Obama’s Well, Nero’s Fire, and Commodus’ Absurd Extravagances

Flopping Aces ^ | 07-21-10 | Skookum

[Starman417]

The film 'Gladiator' was based loosely on the reign of Commodus, here he suspects his sister of treachery, there was an undercurrent of sexual tension hinting at an incestuous relationship in the film,  just as there was during his reign.  His relationship with gladiators was much stronger than portrayed in the film; he considered these despised slaves as his friends and trained with them, a situation that left Rome's aristocrats dumbfounded.  He often jumped into the arena to engage them in semi-mock battle during the games; at least until the gladiator could sustain a wound and beg for mercy.  His decision to welcome the New Year walking the streets with his gladiator friends dressed in armor, instead of appearing in front of the Royal Palace with a purple toga, hastened the decision to have him assassinated.

Obama's Well, Nero's Fire, And Commodus's Absurd Extravagances

Leaders are often identified with catastrophic events or levels of marked incompetence that become pivotal milestones of their reigns; Nero had his fire to mark and expose his indifference and incompetence forever, Commodus had a catastrophic fire and he responded with sensible buildings for the common Romans that were built of brick instead of wood, but his absurd extravagances and extreme Narcissism will forever mark his reign.  Obama is still building his legacy; yet the Gulf Oil Spill and his insipid response while playing golf, basketball, and taking vacations has already branded his legacy with many similarities to these infamous Roman Emperors. Many people will point out the facts that both Commodus and Nero were completely debauched, participating in nearly every perversion known to man; as of yet, we have no indications that Obama has a degenerate past; however, we must ask, why has his past life been sealed?

While there are many mysteries surrounding our President, there are many well known facts that beg to be compared to the two Roman Emperors mentioned previously.

Both Commodus and Nero may have been greater Narcissists and Dilettantes than Obama; unfortunately, they ruled without a compliant media, thus a true comparison is only conjecture. Commodus viewed himself as a god like Hercules and often appeared wearing a lion's hide and carrying a club like the mythical Hercules.  So far Obama has been content to allow media types to refer to him as merely god-like.  Nero imagined himself as a gifted musician; however,  the fiddle or violin was not to be invented for over a thousand years; but he played the lyre and always had his voice coach in attendance so that he could always work at improving his voice for singing, just as the teleprompter is always present when Obama addresses the public.

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[cripplecreek]

I was calling him Commodus early on.

[Mere Survival]

Obama won’t be our Nero. Know why not? Because we are going to take government back and save our country.

[SMARTY]

Populism (identifying with the masses, sympathizing with their privations and their alleged or actual oppression) is the oldest trick in the book for would-be leaders or for leaders holding power and who are building a safety net for themselves.

The people who come instantly to mind are of course Commodus, Robespierre, Lenin, Napoleon I, Peron, Franco, Il Duce, Che, Fidel, and Arafat…etc. This is a very long and by no means complete list.

You see though that this ‘populism’ is not what they are about but instead is a tool to further assure their true motivation. The true motivation was and will always be for these people, POWER.

There is certainly a kind of pathology going on with them and in wholesome and functional societies, the pathology can be seen for what it is and denied power. However, in hard times or when discord dominates a society, this pathology is in many ways and for different reasons, obscured.

It is ALWAYS in the best interests of Liberal populist politicians to assure hard times and social discord! THAT is the petri dish they thrive in. “O” is their poster boy!

[Semper Mark]

I was calling him Commodus early on.

So was I.

[shibumi]

Commodus? As in commode?

[Semper Mark]

More like, low-end outhouse.

[wku man]

Would that make him "Obammodus"?

Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!