Narcissism at Home and Abroad

Long ago, I managed to score a three-week vacation in Bali, during one of my tours overseas, and was staying at the Bali Hyatt with an international group of shrinks/psychiatrists who were having a conference on narcissism in international leaders---fittingly, Sukarno was in charge of Indonesia at the time. As I was political officer in the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia at the time, the shrinks began to treat me as worthy of numerous Heinekens in the pool bar after I had played a dozen games of tennis on the clay courts of the resort [I played with the pro, as no one was interested at the time]. Fellini was staying there too, with his entourage of bodyguards and boyfriends.

The upshot of the many conversations was that politicians---especially Middle East ones---were narcissistic to begin with and became egomaniacs if not megalos after attaining power, especially in non-democratic countries. I remember vaguely citing Sadat---who at that very week was going to Jerusalem---as being an exception that proves the rule. Sadat was grandiose and ego-driven, but a mere amateur compared with Assad or Saddam, both of whom were in early ascendancy. I also had been in three meetings with Crown Prince Fahd and found him very polite and gracious---even though he was effectively the ultimate "decider" in his country. Most of the shrinks were of Jewish origin and excited by Sadat's visit, so my divagations at the pool garnered many free beers.

Fast-forwarding three decades, a new political powerhouse of the left has reared its head in the USA, consisting of artistes, mostly B-List, and MSM shoulder-rubbers who want a slice of the celebrity glamour. A new study by Drew Pinsky, celebrity shrink, finds that href="http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/09/05/prnw.20060905.LATU045.html">Celebrities, especially Hollyweirdos, are narcissistic too!

First politicians, then movie stars and journalists.

Who wouldda thunkit?