I’ve never studied Machiavelli, I just know the popular use of ‘Machiavellian’ as a term relating to ruthless infighting, manipulation, betrayal, win-at-all-costs, that sort of thing.

A people that remembers liberty….that gives me hope.

Indeed, Obama has been trying to “destroy the city” since his inauguration day, but no matter what he has tried, he’s failing. And for the reason you state, Hunter:

We have a tradition of liberty. Our country was founded solely on that notion in all its meanings, whether religious, economic, or social. We shall not allow liberty to die here while we have the breath and the will to defend it.

Alinsky continues: “The Prince was written by Machiavelli for the Haves on how to hold power. Rules for Radicals is written for the Have-Nots on how to take it away.” And yes, they are trying to take it away.

n/t

for a lot, apparently close to a majority, of Americans anymore. You can’t appeal to those mystic chords is there is no “memory.” If you’ve gone to government school over the last thirty to fifty years, depending on the region, and have never examined what you were taught about the US, you think it is a pretty awful place that needs hope and change. You can still get young people to cheer for America, but they cheer for it the same way they cheer for the local sports team and the loyalty they have if for the same reason; it’s “their” team.

If you didn’t get your knowledge of America at home or on your own, you don’t know much about American and most of what you know certainly doesn’t portray America as a place to cherish.

the operative model is the Alinski-ites.
They have decided the city isn’t worth saving. Instead of attacking the city from the outside, they are tearing out the soft underbelly from underneath and the inside. Alinsky had contempt for the violent groups acting overtly, attacking the “System”. He would rather dress up a wolf in sheep clothing. To point out a wolf gets a reaction of name calling drawing from the standard Democrat list i.e. mean-spririted, judgemental, racist, right-wing, mobster, etc.
Of course the “Prince” is now selected by the People, so to control enough of the vote, people must be seperated into demographics, and the opposition maligned. Oh, how I would love to find the anti-dote to Alinski mass control. Is it the “angry mob” Tea-Party, lightning rod phrases such as “Death Panel”, or something else?

as Italian city states seemed weak in the face of foreign incursions, Charles V if I remember. His appeal was centered therefore in a felt need for independence in the face of external dominance.

What excuse does The O have?
If anything O seeks to steal freedom at home while slithering away from defense where it should be fought, abroad.

Achance touches upon a severe problem, the degradation of our educational system. To the extent we defend our liberty it is almost by instinct, the remnants of memory and tradition.

If I may,”To know nothing of what happened before you were born is to remain forever a child”, Cicero
That’s the way leftists want it.

Very well done. A major thrust of Machiavelli was that it was in a Prince’s best interest to control your own destiny — the “better to be feared than loved” comment. When you make moves to control the education system, the auto industry, the banking and financial sectors, Social Security/Welfare, Medicare…and now, the medical care of the citizenry, well, you’re definitely taking care of controlling your own destiny. Save, of course, for election days (Oops, wait, forgot about ACORN. Sorry ’bout that.)

Terrible shame that people think that the battle for freedom ended years ago, and forget that the fight goes on every day in some way or another. Fortunately, there’s plenty of that “sand” all around us to gum up that “princely engine.” All we need to do is to remember to pick it up and use it. Easy enough, isn’t it?

   About 233 years ago, we got the Hades out of Europe.  There may have been one or two attempts by “Old Europe” to take us back, but we successfully resisted each time.  Let’s succeed against this attempt.

   The caveat here is that Scottish professor’s theory about the decline of democratic republics over time.  The Left has had plenty of time to cultivate generations of American serfs ready and willing to give up their liberties for government bailouts, welfare benefits and hand-me-downs.  Many (including one Glenn Beck) are already saying that we’re at the “Dependency” stage, so we probably have only a generation or two before the Europeanization of the United States is complete.

   My hope is that what happened in New Jersy, Virginia and New York’s 23rd District is a sign of us “sleeping giants” waking up again.  It all hinges on what the socialist Dems and sympathetic establishment Repubs do prior to Election Day 2010 and how well-organized we can be in stemming this tide.  If it all goes well, we may be able to reduce the damage done so that a revival of American liberty is around the corner.