The wolf in sheep's clothing ...

[tooblue]

Perhaps we should be wary of the meteoric rise of would be saviors who have cavorted with revolutionaries? What’s most alarming is that fear is in the drivers seat in this election. Fear of a curmudgeon nominee and his populace people eater VP are driving people to an embrace with charisma wrapped in neatly tailored wool. Forget that upon closer inspection the suit is ill fitted. Ignore the men behind the curtain assembling clever ravenous instruments. The howling is dancing music. Sway, swoon and twist the night away with your latest fling. It will be over soon … very soon.

Times like these -- a crisis of this magnitude -- is the perfect breeding ground for Fascism.

[Clark Addison]

Originally Posted by tooblue

Fear of a curmudgeon nominee and his populace people eater VP are driving people to an embrace with charisma wrapped in neatly tailored wool. Forget that upon closer inspection the suit is ill fitted. Ignore the men behind the curtain assembling clever ravenous instruments. The howling is dancing music. Sway, swoon and twist the night away with your latest fling. It will be over soon … very soon.

Times like these -- a crisis of this magnitude -- is the perfect breeding ground for Fascism.

I completely disagree with the premise that people are turning to Obama because of a fear of McCain. I have heard of a ton of people, including some on this board, who say that they are voting for McCain because they don't like Obama. I can't remember hearing from anyone who says that they don't like Obama much, but they are voting for him because they hate or fear McCain. And really, this whole argument sounds nice but means nothing. You could reverse the names and it would mean exactly the same thing. There's no evidence that either McCain or Obama has nefarious designs or is seeking for some sort of Fascist state.

[All-American]

When Sulla seized control of Rome, one of the things he did to reform the constitution was fix the cursus honorum, establish minimum ages for the offices, and require a minimum of 10 years between magistracies. The idea was to keep any future Gracchus or Drussus from suddenly shooting up the ranks and upsetting the mos maiorum.

It didn't work. The reforms that did manage to last more than a decade after Sulla died merely set the stage for Pompey and Caesar.

[tooblue]

Originally Posted by All-American

When Sulla seized control of Rome, one of the things he did to reform the constitution was fix the cursus honorum, establish minimum ages for the offices, and require a minimum of 10 years between magistracies. The idea was to keep any future Gracchus or Drussus from suddenly shooting up the ranks and upsetting the mos maiorum.

It didn't work. The reforms that did manage to last more than a decade after Sulla died merely set the stage for Pompey and Caesar.

Now consider the stage the Bush Administration has set for the next administration. Future leaders may promise to scale back the powers the executive office now employs but in reality ultimate power corrupts.

[tooblue]

Originally Posted by Clark Addison

I completely disagree with the premise that people are turning to Obama because of a fear of McCain. I have heard of a ton of people, including some on this board, who say that they are voting for McCain because they don't like Obama. I can't remember hearing from anyone who says that they don't like Obama much, but they are voting for him because they hate or fear McCain. And really, this whole argument sounds nice but means nothing. You could reverse the names and it would mean exactly the same thing. There's no evidence that either McCain or Obama has nefarious designs or is seeking for some sort of Fascist state.

I am one who has stated that I will not vote for McCain out of fear ... fear of his gunslinger tendencies. I'm not suggesting Obama has nefarious designs, but rather those that would put him in power have nefarious designs. Why is he so desperate to end the war in Iraq and bring the troops home?

[Goatnapper'96]

Originally Posted by tooblue

Why is he so desperate to end the war in Iraq and bring the troops home?

Once he becomes President and has a deeper responsibility he will no longer be so hawkish about ending the war. Many of the annoying details that are easy to ignore when an unpopular war is a key rhetorical tool will suddenly loom much larger than 80% of the polity cares to understand.

He will go toward the middle once he becomes President. I do agree with you concern about what he will do with the increased executive powers that Bush's administration has extended.