red states rule
10-26-2008, 06:18 AM
It is funny to hear the libs say how Obama will save us, the world, and even stop the oceans from rising
snip
Unfortunately, in the modern era there have many other leaders who perceived that they had messianic qualities that only they could provide.
Napoleon, after the bloody French Revolution, described himself as "essential" to the future of France - and was appointed dictator. The aftermath was a disaster for his countrymen and much of Europe.
Adolf Hitler was elected by the German people and then given absolute power because he claimed only he could "preserve the Aryan race." The result was a global conflagration that resulted in the death on more than 25 million.
More recently - from Idi Amin in Uganda, to Pol Pot in Cambodia, Kim Jong-il in Korea and Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe - all have "led" their people to perdition after describing themselves as the only men capable of leading their populations through difficult times. Yet, all their people were ultimately worse off.
It is notable that until the 20th century, the American people managed to avoid selecting leaders who held messianic self-esteem. Neither George Washington nor Abraham Lincoln - arguably two of this nation's greatest leaders through the toughest crises in our history - described themselves in such terms. In fact, the record of what they said and wrote is replete with humility.
Not until Franklin Delano Roosevelt decided in 1940 that our country needed his "seasoned leadership," did any U.S. president even contemplate a third successive term in office. And while FDR rose to become a great wartime leader, there is also little doubt he amassed far more power in the office of chief executive than any of his predecessors. Roosevelt's authority was so great that his successor, Harry Truman, the modest man from Missouri, saw fit to endorse a constitutional amendment limiting presidents to two terms.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/oct/26/messiah-deficit-disorder/
snip
Unfortunately, in the modern era there have many other leaders who perceived that they had messianic qualities that only they could provide.
Napoleon, after the bloody French Revolution, described himself as "essential" to the future of France - and was appointed dictator. The aftermath was a disaster for his countrymen and much of Europe.
Adolf Hitler was elected by the German people and then given absolute power because he claimed only he could "preserve the Aryan race." The result was a global conflagration that resulted in the death on more than 25 million.
More recently - from Idi Amin in Uganda, to Pol Pot in Cambodia, Kim Jong-il in Korea and Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe - all have "led" their people to perdition after describing themselves as the only men capable of leading their populations through difficult times. Yet, all their people were ultimately worse off.
It is notable that until the 20th century, the American people managed to avoid selecting leaders who held messianic self-esteem. Neither George Washington nor Abraham Lincoln - arguably two of this nation's greatest leaders through the toughest crises in our history - described themselves in such terms. In fact, the record of what they said and wrote is replete with humility.
Not until Franklin Delano Roosevelt decided in 1940 that our country needed his "seasoned leadership," did any U.S. president even contemplate a third successive term in office. And while FDR rose to become a great wartime leader, there is also little doubt he amassed far more power in the office of chief executive than any of his predecessors. Roosevelt's authority was so great that his successor, Harry Truman, the modest man from Missouri, saw fit to endorse a constitutional amendment limiting presidents to two terms.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/oct/26/messiah-deficit-disorder/