A PLACE IN HISTORY

I read an editor's letter recently, that referenced insiders as saying that the president now considers himself the most powerful man that ever lived.

Elon, eat your heart out.

Seems our local boys aren't good enough. George and Abrahem lost stature when someone told the pres. about the three guys Hegel, 19th century philosopher, thought were history changers. While Alexander, Cesar, and Napoleon were good at what they did and, in their day, kicked some ass, I'm afraid comparison may prove embarrassing.

Alexander was never defeated and also died very young so that ends that comparison on two counts.

Cesar did well with his army, but his friends all conspired to deflate his ego and did a permanent job of it. His rule was cut short.

No pun intended.

Of course, he had a JD version in Mark Anthony, but Mark couldn't quite hack it. We'll see how that comparison holds up.

Now, a better comparison can be made for Napoleon. He joined the common folks to get rid of the royalty and then took that role for himself.

On the other hand, he was a successful military leader so that doesn't match. He was such a great military strategist that his tactics are still studied. This type of adulation probably won't be attached to our fearless leader or his chief war fighter.

However, he did succeed in pissing off most of Europe, In the end, they got tired of him and defeated him so soundly, twice, that he lived out his life on an isolated, rat invested, volcanic Island. He did still insist on being called emperor, so he didn't make any new friends.

We'll see how that goes.

Now I'm not going to argue with Hegel. I make no claim to that kind of brain power. But, in my simply way, I would like to offer some suggestions that seem closer to the subject.

First, Attila the Hun comes to mind. While our guy can't claim any military prowess, (bone spurs don't count) he does scare the hell out of the known world. While Attila didn't win the final battles in Europe and against the Roman Empire, he did stop the empire and ruin a lot of people's lives. I believe I've read that just the rumor that he might be coming caused people to leave the area. I have seen where our guy can do the same thing by giving a speech at the National Mall.

Theres a story that Attila once had a cup made from a skull. The custom did exist in his day. Not now of course, but still, a gold inlaid skull cup would be quite a gift. Our guy likes gold and gifts.

My second choice is Caligula. He had a short run, but boy could he party. He's been described as unstable, perhaps insane. He also seemed to be sexually perverted, but I don't know what age he liked.

He once tried to promote his horse to the position of consul.

Kind'a similar to some of our present department heads.

To round out my three picks I would go with Stalin. To help his cause he robbed banks to finance the revolution. That comparison seems right on.  Our guy will rob from everybody. Stalin also got rid of everybody that didn't agree with him or made him look bad. You could be in one day and dead or in Siberia the next. No need for the ex-attorney general, or former head of Homeland security to feel bad, they're still alive. Good luck you guys. So far just regular folks get killed here.

There is a quality that my three picks are not remembered for and our history maker is. To find a match, I had to lower my sites and look closer to home. So, I present Joe Macarthy as a worthy comparison. Both tail gunner Joe and dozy Don could and can lie at the drop of a hat about anything and everything.

How many times have we won that war?