Dem to unveil bill requiring a White House psychiatrist for Trump. (Not the Onion)

[herding cats]

Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) reportedly plans to file a bill that would require the White House to have an in-house psychiatrist.

“I’m looking at it from the perspective of, if there are questions about the mental health of the president of the United States, what may be the best way to get the president treatment?” Lieu told the Huffington Post.

“We’re now in the 21st century. Mental health is just as important as physical health,” he added.


The Democratic lawmaker reportedly plans to introduce the bill as early as next week.

Lieu has previously raised concerns with President Trump's mental health, suggesting that the commander in chief could use a mental health evaluation.

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/318554-lawmaker-to-propose-a-bill-requiring-a-white-house-psychiatrist

[Gothmog]

1. This will be fun to watch

This is needed

[herding cats]

2. I agree on both points.

I'm glad someone decided to actually do this.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

3. This only makes sense if it's to be used to establish grounds for impeachment.

Because there is no way on god's green earth that Trump would be willing to do anything about a psychiatric diagnosis of any kind.

[Wounded Bear]

8. This would not drive grounds for impeachment...

It would form a basis for an Article 25, Section 4 charge of inability to perform the duties of the office.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twenty-fifth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution

[whathehell]

9. Whichever gets his ass out of office...

asap is fine with me.

[Wounded Bear]

10. Oh, I'm with you...

I'd almost rather the A25/4 route. Trump would have to live the rest of his sad life with having been proven to be not good enough to be President.

[whathehell]

17. Right.

I actually don't hate the guy....He just strikes me as a human train wreck with NO business anywhere NEAR the Whitehouse. His presence there scares the hell out of me.

[TrekLuver]

29. He should of just stayed in his lane.

[whathehell]

45. Yes, and Hell Yes!!

[manicraven]

18. Plus, isn't it a quicker process than impeachment?

[BobTheSubgenius]

21. OH! OH! OH!

That is a fantastic observation!

I also believe that just knowing someone had the effrontery to introduce a bill like this is going to create an eruption that will be hard for the sycophants that surround him to contain.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

20. Okay, but there's still an assumption

that he'd actually talk with a psychiatrist, which isn't ever going to happen.

[mac56]

34. Which will also bite him in the ass.

His refusal to put the matter to rest, leaving everyone to speculate about what he's hiding.

It's a win-win.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

35. No. He won't give a flying fuck, and neither will his supporters.

Lots of people believe psychiatry is a crock, and that psychiatrists are not really doctors (despite their training), and so even if they become aware that he wouldn't speak to one, it won't register with them, and if it does, they won't care.

This is the sort of "makes me feel good" pseudo activism that there's far too much of.

[Hekate]

39. A full physical at Walter Reed Hospital could include psych workup as a matter of course....

DTs wiggled out of having a physical and releasing the records before taking office, but at this point we really need that info.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

42. Assuming he bothers with a full physical at Walter Reed.

I'd be willing to bet money that he will continue to use Dr. Bornstein and only Dr. Bornstein for any and all health care.

[dhill926]

4. love it....

[arithia]

5. I'm all for this for every administration

1) It would further normalize mental health care, which still carries a heavy and pernicious stigma.

2) This is a high stress position. The Pres should have ready, regular access to a psychiatrist and/or counselor whether they think they need one or not. Heck, even the White House staff probably needs someone to vent to every once in a while that would be a neutral third party.

Stress can literally change the shape of your brain and the ways in which your genes function. Ensuring that the person with their finger on the nukes is in the best possible physical and mental health is a good idea.

[whathehell]

12. I agree..

I was always amazed how "No drama Obama" got through it with such calm and grace. Having an apparently happy marriage probably helped a lot.

Of course he did allow as to how his language was a tad saltier in private than in public.

[LisaM]

26. I don't totally agree.

It would require a big safety net - I don't think coerced mental health exams are a good idea.

[arithia]

27. I'm not talking about coerced mental health exams

I'm talking about a staff psychiatrist/counselor for the white house personnel and the first family.

Having round the clock access would encourage voluntary participation when it is most needed vs having to make an appointment and wait.

While the pres themselves could undoubtedly get seen the minute they need care, the same cannot be said for their support staff or the First Family.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

36. What makes you fantasize that

the the current President, any of his family, or the support staff would actually consult the staff psychiatrist/counselor?

Such consultation usually requires that the patient/client be acting in good faith, and none of these aforementioned people are doing so.

[arithia]

38. What makes you fantasize that

it's necessary to ask that question when I'm discussing having access to care for all future presidents? It's an assumptive fallacy to assume that no one living or working in the White House at current time would utilize such care if they have access to it.

If you want to make cheap shots at 45's administration, feel free to do so.... preferably without intentional misrepresentation of your fellow DU'ers point and ascribing "fantasies" to them. It's kinda rude.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

41. People in this thread seem to think that

a WH psychiatrist is going to be something that makes a difference in the here and now of the Presidency.

That's a fantasy. Not a cheap shot.

[arithia]

43. Your assumption that it is fantasy is just that- an assumption

You are making a claim of omniscience. You do not know for sure one way or the other that no one in the White House, from the President to his staff, wouldn't take advantage of counseling or Psychiatric help if it were readily available to them.

Approx 1 in 5 adults in the US meet the criteria for a mental health diagnosis. Many of these conditions are biological and genetic in nature. You do not know if someone is currently diagnosed with say, ADHD, bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder, and is currently on medication. New patients often have long wait times to be seen unless they are in crisis. Most people with such disorders will tell you that ready access to someone who can adjust and maintain their medications is a necessity- many require regular blood testing to ensure patient health. This is especially true after a move- say from your home state to Washington DC for a new job. A WH staff psychiatrist/psychologist would remove the barrier to care presented by new patient wait times.

To claim that you personally know that no one would use said psychiatrist is a projection of your own beliefs on the matter. As for what other people are saying, perhaps you should address THEM with that and not me.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

44. The people in this administration are so confident they are right,

despite the fact that they are completely wrong about almost everything, makes me think they would be quite loathe to seek professional help.

Yes, it's just my opinion, and I'm not projecting anything, as I have made use of counseling when needed.

[arithia]

46. um...

It's projection because you are claiming they will do what you THINK they will do. You are basing the assumption on your pre-formed ideas about the administration.

Again, it doesn't matter how they behave. There are hundreds of people classified as White House staff. Statistics indicate several people on that staff have a mental health diagnosis. Regardless of how they act in public, you do not know if one of 45's lackeys has a mental health diagnosis. I would not wish anyone, from the cleaning staff to 45 himself, a wait time if they wanted to seek services.

[bucolic_frolic]

6. It's a good idea

The VP is not a qualified mental health professional and cannot evaluate
properly, plus he is not a disinterested party

On the other hand, turning over decisions to a psychiatrist is like a court
of law, the biggest expert wins, and they don't always agree on very much
depending on which one you ask. Good as economists in that regard.

[Wounded Bear]

7. I nominate Nate...

Fake pres deserves a fake analyst.

(for the TV challenged, he's on NCIS-LA )

On a serious note, just proposing the legislation is genius.

[herding cats]

14. I love Nate!

[athenasatanjesus]

11. Too bad our country isn't run like Starfleet

There would be a chief medical officer on hand that could deem him emotionally unfit at any time.

[lindysalsagal]

13. How much would we have to pay someone to sit down with the liar?

[VOX]

15. As imagined 50 years ago (image)

[url=https://postimg.org/image/4secvtdrn/][img][/img][/url][url=https://postimage.org/]upload pics[/url]

[whathehell]

19. Excellent..

Bravo.

[Ilsa]

16. There is no cure for narcissism.

But a really great psychiatrist should really work over #45.

[Lucca2]

22. Yes!

Yes, he needs a mental status exam! How to require it?

[lpbk2713]

23. Sounds reasonable to me.

If it helps save our country before it's too late I'm all for it.

[nevergiveup]

24. If only once

there could be a silent/private vote.

[WillowTree]

25. Is anyone holding their breath in anticipation of this thing getting any traction at all?

[randome]

30. No. But Trump hearing about it is worth the conversation.

Image the tweets!

[WillowTree]

32. Understood.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

37. How would he hear about this?

Trump doesn't pay attention to anything that doesn't aggrandize him. Or if he does, it's only to complain. He clearly doesn't read newspapers, and only watches a limited amount of TV, such as SNL, and if they included this idea in one of their skits, he'd assume it was one of the made-up parts of the skit.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

28. Having a mental disorder does not make you a bad person. It makes you

a person with a mental disorder.

Sometimes, those disorders can make you unsuitable for certain positions.

In this case, that would be president of the United States.

[yagotme]

31. Certain positions, like heavy vehicle operator.

Or nuclear button pusher.

[flamingdem]

33. Ted Lieu, I'm one of your constituents and

I love you

[DFW]

40. One of the funniest films ever made becomes reality: "The President's Analyst."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_President's_Analyst