Narcissism, a case study

Obama announced today that he had "become a symbol of the possibility of America returning to our best traditions." (Thanks, CNN)

Now, it's one thing when somebody else says that about him. (See Chris Matthews saying "he's a gift from the world to us in so many ways"; "the Biblical term... is 'deliverance'"; "shiver up my leg"... in fact, just see this video that McCain's campaign put out.) People say all kinds of things about presidential candidates, and just about anybody else, for that matter. But when you start saying those things about yourself, it's an entirely different matter.

Several people have drawn (unfavorable) comparisons between Obama's speech in Berlin last week and Lincoln's Gettysburg address.

Obama said: "Now the world will watch and remember what we do here."

Abraham Lincoln said: "The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here."

The difference between the two is a modesty that is essential to any human being. Or at least any human being who doesn't wish to be insufferable.

Obama's utterances about himself often tend towards the messianic. He and his loyal followers will make the oceans recede, heal the planet, restore America, &c., &c. Not to draw unsavory comparisons, but as unsavory comparisons are inevitable, here goes: the only people who say things about themselves like that are tyrants and fools (deity excepted). Obama's no tyrant. But he should be careful about the company he keeps, or he will look like a fool.

Oh, Senator? You're no Abraham Lincoln, either.