I think the main problem with the US Constitution is that only 5 of our Supreme Court justices have read it.

The other 4 prefer it over both Charmin and the quilted brand.

That reminds me of that Chris Rock movie where by some freaky accident, he ends up being a nominee for President. Only in the movies will you find crazy ideas like a black man running for President. Well, anyways, the chilling line in the movie, supposed to be funny but way too close to real, is how his opponent ends all his speeches:
“God bless America, and no place else.”

Given Cromwell’s behavior in Ireland, I’ll happily grant the second point, but have grave reservations about the first…

Cromwell’s actions in Ireland are evidence of his Godliness. He was fighting a religious war against a foe he sincerely believed to be the Antichrist. The depredations of the Ulster Uprising were still fresh in the memory, and whatever the truth of stories about Papist atrocities, Cromwell and his army viewed the Irish much as modern conservatives view Jihadis–as barbarian monsters to be conquered and enchained. The term ‘Beyond the Pale’ was invented specifically to describe these people. It did not help the Catholic cause that the plundering army of Owen Roe O’Neill and the obdurate agitations of the Nuncio Extraordinary, Giovanni Rinucinni, served only to confirm in the minds of Godly that the Irish were a foe to whom no quarter could be given.

Percyprune said, “[Cromwell] was the classic model of a godly and upright man of principle seduced by power.” and later “He is a grand example of what happens when the Conservative propertied classes achieve unfettered power.”

Given Cromwell’s behavior in Ireland, I’ll happily grant the second point, but have grave reservations about the first…

It’s not that they’re wicked,
Or naturally bad,
It’s knowing they’re foreign,
That makes them so mad!

There are still numerous fans of Flanders and Swann scattered through these colonies, who will strike up a chorus of “Glorious Mud” or “I won’t eat people” at — well, at the drop of a hat. And some may remember the new patriotic song they wrote for England. (Not for some “Britain”!)

With typical English reserve, the refrain was:

“The English, the English, the English are best!
I wouldn’t give tuppence for all of the rest.”

Their intro delved into existing songs, scorning “Jerusalem” and examining the logic of “There will always be an England”. Flanders questioned what was so remarkable about that: So what? — there will always be a North Pole, he said — unless some dangerous twit comes along and melts the thing!

!!

Did he know he was a prophet? And should the English be worried about the omen?

We got rid of the Monarchy one weekend in 1642. It didn’t take, Parliament didn’t have anyone to blame when things went tits-up as they so often do. Hence the current situation, where the Monarchy has power with the proviso that they would never use it, and Parliament governing on the understanding that they would never do so good a job as to make the public think that oversight, even if only theoretical, is unnecessary. I’d take perpetual political detant over an elected head of state any day.

A pedant writes:

Actually, it was 1649 when we did the monarch in. When the Civil Wars began in 1642 Parliament was careful to state that it was not fighting the King so much as as his ‘evil advisors’. Their propaganda announced that the Parliamentarians were Charles’s loyal subjects, fighting to protect the King and preserve the monarchy. And most Parliament men believed that, at least in part. The issue of regicide did not appear until much later in the wars, after Charles had escaped and tried to raise his standard again (and yet again). But then Charles, who could so easily have come to an accommodation, was largely the architect of his own downfall.

As for what came after, Cromwell was offered the crown and to his credit refused. He was the classic model of a godly and upright man of principle seduced by power. He was no liberal, of course, given as he was instrumental in quashing the proto-liberal movements such as the Levellers. He was a man of the ‘middling sort’, of what Gore Vidal would call the ‘Property Party’. He is a grand example of what happens when the Conservative propertied classes achieve unfettered power.

He held the country together exceedingly well until his death. Competent tyrants do that. However, the country did not have a tyrant of equivalent talent and stature to replace him, which is why the Republic went tits up at the end.

Perhaps England could go with a written constitution and an Elected Monarchy. Think of the fun there would be in running for Queen or King!

You mean, just like the planet Naboo? How did that work out for them?

(add smileys as appropriate)

The Tea Must Flow.

Ann Coulter harangues the New York Times for being outrageously liberal— but fails to mention that the outrageous quote she is screeching about came from somebody’s guest op-ed column.

Bill O’Reilly chides the Daily Kos for saying something outrageous— but fails to mention that the quote came from some anonymous commenter.

And now the wingnuts are screeching about some of the comments at Obama’s blog, which has a totally open policy for commenting.

I kind of suspect that a lot of the outrageous blog comments are actually made by rightwing trolls— remember how they used to plant comments supposedly by leftwingers which would call Bush “Chimpy McHitlerburton”?

Wingnuts are consumed by such zealotry that they see no reason why little things like truth and facts should cloud the horizon.

Any response to the proximity of malevolant asshats NOT involving a generous dose of weapons-grade fear & loathing is to be regarded with profound suspicion.

Mock them, whether they know not what they do or not.

In Canada, we have a ‘notwithstanding clause’.

or is that who brings presents to the poor kids?

You’d best watch out, or these folks are going to put a hurt on you.

I need e-mail addresses from you people (I’ve gotten some of you to respond, but am missing a bunch). If you don’t e-mail, you won’t be invited to the par-tay.

[e-mail me at marita at mit.edu]