I have no idea, and certainly didn't mean to imply anything of the sort.
I'm no psychologist, but it sounds to me more like he has developed one very narrowly delineated and closely circumscribed worldview - a "world formula," if you will, that explains everything (or at least: everything political) - and feels that he has found the perfect five stories, three anecdotes, two jokes, and one reminiscence to convey it to the public - and he ain't budging from that!
I repeat: I have made no deeper study of Mamet: Is he perhaps slightly autistic? I get the feeling that he'd give the same "performance" if he were being interviewed by Robinson, Mike Wallace, or Charles Manson. I don't see any "connection" forming between himself and his interviewer.
As I said before: His affect in the interviews was that of someone who is rolled out onto the stage, then fed the occasional catchword or "nudge" to keep him going, and then rolled back out again.
A one-trick pony?
I realize that I am really speculating here - perhaps someone else can enlighten us - or at least present an opposing view?
Regards,
I wasn’t fully irresponsible when I wrote the A-word.
He was known to have been a very heavy drinker when he was a younger man.
This is a pattern that I see with many creative people, who have drawn inspiration from heavy drinking. If they don’t die young then after some point they go into repeating the witty things their younger mind came up with. Mamet is 74 now.
Alcohol?
No need to jump to any conclusions.
Remember that the Eagles do “Hotel California” every night.
Sean Hannity repeats the same few words in every broadcast for the entire show. If that is what he thinks he needs to do...