is "collective narcissism" the reason so many voted for gwb?

[Batgirl]

I've heard Bush described as having a narcissistic personality. Narcissism being described as "malignant self love."

"The narcissist is a master of disguise. He is a charmer, a talented actor, a magician and a director of both himself and his milieu. It is very difficult to expose him as such in the first encounter. But here are a few signs:
1.displays haughty behaviour
2.has a tendency to humiliate, criticize and belittle others
3.has a tendency to exaggerate, small, unnecessary lies
4.has a tendency to fantasize about unlimited success
5.brags incessantly, to ignore you, not to listen
6.has a tendency to idealize you much beyond the call of courtship
7.makes promises which are incommensurate either with the event, or with his ability to fulfill them
8.has haughty body language"

And here's a description of those who have ongoing relationships with the narcissist. It explains why incompetents such as Condi have been rewarded with promotions -- because he's ensuring his narcissistic "supply" -- and why independent thinkers like Clarke had to go:

"If you wish to preserve and maintain the relationship (with the narcissist), do not criticize or disagree with the narcissist. Provide him or her with ample and recurrent narcissistic supply (adulation, admiration, attention, affirmation, applause). Never give advice unless explicitly asked to and, even then, make it seem like the narcissist found it by himself. Never remind him that he is weak, sick, unknowledgeable, in need of help, or otherwise beholden to someone or something. Do not threaten to abandon him, do not pose conditions, or impose. Do not intrude, or micromanage his life. Stay away until summoned. Be there only when requested. Do not have a full-fledged existence, being, needs, or wishes of your own."

But the aftermath of the election is extra painful because it's hard to understand why so many people would vote for 4 more years of hell.
Does collective narcissism account for the existence of so many Bush supporters? Here's a description of collective narcissism:

"Human collectives - states, firms, households, institutions, political parties, cliques, bands - acquire a life and a character all their own. The longer the association or affiliation of the members, the more cohesive and conformist the inner dynamics of the group, the more persecutory or numerous its enemies, the more intensive the physical and emotional experiences of the individuals it is comprised of, the stronger the bonds of locale, language, and history - the more rigorous might an assertion of a common pathology be."

Also: "An all-pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behaviour), need for admiration or adulation and lack of empathy, usually beginning at the group's early history and present in various contexts. PERSECUTION AND ABUSE ARE OFTEN THE CAUSES - OR AT LEAST THE ANTECEDENTS - OF THE PATHOLOGY."

I used caps for that last sentence because I feel the attacks of 9/11 made us feel extremely persecuted and abused as a nation. An understandable reaction which has been exploited by our leaders in order to achieve their goal of authoritarian, one-party rule. And those feeling of persecution and abuse seem to neatly dovetail with and reinforce the pre-existing feelings of rightwing fundamentalists, that they belong to a marginalized, persecuted religious group.

Here's a checklist of criteria for narcissistic organizations or groups:

"The group as a whole, or members of the group - acting as such and by virtue of their association and affiliation with the group:

• Feel grandiose and self-important (e.g., they exaggerate the group's achievements and talents to the point of lying, demand to be
recognized as superior - simply for belonging to the group and without commensurate achievement)"

• Are obsessed with group fantasies of unlimited success, fame, fearsome power or omnipotence, unequalled brilliance, bodily beauty or
performance, or ideal, everlasting, all-conquering ideals or political theories.

• Are firmly convinced that the group is unique and, being special, can only be understood by, should only be treated by, or associate with,
other special or unique, or high-status groups (or institutions).

• Require excessive admiration, adulation, attention and affirmation - or, failing that, wish to be feared and to be notorious (narcissistic supply).

• Feel entitled. They expect unreasonable or special and favourable priority treatment. They demand automatic and full compliance with
expectations. They rarely accept responsibility for their actions ("alloplastic defenses"). This often leads to anti-social behaviour, cover-ups, and criminal activities on a mass scale.

• Are "interpersonally exploitative", i.e., use others to achieve their own ends. This often leads to anti-social behaviour, cover-ups, and criminal activities on a mass scale.

• Are devoid of empathy. They are unable or unwilling to identify with or acknowledge the feelings and needs of other groups. This often
leads to anti- social behaviour, cover-ups, and criminal activities on a mass scale.

• Are constantly envious of others or believes that they feel the same about them. This often leads to anti-social behaviour, cover-ups, and criminal activities on a mass scale.

• Are arrogant and sport haughty behaviours or attitudes coupled with rage when frustrated, contradicted, punished, limited, or confronted.
This often leads to anti-social behaviour, cover-ups, and criminal activities on a mass scale."

If I read these correctly, this checklist explains a lot about the Bush administration, from their attitude and treatment of the U.N., the countries such as France who opposed the Iraq invasion, the Abu Ghraib scandal and subsequent attitude of "it wasn't that bad", and so much more.

http://www.healthyplace.com/Communities/Personality_Disorders/Site/Transcripts/narcissism.htm

[Batgirl]

1. Not to mention, it also explains

why so many people still support him. They've invested so much in him and his policies. Reality is too horrible to contemplate:

"The Malignant Optimism of the Abused

I often come across sad examples of the powers of self-delusion that the narcissist provokes in his victims. It is what I call "malignant optimism".

“"There MUST be something good and worthy under the hideous facade", "NO ONE can be that evil and destructive", "He must have meant it differently", "God, or a higher being, or the spirit, or the soul is the solution and the answer to our prayers".

The Pollyanna defences of the abused against the emerging and horrible understanding that humans are specks of dust in a totally indifferent universe, the playthings of evil and sadistic forces, of which the narcissist is one. And that finally their pain means nothing to anyone but themselves. Nothing whatsoever. It has all been in vain.

The narcissist holds such thinking in barely undisguised contempt. To him, it is a sign of weakness, the scent of prey, a gaping vulnerability. He uses and abuses this human need for order, good, and meaning – as he uses and abuses all other human needs. Gullibility, selective blindness, malignant optimism – these are the weapons of the beast. And the abused are hard at work to provide it with its arsenal."

I think GWB does hold in contempt, not just those of us who disagree with him and criticize his policies, but the very ones who voted for him. To him, they're just cringing, tail-wagging mutts.

http://www.healthyplace.com/Communities/Personality_Disorders/narcissism/faq6.html