Makes me wonder if everyone in Washington is a narcissist these days. Who are the good guys? Remember when doctors lived by "first do no harm"? I thought that was a thing. A big thing. 😳
It’s sad in so many ways. A lifetime career basically destroyed by choosing a political agenda and forgetting the science he supposedly represents. I think we have barely touched the surface of the damage caused by this man and others.
How many children have been forever damaged in their learning and social interactions? How many adults will never again trust in the agencies that supposedly guide us through situations like COVID? How many families and friendships have been broken over all the crazy in the last 2+ years?
Dr. Fauci will leave his mark on history for sure. A black mark I fear. And the costs of his actions? Immeasurable.
The depth of the damage done by Dr. Fauci, Dr. Birx, and their comrades in the FDA and CDC extends far beyond the immediate effects of COVID policies on the health, wealth, education, and lives of individuals (as if this were not enough). How can confidence in the FDA, the CDC, vaccines, and much of the health care structure be restored? Without that confidence, what further damage will be done in the years—maybe decades—to come?
I just realized he is the modern António Egas Moniz. Hell Moniz even won a Nobel prize along with praise from the intelligentsia. When Fauci dies of old age, his tombstone should read..."Power corrupts. And absolute power..." Is he a nice guy? By all accounts he's a swell guy. But I think the bright lights of star power and the fear of being found out about Wuhan/Ecco Health caused him to behave the way he did. A narcissist can't have his image tainted, after all.
Fauci is a perfect example of power corrupts. I view him as a sociopath aside from being a narcissist. He has skillfully realized an excess of power by enlarging his fiefdom and ensuring a constant stream of funding under his control. In the process he was able to remove any dissent from the ranks inside and outside his agency. His groupthink has created the debacle we are now seeing. I suspect history will not be kind.
Is he a nice guy? I’d say - get a few NIH scientists to talk off the record, preferably after quite a few drinks. Then they may tell you what kind of guy he is. Narcissistic, yes - and that’s just for starters.
Aha, the bravery of "off the record" is exactly why we find ourselves in such a pickle. Just reading some MMWR reports that started with a conclusion and made the data fit really make me nervous about the names associated with the reports. The NIH must have competent data scientists that were not consulted, but I could be wrong. Still "off the record" is of little benefit to the agency in restoring trust.
Dr. Prassad, you skip over lots of his HIV work as if it were all good. He was responsible for panic back then when an infant was HIV positive, he suggested that it could be easily spread without sexual contact. That at least added to the polarization that resulted in fear of gay men. Then later he resisted studies on bactrim when it could have saved countless people. He's an overpaid, egotistical bureaucrat who likes the limelight and can't handle any criticism. He has never nor will he ever own up to his mistakes.
I recently saw an old clip of an interview where Fauci was telling parents that their kids could get HIV off their toys or the kitchen counter. He has a glint of excitement in his eye when he predicts an devastating global pandemic to come in the next few years back in 2016 I think it was, like he just couldn’t wait. My problem with him is that I think he actually has a sadistic streak and likes telling people of impending Armageddon. Every announcement was always doom, never a word of encouragement or comfort. It makes him feel powerful, so Narcissistic for sure, but also cruelty.
I have to hold my temper when I talk about this guy. His responses to RFK's book would be like his responses to Rand Paul, mostly lies, some half truths, and "you plebes just can't understand what I'm talking about for I am The Science and the light."
Whenever we see our public servants engaging in professional photo shoots, throwing out the first pitch in MLB games, doing musical performances for captive audiences, or in any other way acting like celebrities, we should proceed with extreme caution.
Dr. Prasad - I'd love to know your thoughts on RFK Jr's book "The Real Anthony Fauci" --- specifically about his handling of the AIDS epidemic (which is the majority of the book). There is certainly a much different (worse) picture of Fauci presented there (even if only 1/2 of it is true) than what you wrote in the opening paragraph:
"Dr. Fauci was the head of NIAID for several important decades, where many great discoveries were made. His work during the George W. Bush years to help control HIV in Africa is truly worthy of praise and admiration."
Hmmm, what about his "controlling" HIV in the U.S.? Seems that people more wary, and more educated than some, realized the control would amount to their demise.
Fauci benefited so much by playing opposite of Donald Trump that it cemented his stature as above criticism for 1/3 of this country. And I think he may have been savvy enough that this wasn't a happy accident. I don't really want to see the inevitable biopic where he gets played by Brad Pitt for real but I probably will.
I think the tweet content only looks narcissistic in retrospect. I think VP is right in that a certain amount of narcissism is required to achieve leadership positions. However, in this case actions speak louder than words (well except for the “I am science” comment). It is his actions during the pandemic that speak to his inherent narcissism. Is he a malignant one? Well, likely only his family and the people that work for him know that.
I don't think you really know what a narcissist is capable of. Leadership needs self confidence, but a narcissist needs constant positive attention, it is like a drug to them. If you question anything of a narcissist, even something as minor as the spelling of a word, you are now public enemy #1 with them. They will do anything and everything to take you down and discredit you. A good leader doesn't do that. A good leader listens from all sides and makes a decision based on all input. A narcissist eliminates all input that doesn't agree with their image. I am sure that the reason why doctors are under threat of losing their licenses is due to Fauci as that is what a narcissists would do- you disagree or even question him, you lose your license and livelihood.
Unfortunately I’ve been there. I worked for someone and even looking slightly quizzical at their latest hare-brained scheme was impolitic. And I agree it is just awful for someone to lose their livelihood because they disagree with him. Even if he was a decent bloke I wouldn’t understand the god-like worship.
They may wait til he dies to canonize him but the way the media and much of the medical community acts they may go ahead now. Sadly, he appears to be such an egotistical ass that he is totally unaware of his failures.
Makes me wonder if everyone in Washington is a narcissist these days. Who are the good guys? Remember when doctors lived by "first do no harm"? I thought that was a thing. A big thing. 😳
"Do no harm" was apparently buried in a communal grave with HIPPA, rational scientific debate, and a few constitutional rights.
It’s sad in so many ways. A lifetime career basically destroyed by choosing a political agenda and forgetting the science he supposedly represents. I think we have barely touched the surface of the damage caused by this man and others.
How many children have been forever damaged in their learning and social interactions? How many adults will never again trust in the agencies that supposedly guide us through situations like COVID? How many families and friendships have been broken over all the crazy in the last 2+ years?
Dr. Fauci will leave his mark on history for sure. A black mark I fear. And the costs of his actions? Immeasurable.
The depth of the damage done by Dr. Fauci, Dr. Birx, and their comrades in the FDA and CDC extends far beyond the immediate effects of COVID policies on the health, wealth, education, and lives of individuals (as if this were not enough). How can confidence in the FDA, the CDC, vaccines, and much of the health care structure be restored? Without that confidence, what further damage will be done in the years—maybe decades—to come?
I just realized he is the modern António Egas Moniz. Hell Moniz even won a Nobel prize along with praise from the intelligentsia. When Fauci dies of old age, his tombstone should read..."Power corrupts. And absolute power..." Is he a nice guy? By all accounts he's a swell guy. But I think the bright lights of star power and the fear of being found out about Wuhan/Ecco Health caused him to behave the way he did. A narcissist can't have his image tainted, after all.
Fauci is a perfect example of power corrupts. I view him as a sociopath aside from being a narcissist. He has skillfully realized an excess of power by enlarging his fiefdom and ensuring a constant stream of funding under his control. In the process he was able to remove any dissent from the ranks inside and outside his agency. His groupthink has created the debacle we are now seeing. I suspect history will not be kind.
Is he a nice guy? I’d say - get a few NIH scientists to talk off the record, preferably after quite a few drinks. Then they may tell you what kind of guy he is. Narcissistic, yes - and that’s just for starters.
Aha, the bravery of "off the record" is exactly why we find ourselves in such a pickle. Just reading some MMWR reports that started with a conclusion and made the data fit really make me nervous about the names associated with the reports. The NIH must have competent data scientists that were not consulted, but I could be wrong. Still "off the record" is of little benefit to the agency in restoring trust.
Yup!
Dr. Prassad, you skip over lots of his HIV work as if it were all good. He was responsible for panic back then when an infant was HIV positive, he suggested that it could be easily spread without sexual contact. That at least added to the polarization that resulted in fear of gay men. Then later he resisted studies on bactrim when it could have saved countless people. He's an overpaid, egotistical bureaucrat who likes the limelight and can't handle any criticism. He has never nor will he ever own up to his mistakes.
I recently saw an old clip of an interview where Fauci was telling parents that their kids could get HIV off their toys or the kitchen counter. He has a glint of excitement in his eye when he predicts an devastating global pandemic to come in the next few years back in 2016 I think it was, like he just couldn’t wait. My problem with him is that I think he actually has a sadistic streak and likes telling people of impending Armageddon. Every announcement was always doom, never a word of encouragement or comfort. It makes him feel powerful, so Narcissistic for sure, but also cruelty.
You are right.
Agreed - Would love for him to comment / review RFK Jr's book "The Real Anthony Fauci"
I have to hold my temper when I talk about this guy. His responses to RFK's book would be like his responses to Rand Paul, mostly lies, some half truths, and "you plebes just can't understand what I'm talking about for I am The Science and the light."
Whenever we see our public servants engaging in professional photo shoots, throwing out the first pitch in MLB games, doing musical performances for captive audiences, or in any other way acting like celebrities, we should proceed with extreme caution.
“Paging Dr. Stadler, Dr. Robert Stadler”
Dr. Prasad - I'd love to know your thoughts on RFK Jr's book "The Real Anthony Fauci" --- specifically about his handling of the AIDS epidemic (which is the majority of the book). There is certainly a much different (worse) picture of Fauci presented there (even if only 1/2 of it is true) than what you wrote in the opening paragraph:
"Dr. Fauci was the head of NIAID for several important decades, where many great discoveries were made. His work during the George W. Bush years to help control HIV in Africa is truly worthy of praise and admiration."
Hmmm, what about his "controlling" HIV in the U.S.? Seems that people more wary, and more educated than some, realized the control would amount to their demise.
Fauci benefited so much by playing opposite of Donald Trump that it cemented his stature as above criticism for 1/3 of this country. And I think he may have been savvy enough that this wasn't a happy accident. I don't really want to see the inevitable biopic where he gets played by Brad Pitt for real but I probably will.
I think the tweet content only looks narcissistic in retrospect. I think VP is right in that a certain amount of narcissism is required to achieve leadership positions. However, in this case actions speak louder than words (well except for the “I am science” comment). It is his actions during the pandemic that speak to his inherent narcissism. Is he a malignant one? Well, likely only his family and the people that work for him know that.
I don't think you really know what a narcissist is capable of. Leadership needs self confidence, but a narcissist needs constant positive attention, it is like a drug to them. If you question anything of a narcissist, even something as minor as the spelling of a word, you are now public enemy #1 with them. They will do anything and everything to take you down and discredit you. A good leader doesn't do that. A good leader listens from all sides and makes a decision based on all input. A narcissist eliminates all input that doesn't agree with their image. I am sure that the reason why doctors are under threat of losing their licenses is due to Fauci as that is what a narcissists would do- you disagree or even question him, you lose your license and livelihood.
Unfortunately I’ve been there. I worked for someone and even looking slightly quizzical at their latest hare-brained scheme was impolitic. And I agree it is just awful for someone to lose their livelihood because they disagree with him. Even if he was a decent bloke I wouldn’t understand the god-like worship.
They may wait til he dies to canonize him but the way the media and much of the medical community acts they may go ahead now. Sadly, he appears to be such an egotistical ass that he is totally unaware of his failures.