Thursday, March 2, 2017

The American President: From Cincinnatus to Caesar

 

The great body of the nation has no real interest in party. — James Fenimore Cooper, The American Democrat, 1838

The American presidency offers many fascinating questions for historical exploration. And by historical exploration I do not mean the all-too-common form of pseudohistory that puts the presidential office at the center of our expe­rience as a people. That scenario in which presidential Lone Rangers—Abraham Lincoln, Woodrow Wilson, Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt, John Kennedy, Ronald Reagan—gallop in to save us from dark forces that threaten divinely ordained progress toward the universal triumph of “American democracy.” (The dark forces are often discovered to be ourselves. The American people must be saved by presidential heroes from their ignorant prejudices against such things as foreign wars, affirmative action, and unlimited immigration.)

8 comments:

  1. 'He was weary and burned out after eight years in office. But Valerie convinced him that he didn't have any choice if he wanted to save his legacy. And, as usual, he bowed to Valerie's political wisdom and advice.'
    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4271412/Obama-confidante-Valerie-Jarrett-moves-Kaloroma-home.html#ixzz4aB7GiRVn

    Papa

    ReplyDelete
  2. 'He's coming. And he's ready to roll.' former Attorney General Eric Holder said yesterday about the former president's reentry into the political scene

    Papa

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was so nice not hearing from him for awhile.

      Delete
  3. http://www.politico.com/story/2017/02/eric-holder-obama-ready-public-235508

    Papa

    ReplyDelete
  4. https://westernrifleshooters.wordpress.com/2017/03/02/vjs-back/

    Papa

    ReplyDelete