The Supremely Disengaged Man-Child
Roger Kimball deserves our thanks and praise for this profound insight into the character of Barack Hussein Obama, the Anti-President [tip of the fedora to Irish Cicero]:
…it’s one thing to have a sense of humor. It’s quite another to regard one’s opponents with amused disdain. One key difference is the presence of contempt. Obama’s modus operandi excels in the deployment of contempt. Is it part of his instinctive embrace of Saul Alinsky’s “rules for radicals“? I do not know. But in some ways Obama’s habitual expression of contempt is the most alarming component of his style of governing. Together with his evident self-infatuation and notorious sensitivity to criticism, it bespeaks a character that is volatile, heedless, and disengaged from the palpable realities faced by the people he represents. Hence his suggestion — meant, I feel sure, in all earnestness — that the people who rallied against bigger government and higher taxes should thank him for . . . for what? For not taxing them into penury?
Obama doesn’t see this, of course. He really cannot twig why everyone is not lining up to thank him for being their leader. Such imperviousness is worrisome, for it betokens a disconnection from reality. But it looks now as if the dissatisfaction represented by the tea partiers is growing by leaps and bounds. It is not dissipating, as many predicted; it is gaining definition and ever-more broad-based support. There will come a time when Obama will find it impossible to avoid acknowledging this. That is the moment when we really have to fear the reaction of this supremely disengaged connoisseur of contempt.
That will, indeed, be the moment when this spoiled-rotten, narcissist man-child is likely to lash out as all such types do: in an uncontrollable rage of epic proportions. The two factors that will make this convulsive tantrum very dangerous for us are (1) he has the full powers of the Presidency at his disposal and (2) he has plenty of toadies surrounding him who will blindly serve him [a few may still be sensible enough to try and stop him, but they are in the minority] and do his bidding without hesitation or mental reservation because they have a deep-seated hatred of The West.
Forgive the 52%, Oh Lord, for they knew not what they did.
SIDENOTE: In the Comments Section of Mr. Kimball’s posting, a commentator, who styles himself by the name Harvard Yard Conservative, quoted from the Mayo Clinic’s symptoms of a narcissism. I think it worth quoting as well so we can keep it in the back of our minds in our dealing with and thinking on Barack Hussein Obama, but I would like to quote a bit more:
Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffNarcissistic personality disorder is a mental disorder in which people have an inflated sense of their own importance and a deep need for admiration. Those with narcissistic personality disorder believe that they’re superior to others and have little regard for other people’s feelings. But behind this mask of ultra-confidence lies a fragile self-esteem, vulnerable to the slightest criticism.
Narcissistic personality disorder is one of several types of personality disorders. Personality disorders are conditions in which people have traits that cause them to feel and behave in socially distressing ways, limiting their ability to function in relationships and in other areas of their life, such as work or school.
Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffNarcissistic personality disorder is characterized by dramatic, emotional behavior, in the same category as antisocial and borderline personality disorders.
Narcissistic personality disorder symptoms may include:
Believing that you’re better than others
Fantasizing about power, success and attractiveness
Exaggerating your achievements or talents
Expecting constant praise and admiration
Believing that you’re special and acting accordingly
Failing to recognize other people’s emotions and feelings
Expecting others to go along with your ideas and plans
Taking advantage of others
Expressing disdain for those you feel are inferior
Being jealous of others
Believing that others are jealous of you
Trouble keeping healthy relationships
Setting unrealistic goals
Being easily hurt and rejected
Having a fragile self-esteem
Appearing as tough-minded or unemotional
Although some features of narcissistic personality disorder may seem like having confidence or strong self-esteem, it’s not the same. Narcissistic personality disorder crosses the border of healthy confidence and self-esteem into thinking so highly of yourself that you put yourself on a pedestal. In contrast, people who have healthy confidence and self-esteem don’t value themselves more than they value others.
When you have narcissistic personality disorder, you may come across as conceited, boastful or pretentious. You often monopolize conversations. You may belittle or look down on people you perceive as inferior. You may have a sense of entitlement. And when you don’t receive the special treatment to which you feel entitled, you may become very impatient or angry. You may insist on having “the best” of everything — the best car, athletic club, medical care or social circles, for instance.
But underneath all this behavior often lies a fragile self-esteem. You have trouble handling anything that may be perceived as criticism. You may have a sense of secret shame and humiliation. And in order to make yourself feel better, you may react with rage or contempt and efforts to belittle the other person to make yourself appear better.
This post certainly leaves no doubt. I wonder how MO puts up with it, unless she fits the same category. I think most of us that write about him often, have probably accused him of many, if not all, of these attributes. So when his rage can no longer be kept hidden, we need to be ready. Very interesting post!
Thanks so much for the blogroll-add. You are on mine as well.
Thank you, Maggie. I would only ask: Why did Lady Macbeth stay with Macbeth?
DaTechGuy said that he has Obama on his rosary under “Contempt for the world”, but feels as if Obama has the wrong kind of contempt for the world – he condescends to people, not to material things.
What’s really weird to note about Obama, that I’ve probably mentioned before, is the way that constant achievement does not make him humble. All of the ridiculously high achievers that I’ve known are the nicest people – they know how good they are and don’t need to flaunt it. What has been amusing to me in the past ten years or so, as I’ve interacted with everyone from the superstars of the world to anti-Tea Party people, is that the people who truly stand out – regardless of political party – don’t feel the need to denigrate me. Intellectually, these people could easily swat me down like a fly, but choose instead to listen and react thoughtfully. The people who are not and never will be judges, nationally renowned professors, or CEOs, on the other hand, have an interesting habit of telling me that I’m stupid.
Mayo calls it narcissism. I call it “small dick syndrome”.
If you talk to the Mayo folks over a few cocktails, they will tell you they call it the same thing around the labs.