Friday, April 25, 2008

Where The "Living" Constitution Leads...

clipped from instapundit.com


Caesar was not given a choice between going to war and destroying the
republic or preserving it by going quietly to his doom. He could see that the
republic was doomed no matter what his choice was. He could either start a civil
war or let Rome slide into a tyranny run by the Optimates. Given that choice,
let the dice fly and hope you can put the pieces back together after you win. At
least, you can die trying.

The Democrats remind me of the Optimates in many ways. William Clinton seems
like a 21st century version of Pompey Magnus. That Bush has not played Caesar is
a tribute to two things: George W.'s fundamental decency, and the fact that the
United States is yet not in as bad a shape politically as the late Roman
Republic.


The ability of Presidents to pardon themselves, and others in their
administrations, before leaving office is more evidence of the Framers' wisdom.
They were not unaware of classical politics.