What kind of person gloats over other's misfortunes?

There's a German word for it: "Schadenfreude," literally "shame-joy," or the pleasure we take in another's misfortune. It's a dirty and small-minded little pleasure we all feel now and then, but some of us actually cultivate it, a sort of "I told you so" raised to the level of a sick moralistic lifestyle. Of course, such people have nothing positive to contribute, especially empathy, because they think of themselves as God's elect in order to cover up their fear of making mistakes or being vulnerable. The net result is that they dehumanize themselves. The only thing that shuts them up is screwing up or being victimized themselves--but they'll still put the blame on someone or something else--the liberals, the neocons, the Jews or Catholics, the government, and so on. Sad world.