The Pride of the Patsy

 

Someone who is easily manipulated, cheated, duped--a patsy, in other words--is generally known, even famous, for this weakness. Those who use the patsy are aware of it of course but others become aware as the extent of the manipulation is clear, and the patsy is made a subject of ridicule.

The patsy suspects he/she is perceived to be a pushover.  This often is the reason why the patsy is so easily fooled.  The patsy resents being seen to be a patsy, and so is eager to achieve something significant which shows him/her to be someone to contend with; an intelligent, savvy mover and shaker.  So Fredo Corleone in The Godfather II, for example, betrayed his brother because he thought he would thereby accomplish something important for himself which would make him a player in the game.  That's what he was promised by those who used him.

Perhaps the greatest patsy in modern history was Neville Chamberlain, who famously sought to appease Hitler by agreeing on behalf of Great Britain that Germany could acquire most of Czechoslovakia in return for Hitler's promise that Germany would seek no further territory.  Chamberlain believed he had obtained "peace in our time" and told everyone he had done so.  We know what happened next.

Because the patsy suspects he/she is thought to be a fool, the patsy is eager for and demands respect. The greater the patsy is perceived as a dupe, the more angrily and often and publicly respect is demanded.

I think what we saw take place recently at the White House is an example of this trait of the patsy.  He knows he's been considered a patsy for quite some time, and for good reason. Thus he (together with his anxious lackey) demanded he be shown respect by the repetition of expressions of gratitude although those expressions have been made many times already.  Significantly, however, he insisted that he himself be thanked, or thanks be given to him. Thanks given in the past were inadequate.

Since he's done little more than repeat Russian contentions and cut Ukraine out of negotiations, the fact the thanks in the excessive form demanded weren't forthcoming shouldn't be surprising.  It may be the case, as some have claimed, that no amount of groveling would have sufficed in any case, as what took place was simply the patsy doing his best to be a patsy.

We may find that Chamberlain will be replaced and another take his place as the greatest.