and dealing with crisis situations like North Korea’s continued testing of missiles that could possibly reach the west coast of the USA.

Image result for photos of Prudence L. Gourguechon, MD.
President Trump

Dear Republican Leaders, If anything should go dramatically wrong with this situation, the blood will be on your hands.

Here is the rest of the story…

Prudence L. Gourguechon, MD. and  psychiatrist and psychoanalyst penned the following opinion piece, “Is Trump mentally fit to be president? Let’s consult the U.S. Army’s field manual on leadership,” for the LA Times on June 16, 2017.

Excerpts:

“Since President Trump’s inauguration, an unusual amount of attention has been paid to the 25th Amendment to the Constitution. That’s the measure, ratified in 1967, that allows for removal of the president in the event that he is “unable to discharge the powers and duties” of the office. What does that mean, exactly? Lawyers surely have some ideas. But as a psychiatrist, I believe we need a rational, thorough and coherent definition of the mental capacities required to carry out “the powers and duties” of the presidency.”Image result for photos of g7 conference

“Although there are volumes devoted to outlining criteria for psychiatric disorders, there is surprisingly little psychiatric literature defining mental capacity, even less on the particular abilities required for serving in positions of great responsibility. Despite the thousands of articles and books written on leadership, primarily in the business arena, I have found only one source where the capacities necessary for strategic leadership are clearly and comprehensively laid out: the U.S. Army’s “Field Manual 6-22 Leader Development.”

Image result for photos of past g20 summitsTrust

“According to the Army, trust is fundamental to the functioning of a team or alliance in any setting: “Leaders shape the ethical climate of their organization while developing the trust and relationships that enable proper leadership.” A leader who is deficient in the capacity for trust makes little effort to support others, may be isolated and aloof, may be apathetic about discrimination, allows distrustful behaviors to persist among team members, makes unrealistic promises and focuses on self-promotion.”

Discipline and self-control

“The manual requires that a leader demonstrate control over his behavior and align his behavior with core Army values: “Loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage.” The disciplined leader does not have emotional outbursts or act impulsively, and he maintains composure in stressful or adverse situations. Without discipline and self-control, a leader may not be able to resist temptation, to stay focused despite distractions, to avoid impulsive action or to think before jumping to a conclusion. The leader who fails to demonstrate discipline reacts “viscerally or angrily when receiving bad news or conflicting information,” and he “allows personal emotions to drive decisions or guide responses to emotionally charged situations.”

“In psychiatry, we talk about “filters” — neurologic braking systems that enable us to appropriately inhibit our speech and actions even when disturbing thoughts or powerful emotions are present. Discipline and self-control require that an individual has a robust working filter, so that he doesn’t say or do everything that comes to mind.”

Image result for photos of g7 conferenceJudgment and critical thinking

“These are complex, high-level mental functions that include the abilities to discriminate, assess, plan, decide, anticipate, prioritize and compare. A leader with the capacity for critical thinking “seeks to obtain the most thorough and accurate understanding possible,” the manual says, and he anticipates “first, second and third consequences of multiple courses of action.” A leader deficient in judgment and strategic thinking demonstrates rigid and inflexible thinking.”

Self-awareness

“Self-awareness requires the capacity to reflect and an interest in doing so. “Self-aware leaders know themselves, including their traits, feelings, and behaviors,” the manual says. “They employ self-understanding and recognize their effect on others.” When a leader lacks self-awareness, the manual notes, he “unfairly blames subordinates when failures are experienced” and “rejects or lacks interest in feedback.”

“Perhaps surprisingly, the field manual repeatedly stresses the importance of empathy as an essential attribute for Army leadership. A good leader “demonstrates an understanding of another person’s point of view” and “identifies with others’ feelings and emotions.” The manual’s description of inadequacy in this area: “Shows a lack of concern for others’ emotional distress” and “displays an inability to take another’s perspective.”

The Army field manual amounts to a guide for the 25th Amendment. There is, however, at least one historical precedent. The journalists Jane Mayer and Doyle McManus tell the dramatic story in their 1988 book, “Landslide: The Unmaking of the President 1984-1988.”

“After reading the memo, Baker arranged a group observation of Reagan for the following day. On March 2, Baker, Cannon and two others — Reagan’s chief counsel, Arthur B. Culvahouse Jr., and his communications director, Tom Griscom — scrutinized the president, first at a Cabinet meeting, then at a luncheon. They found nothing amiss. The president seemed to be his usual genial, engaged self. Baker decided, presumably with relief, that Reagan was not incapacitated or disabled and they could all go on with their business.”

“Much has changed since the Reagan era, of course. Because of Trump’s Twitter habits and other features of the contemporary media landscape, far more data about his behavior are available to everyone — to citizens, journalists and members of Congress. And we are all free to compare that observable behavior to the list of traits deemed critical for leadership by the U.S. Army.”

Related Article:

Mental Health Professionals Warn About Trump – The New York Times.Feb 13, 2017 

33 comments

  1. Um..Donald Reagan, a typo or an interesting metaphor. Hugs mate. (yeah, I was steele646 but welcome to me) I do this to confuse the NSA.
    Interesting times coming hey…

    Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Steele646,

      I’ve noticed your focus on the NSA. , IF YOU ARE NOT BEING JUST FACETIOUS, i WOULDN’T WORRY SO MUCH. They don’t have the personnel and time to be listening to millions of Americans go on the internet to spout off expletives about DDT, LET ALONE THOSE FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD.

      Or is there something I don’t know?

      These times are a bit too interesting.

      Hugs Matey, Gronda

      Like

  3. What can I say? It’s all there for everyone to see. The Republicans are working around him, or trying. The leaders of other countries can’t figure out how he was elected and why no one does anything. It’s embarrassing for everyone. Leaders of other nations look at him like they don’t know what stunt he’ll pull next. Even his own followers think he’s a buffoon who entertains them and they just hope for jobs. Of course, those who want to keep America “white” have an agenda all their own. They live in the past. —- Suzanne

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Gronda, my wife said it last summer that there is something wrong with this man. She said she could not put her finger on it, but he is not right.

    Other than being the worst example of a narcissist, I did not know what else to say. Then, we start seeing these kinds of articles from psychologists dating back to last fall. This is not the first one I have read.

    Being an extreme narcissist, he does not know the difference between lies and the truth and he blames others for any problems or criticism. Is there something more wrong with him that, probably but it may not be to the point if dysfunction, although his White House is pretty dysfunctional. Keith

    Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Keith,

      He would and is impossible to work with. His dysfunction make it so he shouldn’t be president. The job is such that he can’t compensate, bluff, lie, bully his way to get whatever it is that he wants.

      By the US Congress not acting to enact this amendment 25, its members are putting this country’s national security at risk. I truly believe this.

      Hugs, Gronda

      Like

  5. Dear Mz. Gronda,
    Wow, I am finally back on line totally! Suffered a major hack early the other morning, they made it thru the first two fire walls and on to my small SSD that I use as a boot drive and buffer, but they were unable to access my primary drives or my files! They did however manage to corrupt the SSD and lucky for me that was all! But I am now back up and even more secure than before due to some additional changes I made to secure my equipment!
    This article is but a continuation of what we have heard for quite some time, and while I have no doubt it is extremely accurate, it will have no consequence toward the removal of the King tRump! I did appreciate the application of the military standards and will keep that in mind as time go on!
    I am very happy that we still have a Special Prosecutor and he survived the long holiday unscathed other than the accusations of bias due to political donations involving his team. These rumors are simply another excuse that tRump feels necessary for his ultimate goal of removing the investigators from their task. Time will tell, right?
    I’m sure you have heard by now, but it seems that the meeting between tRump and Putin has taken a strange twist! He and Tillerson will now meet privately with Putin and his staff! Hmmm, does anyone else see the problem with that? Or perhaps the question should be, is anyone surprised?

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Dear Crustyolemothman,

    I missed out on the news that the meeting would consist only of DDT, Mr. Tillerson and President Putin and friends. I don’t like this, either. I do not want DDT to be in a position to give away the ship.

    Congrats on your computer being back in use. It’s a good thing, you know how to get around problems.

    Hugs, Gronda

    Like

  7. If he was alone it would not be too bad.
    However there are those who are true believers (apparently some of them appear to be convinced that Sweden is on the verge of a civil war- that’s all you need to know about that!) and of course there are those who know just exactly the nature of the man but as making $$$ out of it, so ‘why worry?’
    A toxic mix.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Roger,

      The ugly aspects of greed are well at work in the White House. Sweden is one of those socialist countries where its citizens pay over 57% of their incomes in taxes in addition to a 25% sales tax. There is no way that this would go over well in the USA.

      Yet,in Sweden, the quality of life measured by various indexes is much higher across the board of what gets measured.

      Hugs, Gronda

      Liked by 1 person

  8. Dr. Gourguechon has certainly done her homework and, I believe, has hit the nail spot on the head. As it happens, there is a bill in the House sponsored by Representative Jamie Raskin and supported by at least 25 Democrats, to invoke the 25th Amendment. However, since it would require a majority of the House PLUS the support of VP Mike Pence, I fear it will go no further. Right now, the best hope seems to be that we let him keep eating all those rich foods he loves, put on a few more pounds, then suffer some health crisis which would automatically trigger the 25th. I hate to sound cruel, but the future of a planet is at stake here! Great post — I shall share. Hugs!!!

    Like

    • Dear Jill,

      If DDT had been a CEO at any public company, he would have been history long ago and there would have been singing and dancing in the boardroom. The words “free at last” would be shouted over and over again. The champagne would have been flowing…

      But here we are, stuck with a leader who is unfit for duty.

      Thanks a million times over for all of your support and for this reblog.

      Hugs, Gronda

      Liked by 1 person

      • Yes, as I was telling a reader earlier, if I wanted a job as a ditch-digger, I would have to have more qualifications for the position than DDT has for his. I think the time has come to add some criteria for the position of president, such as education and experience, plus … I think they should be able to pass a test on the Constitution! DDT has not even read the Constitution, which is under 8,000 words and can easily be read in under an hour. Well, most of us can read it in under an hour. Perhaps not DDT. Sigh.

        Hugs!!!

        Liked by 1 person

        • Dear Jill,

          He wouldn’t pass any competent psychological evaluation. He wouldn’t last at any publicly run company. But the republican party created the environment that allowed this man to become our president. They need to pay a price.

          They cannot continue to solely cater to less than 40% of the US population.With the Trumpcare bill, they only catered to about 15% percent of Americans.

          Hugs, Gronda

          Liked by 1 person

    • I think VP Pence will be more than happy to do the dastardly deed once he can do so without jeopardizing his political future. As long as Pence plays his cards right he is on the fast track to becoming POTUS, and in fact may be in a position to be the savior of the world by single-handedly reversing all this bad Trump detritus and any proposals of his (Pence) may be looked upon as so much better and so much different than Trump that he will go down in history as the Man Who Saved The World.

      Liked by 2 people

      • Perhaps, but … there is always the possibility that the mental & physical exams, depending on who performs them, could allow him to be re-instated almost immediately. And then … dum-de-dum-dum … off with Pence’s head! And that is why I think Pence, while he may be rubbing his hands together in anticipation, will take a pass, at least for the time being. And, with the GOP majority in the House … sigh. But I keep thinking … hoping, really … that there will come a proverbial ‘straw that broke the camel’s back … something so outrageous that even the more loyal defender will have to say … “ENOUGH!!!”

        Liked by 1 person

        • I think there is more to “exams” than just bringing in a handful of doctors to make a diagnosis. There has to be Congressional oversight, and should be court involvement. It would be really stupid for Pence to try to pull off a Central American style coup unless the backing and support was foolproof…of course he wouldn’t do that. Also there are no guarantees that Pence would be The One. This whole amend-25 thing is pretty much theoretical. They did do it on a few TV shows, but …

          Liked by 2 people

      • Dear Gradmama2011,

        At least VP Pence is sane but he would be promoting a lot of President Trump’s policies, but just more effectively.

        Hugs, Gronda

        Like

  9. Reblogged this on Filosofa's Word and commented:
    If you have read my blog a few times, you know that I believe Donald Trump is as unfit for the presidency as any could ever be. Blogger-friend Gronda has written a great post with documented evidence by a licensed and well-respected psychiatrist that supports my opinion. I have long called for Congress to invoke the 25th Amendment and declare Trump unfit, and there is actually such a bill being considered in the House. However, its success is highly unlikely. Still … it is important that we all understand just HOW unfit the ‘man’ is to be in the highest office in the land. Please take a few minutes to read Gronda’s post … it is well worth the read. Thank you, Gronda!

    Liked by 1 person

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