Tag: Bullying in Politics

ASK NICELY AND DON’T INTERRUPT ANYONE, by Art Smukler, author & psychiatrist

This morning I took a bike ride and stopped for coffee at Starbucks. In the spirit of full disclosure I do own stock in Starbucks. Also in the same spirit, not nearly enough. So, I was sitting having coffee and reading the morning news when a 9-year-old (maybe 7 or 8, they grow them big in California), ran over and asked one of the moms something.

Being a psychiatrist I used all my intuitive skills and figured out that the three boys at the next table belonged to the three women sitting next to me.

The mom said, “Ask nicely and don’t interrupt anyone.”
The little boy nodded and ran over to ask the barista for whatever he wanted. My psychiatric skills didn’t include deciphering what the little boy whispered in his mother’s ear.

A while later, as I stood up to leave, I said to the mom who gave her son the kind advice, “Sorry to interrupt, but I couldn’t help but hear you say to your son, ‘Ask nicely, and don’t interrupt anyone’. I wish you were Donald Trump’s mother.”
The three moms laughed. Maybe I should have been a stand-up comedian… The mom I spoke to said, “Me too. Thank you for saying that to me.” I smiled and we all waved goodbye.

I got on my bike and pedaled home.

Some of Trump’s ideas, which I won’t AGAIN belabor, are not all bad. His behavior and the way he talks to people and about people is abominable.

Ten billion dollars can’t buy a person sensitivity to others or the ability to put our nation before his own need to inflate himself. How much hot air does it take before he explodes?

If you enjoyed reading, Inside the Mind of a Psychiatrist, you might also enjoy Dr. Smukler’s novels, Chasing Backwards, a psychological murder mystery, Skin Dance, a mystery, and The Man with a Microphone in his Ear. All are available as paperbacks and eBooks.

IF I WERE JEB BUSH, WHAT WOULD I DO? By Art Smukler MD, author and psychiatrist

A few years ago, Jeb Bush spoke at a lecture series I attended in Manhattan Beach, California. He was articulate, energetic, and had a wealth of ideas that really impressed me. He earned my respect and even my prospective vote if he decided to run for president. FYI… I’m not a democrat or a republican. I vote for who I think is the best person for the job.

A year later, Jeb decided to run. We all know what happened. Donald Trump publicly humiliated him. Why? How?

First, let me give you a little of my back-story. I am somewhat obsessed with the idea of one man battling against great odds to survive and be successful. The caveat is always to do it with ethics and honor — fight hard and never give up! Winning is not winning if you’re a dirty fighter.

Donald Trump sucker-punched Jeb Bush and Jeb never recovered. Trump called him names and publicly mocked his gentle and studious style. True, Trump has an innate ability to find someone’s weakness and exploit that weakness. But, it’s a twisted gift that many bullies exploit, mainly in grade school.

Bush and his fellow republicans didn’t know how to deal with all Trump’s low blows. Politics, as they knew it, was not practiced that way.

Okay, so Trump won that round. Now what?

If I were Jeb Bush, I’d pull in every chit that anyone in power owed me and speak at the Republican National Convention or in a parallel venue. I would openly admit that I was sucker-punched and behaved poorly. I didn’t fight back in a way that made me proud. I would throw politics down the crapper and point out my true opinion of Donald Trump. His insensitive, juvenile mocking style and his aggressive, narcissistic personality make him a dangerous choice for President of the United States. I would advise ALL delegates to vote with their heart and mind and to realize that by supporting someone who behaves the way their chosen delegate behaves is IN THE LONG RUN a big mistake.

Art Smukler is an award-winning psychiatrist and author of Chasing Backwards, a psychological murder mystery, Skin Dance, a mystery, and The Man with a Microphone in his Ear. All are available as paperbacks and eBooks.