I wish I was a mental health care professional because I love to study and apply psychology to understand and support people, but I am not and therefore only offer my unskilled opinions and have no professional certifications to back them up.
I have, in the course of my life, HAD to learn quite a bit about cluster B personality disorders just to defend myself and I and many others on the web have always believed that Obama is textbook for at least one of them. He certainly fits the descriptions I have read for severe pathological narcissist personality disorder (NPD).
An estimated 10% of our population is believed to have one or more personality disorders ranging from mild to severe. I suspect that if you investigate any really damaging politician you often find at least one or more personality disorders which may accompany other ‘issues’ because the hallmark of a personality disorder is the lack of a conscience. Those with personality disorders may act as if they have a conscience but only if it fulfills their self image of themselves as a person with a conscience (it’s for show) - others with this disorder may perceive the possession of a conscience as a sign of weakness and will make no attempt to portray themselves as having one unless publicly taunted - at which point they act shocked...SHOCKED that someone could accuse them etc.
The problem with putting on this award (Nobel) winning act is that he grows tired of it and is angry when people point out flaws in his performance. It can get scarey. Narcissists have an ideal model of themselves that they maintain - they perceive this image as their very existance. Negative criticism or public failure puts this image (’life’) at risk. Rage wrapped in a survival instinct surfaces if their ‘self’ image is threatened by reality or rejection. If you look at the 10 months or so he’s been in office, he is losing his willingness to attempt to charm and is more often shown grimacing. He is likely to begin to slip and show an adversarial attitude toward his detractors and allies alike and we will see it more often. FOX is just the beginning. I think we will witness startling displays of temper and ponder over inexplicable and vengeful actions on his part, even against his own supporters, as he ‘fights’ to keep himself believing that he is as omnipotent as he thinks he is.
I believe that the reason he is not ‘leading the country’ or performing normal tasks undertaken by presidents is because, IMHO, he only has enough stamina to create and support the ‘life’ of his false image - he doesn’t see governing as worthy of his time. That’s why he says ‘time for talk has passed’ re healthcare - he doesn’t want to spend any time or energy on it it, he should just be able to tell us what to do and we should do it.
People willing to support this kind of person with zeal - like Rahm, are likely to also have this vengeful, controlling behavior. They are likely to have personality disorders too - it helps to lack a conscience if you are going to swim with sharks. We get the feeling THEY ‘aren’t listening to us’ re healthcare etc. but the truth is - we don’t count as humans to them. They are playing on a much bigger playing field of control and survival (maintaining images of themselves as powerful and superior) and they will tirelessly, IMHO, struggle to control us and punish as as we disobey. It won’t be pretty. Reality is gaining on them.
Good information, thanks.
Interesting comments. I do wonder, though, about his getting away with this for 46(?) years. That’s quite a long gig. I’ve always thought that no one in his entire life has told him no, beginning in the cradle and going through his affirmative action years and community “organizing” thuggery. As I say to my husband, in a country of 300 million people, there must be SOMEONE with access to him to play his little mental games and win. Barry Soetero may think he is an alpha male, but IMO he is not. I’d love to see an alpha take him on and show him up for the beta he is.
Thanks for the long explanation. I think I finally understand the meaning of the phrase The Emperor has no Clothes. Always pondered what the heck that meant.