May
I durst not laugh.
Yesterday the New York Times’ published a story called “Secret ‘Kill List’ Proves a Test of Obama’s Principles and Will” (here), a fascinating look at Obama’s unique spin on the nation’s counterterrorism efforts. The article is old news for anyone paying attention to the gangsterism prevalent in the Oval Office since 9/11, but the article is notable as fresh evidence that the Times is nothing more than an imperial propaganda machine.
That the President is now effectively a king will surprise nobody. The picture receives some deft embellishment by Jo Becker and Scott Shane, however. We knew we’d surrendered our republic to a king, but how heavy lies the crown on Obama’s solemn brow! How difficult to sign death warrants! How onerous to calculate the correct number of women and children to slaughter! How many late nights struggling with the burden of “moral calculus”! How lucky we are to have a man like Obama protecting us—why, he’s as loving and protective as a big brother!
And how grateful we should be that our wonderful Free Press has given us a truthful, unbiased, serious-minded account of the sheer drama of our Commander-In-Chief’s moral crucible. Obama, the law professor turned reluctant lawbreaker. Obama, the family man turned reluctant assassin. I’m reminded of Casca’s report of Caesar’s histrionics for the rabble:
And still as [Caesar] refused it, the rabblement hooted and clapped their chapped hands and threw up their sweaty night-caps and uttered such a deal of stinking breath because Caesar refused the crown that it had almost choked Caesar; for he swounded and fell down at it: and for mine own part, I durst not laugh, for fear of opening my lips and receiving the bad air.
Once upon a time, Americans might have objected to a Caesar ruling over an Empire that was once our republic. Today we are simply asked to rejoice that, after all, our Caesar isn’t a Caligula or a Nero. Which is to forget that, sooner or later—however wise a ruler he may be, however cautious he is in exercising his special powers, and however benevolent his intentions—a Caligula or a Nero will succeed him.
