Same Personalities: McCain and Bush

According to Emily Yoffe in an article entitled Profiles in Personality that she wrote eight years ago, when we were facing another Presidential election, she claims that applying the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI--personality test) to George W. Bush renders him an ESTP. This is the same as John McCain. Since there is a chance that an ESTP may once again occupy the White House what do these letters stand for anyway?

Of course every personality type has criminal and saint within it's boundaries (and I'm not suggesting that either of these men are either of these, or that they're not:) Within the same personality type you can find people with different interests, habits and beliefs. For example JFK and Lyndon Johnson according to David Keirsy, a famous author of books about the MBTI, were also ESTP's.

The MBTI is a way to assess psychiatrist Carl Jung's belief that personality is composed of four poles of temperament preferences. So, what do we know about E, S, T, and P?

A simple explanation of the Bush and McCain personality is this. They are extroverted or expressive (E), observant or sensing (S), tough minded or thinkers (T), and they look for alternatives and like to keep their options open (P). One thing Keirsey has to say about this personality type; "They are decisive and little bothered by second thoughts and self-doubt...." Since [they] do not reflect very much on their errors or analyze their mistakes to any great extent, it is difficult for them to learn from their errors, and so they can become caught in a loop, repeating their mistakes." (resource: http://www.slate.com/id/2184696/pagenum/all/)

Great...I'm not really looking forward to this election. Not just because of personality (it's not really something to base an election on!) but because of several things. As I see it, my option to choose a good Presidential candidate come this Fall is just not there.