@blatham,
Interesting list from the Mayo Clinic. 14 items of which about 1/3rd would apply at various times to almost everyone I have ever known... At least 2/3rds clearly apply to 'ole Joe Biden, who, throughout a long Senate Career distinguished himself as a lightweight without enduring convictions who would follow every political breeze if he found it to his advantage, exhibited a remarkable disregard for truth in repeatedly lying about his performance in College and repeated acts of foolish and easily detected plagiarism in his political rhetoric. Meanwhile he has and continues to cynically enrich himself , his brother and wayward son by blatant abuse of his political power and influence. In office he has revealed himself to be impulsive, self-absorbed, lacking in good judgement, irritable, intolerant and given to lying when faced with his failures.
A little reflection on world history rather strongly suggests that political leaders as a class everywhere and always have been more self-absorbed and egotistical than "normal" people. From Alexander of Macedonia to Caesar, Augustus, to the early monarchs of European countries from England to Spain and Russia, the Various Mongol Khans, Napoleon, Alexander I, Napoleon III, Lenin, Woodrow Wilson, Clemenceau, Churchill, Franklin Roosevelt, Stalin and many others the pattern is fairly clear, Indeed the avid pursuit of political power often appears to require it.
History and the wise tend to judge Political leaders based on what they do with their power and influence, and not on their agreeability as persons. Unusual merit and virtue in such historical figures often does involve a rare degree of empathy and humility. Abraham Lincoln is an example ( also, a personal favorite, the Habsburg Emperor Charles V who ruled most of Central Europe, Italy and Spain, and then retired to a monastery at age 55). Of language he famously wrote, "I speak Italian to women, French to men , Spanish to the Clergy, and German is for my horse").
The special hatred that animates you and others for Trump, appears … to me, at least, to indicate as much about you as him.
