Forget Richard Nixon. Or John Edwards … and you can definitely scratch Cincinnatus off the list.
The man S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford has become singularly identified with in the wake of his fall from grace is a product of Greek mythology – a “cautionary tale” to young men the world ’round.
So, who was this “Narcissus,” the fallen demi-God for whom the modern-day personality disorder is named?
From the Encyclopaedia Brittanica:
… in Greek mythology, the son of the river god Cephissus and the nymph Liriope. He was distinguished for his beauty. According to Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Book III, Narcissus’s mother was told by the blind seer Tiresias that he would have a long life, provided he never recognized himself. His rejection, however, of the love of the nymph Echo or (in an earlier version) of the young man Ameinias drew upon him the vengeance of the gods. He fell in love with his own reflection in the waters of a spring and pined away (or killed himself); the flower that bears his name sprang up where he died.
In fact, the Roman version of the legend of Narcissus is even worse than that … condemned to “the darkest hell” in that account, Narcissus still gazes at his reflection in the river Styx to this day.
(Click for larger version)
Hat tip: YSC
By PandaChris August 13, 2009 at 10:12 am
Great analogy!
Only problem is that it implies that Sanford has BECOME narcissistic.
Evidently, his self love has always been there, even as a Congressman.
But maybe self-idolization is part of the C Street religion.
By John C. "Cooter" Brown August 13, 2009 at 12:14 pm
I beliebe dat dat gob-ner has lost his dern mind!!!
By Jeffy01 August 13, 2009 at 1:11 pm
I bet that picture is photoshopped!
By Todd August 14, 2009 at 12:04 am
Are there levels of narcissism? Is Jean Toal an 8 and Sanford a 10? Vice-versa? Where does McConnell fit in? 7.6? Jakie?? 8.75? Harrell? 9.99? Saw a picture of John Land today. At least an 8 with his girlfriend Jean T.
By James the Foot Soldier August 14, 2009 at 10:11 pm
The whole political cabal are 10s on the N-scale. Their suck-o-phants see to this – even as folks like Edwards, Spitzer, Sanford, Hart, Kennedy, Roosevelt, et al auger into the ground.
My father stated 30 years ago there’s not a dime’s difference between the two parties and nothing over these 30 years – including Ronaldus Magnimus – leads me to believe he was not speaking the truth.