This month's issue of Scientific American mind includes an article on violence and bullying that provides a lesson for the left. Educators and pschologists have been spreading what is apparently incorrect folklore - violent people and bullies have low self esteem. No studies show this. In fact, studies show that violence and bullying are the hallmarks of narcissism and have no correlation to self-esteem. Narcissists become enraged when anyone insults or questions them. Remind you of anyone? Lieberman?
In fact, now that I am listening for it, clearly the extreme right wing people who most annoy us are supreme narcissists - Limbaugh, Hannity, Coulter, Rumsfield, Cheney and Bush.
It seems worth the effort to understand narcissism better. What is the most effective way to counter it? Expose it? Apparently, narcissists are fairly dangerous people in many situations.
My own opinion of what is really responsible for Lieberman's downfall is his amazing sense of entitlement. What an ego! How thin-skinned he is! No one likes people like this - they are not likeable.
What the article says is that narcissists are fine as long as everyone respects them - but they go crazy over any insult - resorting to violence and bullying.