It’s not depression. Remember, Zero is a major league narcissist.
What he is going through is frustration and anger resulting from the reality of the world colliding with his own self-conception. As a result, we will see him lash out more and more in coming months.
After playing this latest stimulus card, he only has two cards left: First, the class warfare card which he will play in conjunction with the debt supercommittee process, amid shouts of eat the rich. And lastly, the race card which he will play at critical junctures in the reelection campaign to try to get him over the hump.
What he is going through is frustration and anger resulting from the reality of the world colliding with his own self-conception. As a result, we will see him lash out more and more in coming months.
Yes, narcissists do go through these episodes when they discover that the world doesn't accept and support their own image of themselves. But depression is one reaction narcissists have to that injury to their self image. Rage and manipulation may be to other reactions to narcissistic injury and frustration. At least that's my take on this.
He needs a narcissistic source—i.e., fawning admiration from the masses. The hysteria of the 2008 campaign will not be repeated, and he will not get to experience the euphoria of being treated as a messiah. He will struggle with the 2012 campaign.