On the Origins of Andrew Sullivan’s PDS
Sometime late last summer shortly after John McCain announced he had tapped Sarah Palin as his running mate, a reader e-mailed me a comment from Andrew Sullivan where that former conservative had kind things to say about the then-Alaska Governor. ”Even Sullivan likes her!” ran the e-mail.*
Soon thereafter not only would he drink the Democratic Kool-aid on Palin, but would become one of the most outspoken critics of this charismatic Republican woman, pushing strange theories about her youngest child. Yesterday, Ann Althouse, wondered if Andrew “with the same intensity and standards” that he’s “aimed at Palin” would go “through the things Barack Obama has said and written”.
And I wondered if he had gone after Palin with such intensity to make up for the kind things he had once said about that accomplished woman. He didn’t want it to appear that he was at odds with his post 02/24/04 friends on their villain du jour (well more like villain de la décennie).
You know, what they say about the zeal of a convert.
*I am quoting from memory as I lost nearly all my old e-mail when my hard drive crashed in May. I am looking to get a new e-mail system–or install software that allows me to archive all my incoming and outgoing e-mail. So, if you know of such software, let me know.
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Sullivan is a delusional fantasist. And he is so committed to his position on Palin – he has dug that particular hole so very deep – that he can’t afford the slightest doubt, and ends up accusing her of being a “delusional fantasist” (his words). He’s worked himself into a state where *everything* she says or does, no matter how straightforward or honest, is to be misinterpreted as ‘not what it is’ and only further evidence of her alleged duplicity. (I have some recent experience on GP with being a target of that syndrome.)
As to the deeper ‘why’: We’ve kicked that topic around in the past. I believe it has to do with Sullivan wanting the approval (naturally) of people he has sex with, and/or hopes to have sex with. (I.e., various gay leftists) I also believe it has to do with his long-term use of anti-HIV drugs. I can’t remember the article where I saw the following, and don’t want to dig it out right now, but… there was a study a few years back which showed that the common AIDS drugs slowly attack the reasoning centers of the brain. Not the disease, mind you: the drugs.
Comment by ILoveCapitalism — November 24, 2009 @ 5:25 am - November 24, 2009
I think the suggestion that Sullington is suffering from AIDS-related dementia is kinder than the explanation that he really believes all the deranged things he’s been spewing the past few years.
Comment by V the K — November 24, 2009 @ 6:17 am - November 24, 2009
Sully is the same as he was back when he supported bush and crew.
He constantly harps on the same theme until the dead horse becomes unrecognizable.
Since you disagree, you make up wild stories about his AIDS – which is extraordinarily offensive – I know several folks who are on those drugs and to suggest they make you “demented” is rather insulting…
Comment by gillie — November 24, 2009 @ 8:47 am - November 24, 2009
I hope I am not the only one who notices the multiple rich, LOL ironies in what I’ve blockquoted.
Comment by ILoveCapitalism — November 24, 2009 @ 11:03 am - November 24, 2009
I’m with V the K, Sully used to be brilliant. I don’t think he needs to ‘pretend’ anything to sleep with whomever he wants.
The insanity of his attacks leads to another explanation.
I’ve been saying for a while, it’s either the Aids or the drugs, otherwise it is simply too embarrassing for a grown man to obsess so about a woman’s reproductive system.
Attack her all you want on policy (oh, I forgot. that is too much to ask from a lefty). But this obsession with her as a normal woman who has babies? This is beyond misogynistic, it’s hatred of women at such a visceral level.
Comment by Leah — November 24, 2009 @ 11:57 am - November 24, 2009
Uncle Sullie’s PDS is so extreme that The Atlantic actually made him stand-down for 24-hours and actually read Palin’s book before making any more postings due to the inaccurate and intemperate rantings he was posting last week about her and her book without having read it.
Comment by Ted B. (Charging Rhino) — November 24, 2009 @ 12:01 pm - November 24, 2009
I wonder if he’s been to the grocery store this week and seen the new issue of the Globe? There’s one Florida congressional district which I’ll bet he’ll find worth watching!
Comment by Ashpenaz — November 24, 2009 @ 12:49 pm - November 24, 2009
Leah – I agree, and just to be clear, I wasn’t suggesting that Sullivan pretends: I was suggesting he believes his own propaganda, being guided and dominated by his emotional and sexual interests.
Comment by ILoveCapitalism — November 24, 2009 @ 12:57 pm - November 24, 2009
You mean in the sense that letting gillie judge someone’s rationality is like letting Olympia Snowe judge someone’s conservatism? Like letting Adam Lambert assess someone’s manliness? Like letting the Obama administration define fiscal responsibility?
Comment by V the K — November 24, 2009 @ 1:54 pm - November 24, 2009
OK V, I’ll count the ways. Just for giggles.
1) I didn’t call Sullivan “demented”. Wouldn’t it be a bit demented to suggest I did?
2) In the AGW threads, gillie is claiming to be Mr. Science. Now, I said here (though I didn’t bother with a cite) that there was a -scientific study- some years ago that showed how AIDS drugs attack the brain’s reasoning centers, and gillie is suddenly offended. By science.
3) gillie “knows several folks who are on those drugs”… any chance gillie could be on the same level as them, politically and intellectually?
4) Plus what you said
Comment by ILoveCapitalism — November 24, 2009 @ 2:19 pm - November 24, 2009
*Runs for cover, V the K mentioned the androgynous one*
Comment by The_Livewire — November 24, 2009 @ 2:27 pm - November 24, 2009
I agree that Sully was an incredibly gifted writer and thinker…. but that was years ago. I have come to believe that his fall was precipitated by three equally important factors. First, he has always been very insecure and required regular sustenance to shore up his ego. Every time someone disagreed/disagrees with him you see this side and recognize a very self-doubting perhaps self-loathing individual. It was far easier for him to become a doyen of the left then to continue to be a conservative under attack from all sides. Second, he abandoned what at one time was a very orthodox Roman Catholic faith. I have always believed that abandoning ones faith causes just as much change to ones world as coming to faith. I think his life has been turned upside down over the past couple of years as much of his philosophical approaches to the world have changed. Finally, he fell in love with a leftist. It is very hard to live with someone who does not share some core believes and values. His husband is quite smart and hot and probably great in bed… it’s a trade off many of us might make if we were in similar circumstances. Unfortunately for us, his former readers, all these things have come together to leave us with nothing but a shadow of a former gifted commentator.
Comment by Jim O'Brien — November 24, 2009 @ 2:36 pm - November 24, 2009
Fine, I’ll do it. I *do* think Sullivan is clinically disabled in some way that is making his rational thinking abilities deteriorate. Whether that has to do with AIDS-related complications, I obviously have no idea.
But I saw him speak last year in a small group. He was clearly a wild-eyed conspiracy nut losing all control of reality.
Comment by GayPatriot — November 24, 2009 @ 2:42 pm - November 24, 2009
[...] might remember the psychotic Andrew Sullivan’s screech when the death was first reported: But the most worrying possibility – that this is [...]
Pingback by GayPatriot » OFFICIAL: KY Census Worker Committed Suicide,Not Killed By Right-Wing Extremists — November 24, 2009 @ 2:45 pm - November 24, 2009
What Jim said.
Comment by Draybee — November 24, 2009 @ 2:59 pm - November 24, 2009
I think you are referring to his meds, but lets not forget that Sully is also a pot smoker, and studies have shown that pot users suffer greatly increased risk of psychoses, with daily pot users experiencing up to 200% increase.
Meanwhile, Sarah Palin’s Uterus strikes back with its own blog to fight the smears of miss Andrew Sullivan.
Comment by American Elephant — November 24, 2009 @ 5:23 pm - November 24, 2009
Jim, one can fall in love with a leftist, change some core beliefs because of that but still be sane.
His obsession with the female aspects of Sarah Palin are incomprehensible.
Comment by Leah — November 24, 2009 @ 5:24 pm - November 24, 2009
“Excitable Andy” reinforces my belief to never believe a blogger who doesn’t let you leave comments.
Comment by Neo — November 25, 2009 @ 9:41 am - November 25, 2009
Sullivan is a total crackpot. It’s embarrassing, really.
Comment by Jack — November 25, 2009 @ 10:54 am - November 25, 2009
In fairness to gillie, Sullivan slipped long before he turned on Bush. His writing seemed to go downhill after 9/11. Though I still support the mission in Iraq, I often found myself embarrassed to be on his side of the debate. His writing became very personal & nasty. Sullivan himself would be the first to say that wasn’t thinking clearly at the time. There were more thoughtful voices out there.
Let’s keep this in mind for the future, when Sullivan inevitably turns on lame-duck Obama. Don’t allow the left to anoint him as a spokesman for the “reasonable right”. We need better advocates.
Comment by Steve-O — November 27, 2009 @ 2:17 am - November 27, 2009
Sullivan is upset with Sarah Palin because she looks better in running shorts than he does….
Comment by cowgirl — November 27, 2009 @ 11:53 pm - November 27, 2009