Posted on 03/01/2016 3:17:55 AM PST by The Ghost of FReepers Past
Donald Trump's affection for the Mussolini statement, "It is better to live one day as a lion than 100 years as a sheep." reveals a mindset very much at odds with the Framers of our U.S. Constitution.
To the Framers, power was something they wanted to minimize, in every government office and officeholder.
Patrick Henry said, "Power is the great evil with which we are contending. We have divided power between three branches of government and erected checks and balances to prevent abuse of power.
Thomas Jefferson worried about abuse of power in the Judicial Branch. He said, ""The judiciary of the United States is the subtle corps of sappers and miners constantly working under ground to undermine the foundations of our confederated fabric. They are construing our constitution from a co-ordination of a general and special government to a general and supreme one alone."
Jefferson saw the role of the President as being administrator of the Constitution, a Constitution belonging to the people and in accord with its original meaning. He said, "The Constitution on which our Union rests, shall be administered by me [as President] according to the safe and honest meaning contemplated by the plain understanding of the people of the United States at the time of its adoption -- a meaning to be found in the explanations of those who advocated, not those who opposed it, and who opposed it merely lest the construction should be applied which they denounced as possible."
Thomas Paine worried about executive power when he wrote the pamphlet, "Common Sense." He said, "But where says some is the king of America? I'll tell you Friend, he reigns above, and doth not make havoc of mankind like the Royal of Britain. Yet that we may not appear to be defective even in earthly honors, let a day be solemnly set apart for proclaiming the charter; let it be brought forth placed on the divine law, the word of God; let a crown be placed thereon, by which the world may know, that so far as we approve of monarchy, that in America the law is king. For as in absolute governments the king is law, so in free countries the law ought to be king; and there ought to be no other. But lest any ill use should afterwards arise, let the crown at the conclusion of the ceremony be demolished, and scattered among the people whose right it is. "
Samuel Adams noted his distaste for a strongman lion leader when, after all the delegates signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776, he said: "We have this day restored the Sovereign to Whom all men ought to be obedient. He reigns in Heaven and from the rising to the setting of the sun, let His Kingdom come."
The Declaration itself was a detailed list of grievances against a lion leader. A portion of that sentiment was this: "The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world."
After listing their grievances they stated this: "We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown..."
Instead of a strongman, the Founders of this Nation considered the only hands in which our liberty was safe were the Hands of God. As Jefferson said, "Can the liberties of a nation be sure when we remove their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people, that these liberties are the gift of God?"
They believed that our Nation was blessed, not because of its own goodness, but because of God's grace and our dependence on Him. Benjamin Franklin: said The longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth: that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?
Notice the lack of self pride and arrogance in these men? They were students of history and deep thinkers. They understood the danger of power in the hands of corruptible men. They believed that power and glory belonged to the Creator, not the President.
Mr Trump, being the self proclaimed good Christian that he is, ought to know, the Bible teaches pride comes before destruction; humility comes before honor; that it is better for another to tout your accomplishments, rather than brag about yourself; that God commands we humble ourselves before Him; that it is His greatness and honor and glory we should seek, not our own; that God will bless the meek and punish the proud and defiant; that vengeance belongs to God, not to Donald Trump.
Right and wrong are not the flip side of winning and losing. Mussolini's lion like power was an evil power. Right and wrong are revealed in the understand of the difference between good and evil. That sort of wisdom is understood over time, by a careful self examination and effort to inform ones conscience, preferably with wisdom from above shown through the light of history. People who show signs of possessing that wisdom do not dwell on their own greatness, but they are able and willing to admit when they are wrong.
God is the only one who can make America great again. Unless we "restore the Sovereign to whom all men ought to be obedient" it will never happen.
Mr. Trump, maybe you have been reading the wrong experts.
Actually the quote goes back to Roman time, nice tey moron
Of course you know it’s already been shown, including by photos of much older inscriptions, that the “Mussolini” quote was an old Italian saying. But admitting that doesn’t bash Trump.
Here’s the GOPe plan, see if this post fits the plan to rig the primary.
Amazing how self righteous you are! Judge not that ye be not judged! You have a LOG in your eye while worrying about the splinter in Trump’s eye.
Mussolini DID NOT originate the saying you attribute to him. It is actually a dirivation from the Bible and was inscribed on a wall by a soldier in 1918 during the 1st World War. Mussolini had nothing to do with the origin as you imply.
Trump is the future President of the united States. Get used to it.
"Why should I trade one tyrant three thousand miles away for three thousand tyrants one mile away? An elected legislature can trample a man's rights as easily as a king can."
“It is better to live one day as a lion than 100 years as a sheep.” reveals a mindset very much at odds with the Framers of our U.S. Constitution.”
So is this opinion trying to state that our Founding Fathers were able to mealy mouth King George III to win our freedom from Briton? No one had to get up, act like lions and actually take up arms to win?
Is this opinion based on common core teachings?
Indeed, this statement ...That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown..." . It may specifically represent the "Crown" of the time, but it also can be applied today to a massively intrusive government run by entrenched, corrupt politicians and the federal government functionaries that suck the life's blood out of this country by day, and by night while we sleep.
To loose the teeth and claws these rats is not just God's responsibility. It is one of the reasons we are given free choice.
Just my opinion as you have a right to yours. But I will add this. This OP is not news; it may be activism, but I think today it is symptomatic of the death rattle of the system that will not abide Trump under any circumstance.
So, don’t build a wall and let more Catholics in?
Actually, almost every program discussed by Trump would fit perfectly with George Washington’s administration.
OK...The quote from Mussolini is not really the point, it is used as a vehicle to contrast Trump bombastic character versus the Founding Fathers character ...
How many of our founding fathers would be voting for Trump ?
I think not many...
I love the smell of desperation on the morning!
tl;dr
If only that were the only thing we had to worry about. Then, I wouldn’t worry about it at all.
Oh stuff it, I have a feeling you wouldn't know a fascist if you fell over one.
The diagnosis of fascism can be seen here:
http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/05/barack_obama_the_quintessentia_1.html
Our greatest presidents were just like Trump. They were called to duty from their apolitical lives by circumstance and love of Country. You are offended by Trump's ego but not your own , and wish to impose a will of logic and extrapolation so as to elect what amounts to comparatively inexperienced gurly-men whose testicles have only partially descended? Thats idiocy.
My second pick for the nomination was Fiorina. A truly great American.Never served a day in elective office.
Now if you cannot get off your purity kick, you will find yourself very much alone. Our greatest presidents were not political class animals who dedicated their lives to political careers. They worked at their politics part time when needed , and were quite content to occupy themselves with their own domestic business interests most of the time. And so those great ones had the skills which were evolved from living outside of politics. Today this had been mostly lost. Trump is actually in this tradition, a self made man, and one who knows how to manage large structures of hierarchy, and who is called by the People to execute a representative task. This is in the greatest traditions of America.
Since Trump is not a political career animal like all the others, he does not pass your scrutiny. As a matter of fact, those who pass your scrutiny can do so only because you buy the image they have created for you. They are manifest perfection , have no stink and are actually so pristine as to be unreal, not human, but true members of a political aristocracy. They are no better than ordinary Americans but have led you and a mistaken cadre of caterwauling others to think so.
I prefer the stinky human being who has the skill and heart to engage the presidency in a transcendent manner, in the tradition of American warriorship. And that is Donald Trump.
You can take your so called purity of purpose and stick it. I want a good president, not a saint.And most of America, including latinos, women and some democrats, any blue dogs that are still not gone agley into utopian Obama nationalist socialism, feel exactly the same way. Watch Trumps numbers soar and then you and those like you can continue to tremble as you do now.
Mr. Trump is an American Winston Churchill, more than adequately equipped to do the job that circumstances and duty have called him to perform.Your efforts to prevent that are futile.He will represent ALL Americans. That's why he will win.
Trump has no political past or record.He has never served in elective office. He has no record to criticize. America is going to nominate him.And that is a very good thing.
The resemblence is unavoidably striking, grim determination, and thats not what you call "ego." or Mussolini :
Why are you violating posting rules by making a personal attack?
Did you pass the third grade???
you said...
“Actually, almost every program discussed by Trump would fit perfectly with George Washingtons administration.”
LOL
Pre-Super Tuesday article summary:
1. Trump admires Mussolini
2. Trump supports the KKK
3. Trump supports 5 year old homosexual “fisting”
4. Trump is in the mafia
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