3 Our President is Delusional

MARCH 15, 2010

President-of-the-World Obama is at it again. Apparently he feels the problems in this country are too small for him, or they have all been solved. His wisdom and greatness are too important to be squandered on only one nation. They must be shared with the entire world.

In his latest initiative, Obama takes “I’m from the Government, and I’m here to help you” across national borders. Breitbart reports on the call for a conference on entrepreneurship:

The White House on Friday announced a “summit on entrepreneurship” to build economic ties with the Islamic world, part of President Barack Obama’s outreach to Muslims.

The White House said it has invited participants from more than 40 countries over five continents for the April 26-27 conference in Washington.

On one level, this initiative is laughable, undoubtedly fodder for Saturday Night Live and Jon Stewart skits. On another, it reflects a serious situation pertaining to the continuing delusional nature of Obama and his Administration.

3.1 The Lighter Aspects

The “summit” provides more face-time for the President, a Pavlovian response by this White House to all problems. Unfortunately, the public has soured on what is seen as Obama’s endless campaigning. They want constructive action rather than continued platitudes and campaign slogans. “Talk is cheap” is an admonition this White House does not seem to understand.

Approval numbers are in free-fall. Obama, at this stage, is well ahead in the race to displace President Jimmy Carter as the worst president of the past several generations. He provides Carter’s ineptitude, without Carter’s sincerity. Desperation regarding the unpopular health care bill is making Obama look like the next Joe Isuzu, the fictitious liar in Isuzu commercials. Truth must not stand in the way of a sale.

Does the White House not understand how farcical their actions have become? Are they clueless or incompetent? Both hypotheses fit the facts. Making a definitive choice between them (both are likely valid) is irrelevant.

Now, Obama wants us to believe that he is another Peter Drucker, the world’s greatest management guru. The President has zero business experience and surrounded himself with advisers similarly deficient. Yet, Obama and his advisers believe that they are qualified to lecture the world on entrepreneurship.

Would it be impolite to ask what he has done to further entrepreneurship in this country? Have any of his prescriptions or proposals helped entrepreneurs? If so, which ones?

If foreign leaders care at all about their economies, they will run away from this conference. Investment and hiring in this country stopped when Obama’s “solutions” rolled out.

3.2 The Delusional Aspects

We have a President who believes he is always the smartest man in the room, no matter what room. Actually, he is always the least experienced and probably least qualified in most rooms. The fact is that he has no experience in anything.

What is known of his background includes stints as a “community organizer” and adjunct professor. What skills are required to be a community organizer? What experience is gained? None that is useful or transferable to an executive role! That is shown by Obama’s ineptness in office.

Obama’s short stint as a lecturer on Constitutional Law was unremarkable in every academic sense. There is no evidence of writing or publishing. The most notable aspect was his interpretation of the Constitution as a “living document,” open to changes that produce “social justice.” In effect, other than as a quaint artifact of history, for Obama the Constitution does not exist.

Despite this vacuous background, Obama believes he knows more about medicine than doctors, more about business than businessmen and more about creating jobs than entrepreneurs. This sad litany could be continued but the point should be obvious. Obama believes he has more to contribute than anyone else, on any topic, in any field. A rational man with such limited background would defer to those wiser and more experienced.

Instead, Obama presents himself to be an expert on all things. Does he not see how ridiculous this behavior makes him look? What must audiences of accomplished doctors, businessmen or entrepreneurs think when this man-child with zero experience lectures them? One can imagine the disgust and anger they feel, and must repress.

“Don’t worry, I stayed in a Holiday Inn Express last night” may work for TV but not as a governing strategy. Yet, Obama must believe that he received more than a good night’s sleep. In his mind, he appears to believe he is special, something larger than his office. A messianic image was part of his campaign and still appears to be a part of his self-image.

“The One” is an image clearly in conflict with reality. Acting the part is delusional.

I am not a psychologist or psychiatrist and do not pretend to have these skills. But any observant person will see the President’s behavior as bizarre, if not outright dangerous. James Lewis detailed the President’s extreme narcissism and commented on the risk:

The question is what real damage Obama may do to the country. This man has been entrusted with the greatest power in the world.

3.3 What If Obama Were Your Friend?

This situation may be better understood on a human, as opposed to a clinical, level. What would you do if your best friend believed that he was more knowledgeable than astrophysicists, oncologists, economists, businessmen, or other highly and specially-trained people?

What if he believed this so strongly that he felt he was entitled to “teach” or “lecture” practitioners in these highly specialized fields? As a friend, you would likely intervene and try to get him professional help. Our President is this hypothetical friend.

Other Presidents have rebuked industries or professions. Eisenhower came down hard on the military-industrial complex; Kennedy did so with the steel industry. Others have chosen whipping boys for both good reasons and political ones. None, however, presumed they were smarter than everyone else. Other than Obama, no one believed they had unique knowledge that was applicable everywhere and could improve everything.

The President’s behavior is delusional. While he sees himself as some modern-day, handsome version of Yoda, the rest of the nation is beginning to see him as “one sick puppy” who happens to hold the highest office in the land. He marches to a tune that others cannot hear.

Where are his friends, and why do they not intervene? Are they afraid to confront him with reality?

For the sake of the nation, if not for the sake of the man, someone should confront him about his problem. Delusional behavior is dangerous, especially when it affects the head of the world’s most powerful country.

Does Obama not have a friend who will intervene? Is everyone around him a political toadie or ideologue willing to risk the safety of the country in order to advance their own personal or political goals?