THE EGO HAS LANDED

This must have been a bizarre moment:

Rudy Giuliani was on the trans-Atlantic campaign trail Wednesday, schmoozing with conservative idol Margaret Thatcher and bragging about his international credentials.

"I'm probably one of the four or five best known Americans in the world," Giuliani told a small group of reporters at a posh London hotel....

Giuliani told reporters he has made 91 trips to 35 countries in five years and many governments seek him out for advice on security. He was given an honorary knighthood in 2002 by Queen Elizabeth II for his leadership after the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

But who are the four other best-known Americans?

"Bill Clinton ... Hillary," he said, but he was whisked away for another engagement before he could throw out any other names....

Yeah, Bill, Hillary, and, er, the president of the United States perhaps? That's three. Madonna: four. Michael Jackson: five.

Sorry, Rudy. And I didn't even get to the countless political figures, musicians, movie stars, and athletes who've had more than one moment in the sun and thus are much more famous than you worldwide.

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Some people talk about Bill Clinton as if he's the biggest narcissist in American politics, but I can't imagine him saying anything like this. Oh, he'll luxuriate in being the center of attention, he'll hold forth at a gathering in an attempt to be the center of attention, but he won't announce to the world, "I deserve to be the center of attention."

Rudy had an ego long before 9/11, and the most common way it's always manifested itself is in his belief that if you don't agree with him about everything, you aren't fit to live among decent people. He gets angry if you cross him; he feels entitled to your respect and deference. (Clinton, by contrast, believes he can get you to see things his way if he can just talk to you long enough.)

When Giuliani lashes out at opponents, that's his sad, pathetic, crybaby ego talking -- lack of deference is entirely intolerable to him. He's a bit like Bush in this regard. Can we stand four more years of that?

(Story also here and here.)