Ted Rall for January 12, 2009

It does feel as if the promising American experiment has failed, doesn’t it? Just as the British Empire spent a long period in decline and is now pretty much irrelevant, I believe America is on the downward slope. In 500 yrs, we will be one of those vaguely-remembered nations mentioned in the history books.

What really blows my mind about the british empire is that now it’s not the british monarchy that forces itself on foreign nations, its those foreign nations (Canada is one of those) who keep the monarchy.

For the Roman empire, the Pax Romana was broken forever under Marcus Aurelius (late 2nd century), the empire was invaded by barbarian tribes (Jutes, Goths, Franks,…) for all the fourth century. The empire was in denial of its own non-existence until 476 but I didn’t know they appointed new emperors after that… (If Rall is talking about the Holy Roman Empire, it’s what will later become the German Empire. They named it so because they thought it was a resurrection of the old Roman Empire…a bit of denial there as well)

And my prediction is the fall will be traced back to when Nixon started the GOP tradition of using fear and division in an attempt to, as articulated by Rove, create a permanent Republican majority.

Actually, C.E. 476 was the end of Roman Emporers in the western Roman Empire until Charlemagne was crowned in C.E. 800. Emporers (sometimes effective, sometimes not) continued in the East (Constantinople) until the Moslems took it in 1453.

And the Roman Empire kept the empty forms of the Republic around long after they’d been gutted of any substance - - as when Caligula allegedly required the Seante to approve his horse as consul, or when Bush similarly required the American Senate to approve John Bolton as UN ambassador …

Otisly … like the comparaison, but W couldn’t face the Senate. He slipped Bolton through using a recess appointment..

Ironically, the man who gave the coup de grace to the Roman Republic is a giant of history; Julius Ceasar himself.

Nuclear weapons means never having to end your empire.

The Russian empire still remains. It’s the Soviet empire that is gone.

Yes Lavocat nukes and their nasty byproducts last forever.

Empires don’t wanish in a day, not even the russian/soviet one. Russia was an european power since the days of Catherine the Great and Napoleon. It slowly rose to that point and it will slowly decline one day.

My former political science teacher at UdeM compared Russia to a bear (its emblem). Sometimes, bears sleep and so does Russia. It can seem lethargic for a bit of time (the 1990’s) and then wake up…in a bad mood!

Speaking of history… I started referring to W as Caligula about a week after he was elected. Lo, I was right.

Realistically, look to Woodrow Wilson for the start of the great decline. Every administration since has compounded the problem, especially F.D. Roosevelt. We now have a fascist welfare society from which individual liberties are forever lost.

ANandy, to be blunt you’re thinking with your butt to make a posting like that. You seem to be poured from the same mold as a few others here.

AN, if the goverment is too big in America, why don’t you go to Somalia, they have none!

“fascist welfare society” ANinny? I thought we were all supposed to be commie, pinko, socialists. You need to stay on the script written by Reichsfuhrer Rush.

Freedom to do what? Starve? Die due to lack of medical care?

Eh. We ain’t finished yet.

ANandy is absolutely correct. We have followed a course of fascism for decades, and anyone who disagrees have no idea what fascism is. You “progressive” moonbats are ignorant toads.