For months now I have had the growing suspicion that every Republican politician in the country has Narcissistic Personality Disorder, and the debt deal has convinced me that it's true.
I was married to someone with NPD for nearly 20 years, so I know how to spot an N, and I can even understand how Obama could fall victim to their treachery over and over again...
Let me explain. A person with NPD has the following traits:
--No empathy whatsoever
--Monstrous entitlement issues
--Bedrock belief that he/she is "special"
--Bedrock belief that he/she is exempt from all rules and standards of behavior
--Problem telling the truth, to the point that lies and truth are indistinguishable
--Only gets close to people who "pay tribute" to him/her
--Everything is image; there is NO substance
Pretty scary stuff, and I believe that virtually every Republican who is in politics has these traits. They prove it every day.
The problem for Obama is that a person with NPD cannot be dealt with on any rational level. You cannot reason with an N. You cannot compromise with an N. You never, ever want to strike a deal with an N, because he/she will reneg as soon as he/she gets what he/she wants out of the deal. You cannot appeal to their logic. You cannot appeal to their emotions.
In short, you cannot deal with an N. They are entirely unreasonable and impervious. It's a very, very difficult concept to grasp: you are dealing with someone who absolutely cannot be reached in any way that you recognize. But a guy like Obama, who tries to see the best in everyone, and who believes that everyone can be reasoned with, is a sitting duck to an N. He falls for their treachery every time. It's been said before: the Republicans and Lucy holding the football; Obama is Charlie Brown trying to kick the ball.
There is hope, though. It took me years to realize it, but my ex has a terrible fear that she does not exist, just like all Ns. The only way to break an N is to treat him/her as though he/she doesn't exist. Denied you attention, the N will completely fall apart...