do you have to have sociopathic characteristics to succeed in Washington?

[freepcrusher]

It seems that Republicans like DeLay or Gingrich (and probably some democrats too) succeeded in Washington by playing dirty, partisan, take-no-prisoners politics.

[Stranger in a strange land]

There's a difference between being amoral and Machiavellian (like Delay and Gingrich) and being a Sociopath (Karl Rove, who's said to be an extremely unlikeable individual, even by other conservatives, probably fits this description).

[feeblepizza]

Richard Nixon was a sociopath, but I'm not sure if he succeeded or not.

[King]

Yes.

[This user has not been convicted of 34 felonies]

Pretty much.

[Dgov]

It Certainly Helps.

[Wisconsin+17]

Wow, I'm impressed that cynicism is winning the day.

[Mr. Taft Republican]

I'd like to think they REALLY believe they're doing what's best, and not just to be douchebags. But no, even if I were able to lie with the best of them, I could not do it and force my opinions on someone else, too much responsibility.

[Nation]

I'd like to think they REALLY believe they're doing what's best, and not just to be douchebags. But no, even if I were able to lie with the best of them, I could not do it and force my opinions on someone else, too much responsibility.

So you'd feel better just as long as the politicians have deluded themselves into thinking they're really Helping America To Be Great? Come on, the amount of cognitive dissonance that goes through a guy like Jon Kyl's head has to be ---- extraordinary. We have Senators flat out tell easily debunkable lies.