Human Dummies and their Ventriloquists

A pertinent example is the one put forth by Keith Ohlbermann, Cheney and his puppet Bush. I know of a couple in which the guy pretends not to be opinionated, and gains people's trust and confidence. Then in private, discusses all these things with his common law spouse. Then she tactlessly repeats these confidences in public which she couldn't have found out any other way, escalating the matters into rumors, while he sits back and grins. She had a bad concussion from a wreck with a former "spouse", and this guy she's with now is her Svengali. He doesn't want her to be independent, although her mental malady could qualify her for SSI. As much as we may have loved the craft of Edgar Bergen, to see it carried out through a human being is disturbing, watching a benevolent but malignant dictator taking unfair advantage of someone mentally challenged. I try to see the best in people and take them at face value, but I feel like a fool inasmuch as I didn't pick up on this for a couple of years. I put this topic forth because it may be food for thought. I'm sure others here may have known of similar situations and picked up on some illuminating observations. __________________