There are several types of people who seek the presidency. One is the man who has a vision of America that sees America as, above all else, exceptional in world history. This man believes that he has something to offer to the furtherance of that vision. They tend to be capable, yet humble, men who do not blow their own horns, and who have a great respect for the office. They speak to the nation infrequently, and only when it’s necessary. They understand that they are a temporary executive employee of the American people, and that politics must come second, particularly when national security is involved. Ronald Reagan, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, even George W. Bush (historians will one day bear this out) are such men.

Then there is the second type. This man is a narcissist. To him, America is somewhat special, but can and should be castigated when it’s politically useful. He believes in himself above all else, and seeks constant affirmation and praise, which is his due; after all, he’s the president. He’s not above lecturing others–which he does frequently–for their benefit, of course. He is a superior being, a legend in his own mind. Humility is not in him, but he fakes it quite well when necessary. He has little respect for the office or those who put him in it, and runs the White House like a college fraternity. Politics is job one, first last and always, and is always aimed at increasing and maintaining his self image and political power. He’s very good at faking empathy, at feeling other’s pain, but he cares only for himself. Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton are prime examples.

But we now have a new type who takes the worst qualities of the second type and expands on them. This man not only does not believe in American exceptionalism, he believes America to be inferior, racist, sexist, discriminatory, you name the negative, he buys it. He is not only a narcissist, but a malignant narcissist who must be on national television virtually daily, and who believes it his job to lecture the world on a regular basis. His policies are correct because he is correct and incapable of error. Such narcissism is a thin veneer covering a massive inferiority complex. Thus is he unable to speak without a teleprompter. Lies come easily to him, and the bigger the lie, the better. It is likely that he doesn’t even recognize that he lies, because anything he says must be good. He knows what is best for all, and none can reach his level of nuance, sophistication and intellect. He can fake sincerity, but not with the skill of a Bill Clinton. He can fake empathy, but is easily angered by those to whom he is supposedly empathetic. His imperiousness often comes to the surface when he throws a “treasured” friend or advisor under the bus at a moment’s notice, turns away busloads of kindergartners, insults the mentally disabled, or is scornful of his own vice president. There is nothing he cannot accomplish merely by talking to despots who will be, like the media, overwhelmed by his obvious coolness and glowing superiority.

We have elected a horribly flawed human being as our president, and we will pay for it. The only question is how much damage he will do and how much, if at all, it can be reversed.