The Past is a Country Narcissists Don't Visit

They don't even have it on a *map*. Hark to the current occupant of the White House, via Fox News...

"It may be that regardless of what happens after this election, they feel more responsible," he is quoted saying in the Sunday edition of The New York Times Magazine, "either because they didn't do as well as they anticipated, and so the strategy of just saying no to everything and sitting on the sidelines and throwing bombs didn't work for them, or they did reasonably well, in which case the American people are going to be looking to them to offer serious proposals and work with me in a serious way."

Yerronner, we have two accusations made in this pleading.

1. "just saying no to everything and sitting on the sidelines and throwing bombs". (What? No, I'm pretty sure he means metaphorical bombs. Yes, Miss Grundy, that was a run-on sentence. No, we don't enforce grammar or good writing in this court--we'd get nothing else done. See the bailiff for a red pencil if you want to form a posse with our blessing.)
2. "the American people are going to be looking to them to offer serious proposals and work with me in a serious way."

These accusations are made in the context of the expected ever-lovin' ass-kicking of the Democrats in the mid-term elections. The wonderful thing about being a narcissist, see, is it doesn't matter what you said or did in the past. It was right *then*, as all your actions are right. So even though your actions NOW are in complete contradiction to previous ones, you are still right. Why? Shut up, that's why.

In response, the defense would like to enter the following data into the record:

• Charge #1: That's not how we remember it. The president refused to meet with Republican leaders who wanted to discuss options. Republicans were literally locked out of Congressional meetings held by the Democratic majority. On the rare occasions when he would deign to listen to Republican suggestions, he would simply point out "I won" and ignore them. His idea of compromise is allowing Republicans to tell him how great they thought his poem bill was. And by the way, how exactly can Republicans "throw bombs" when Democrats control Congress?
• Charge #2: I think the American People--you know, the ones who seem to be so angry right now--are expecting their voices to be listened to. When they said no Porkulus, they meant it. When they said no single-payer socialized medicine, they meant it. When they said they expect their Congresscritters to read the bills they vote for, they meant it. So in this case, no, I don't think they expect the new (hopefully Republican-dominated) Congress to roll over for the president. They expect a lot of FIGHTING the president. Because the Republicans tried and tried to offer serious proposals (in between rounds of Presidential golf) and the President keeps thinking "I won" is an argument that ends all debate. He needs to realize everyone in Congress "won". He's not special. And he refused to listen when he had the chance. Now the people are going to make sure he has no choice but to listen. He'll have to get serious and work in a serious way with the Republicans, or it will be obvious he's the one being the roadblock to progress.