@spaf Imagine that you had surrounded yourself with people who competed with each other to fellate you, literally or figuratively. Imagine that all of those people transparently had much to gain from their association with you, many because they have no actual competence, others because they had businesses that, in a corrupt system, could only operate with a pass from you. With even a little self awareness, wouldn't an indelible self-loathing wash over you? More adulation would only exacerbate.
@rose If one had a modicum of decency, yes.
@spaf What I don't get is that even a horrible person - defined, quite frankly, as one with values I don't share - cannot escape the evidence of their eyes. And when that evidence accumulates to the inescapable conclusion that you are surrounded by low-quality people who have no genuine respect for you and treat you like a credulous, blind fool - even a monster would want to step away. Fawning attention makes one's skin crawl, and lack of decency doesn't inoculate against that.

@rose @spaf

I think he despises everyone, including himself, and that's why he no longer gives a shit what happens.

@darwinwoodka @rose @spaf He's a malignant narcissist. He both hates and reveres himself and he has an uncontrollable need for others to reinforce the reverence. That's why he practically breaks when something slips through about someone not doing so and actually does break when something critical gets through.

He didn't need them to be good people, he just needed them to worship him.

@rose @spaf It's not lack of decency as much as the sheer lust of cruelty. Physically being able to make Little Marco wear too big shoes must be exhilarating for someone so inclined.