The Ides of November

Those who are history buffs like me know that the Ides of March was an

omen for the pending assassination of Julius Caesar. The Romans were
big on omens as harbingers of death and doom. Suetonius, author of The
Twelve Caesars, chronicles and catalogues all of the omens associated
with the first Twelve Caesars of ancient Rome. One that towers over the
rest for me is those associated with Nero. Nero’s reign began well but
he eventually began to rule like a madman who had no regard for the
S.P.Q.R. (Senatus Populusque Romanus – The Senate and The People of
Rome). His actions and choices showed blatant disregard for the
government and the people.

On September 11, 2006 I wrote an article here entitled “The Perfect Storm.” In that article I argued that a perfect political storm was brewing that could spell trouble for the Republican Party in Congress. Since the posting of that article, all of the forces to create a perfect storm have all lined up. We are now on the brink of the IDES OF NOVEMBER which will come on Tuesday, November 7th.

Those who are history buffs like me know that the Ides of March was an omen for the pending assassination of Julius Caesar. The Romans were big on omens as harbingers of death and doom. Suetonius, author of The Twelve Caesars, chronicles and catalogues all of the omens associated with the first Twelve Caesars of ancient Rome. One that towers over the rest for me is those associated with Nero. Nero’s reign began well but he eventually began to rule like a madman who had no regard for the S.P.Q.R. (Senatus Populusque Romanus – The Senate and The People of Rome). His actions and choices showed blatant disregard for the government and the people.

The initial omens came to Nero in a myriad of dreams after he killed his mother. First, he dreamed that he was steering a ship and someone tore the tiller from his hand. Second, he saw innumerable winged ants swirling above him. Third, the statues of the nations hemmed him in preventing him from escaping the Theatre of Pompey. Suetonius records that at last the doors of the Mausoleum opened by themselves and a voice called out “Enter Nero!” Nero would later take his own life.

The reign of George Walker Bush began well. He talked about a bi-partisan approach and promised us a better America. However, as we approach the Ides of November, the current administration in Washington, D.C. has shown blatant disregard for the People of the United States of America. The political four horsemen of the apocalypse Bush, Cheney, Rice and Rumsfeld have been at the forefront of much of the American people’s misery. In the month of October alone over 100 American soldiers have died in Iraq – Omen! Conservative Evangelicals have openly criticized the Republican Party – Omen! The Christian Coalition has criticized the Bush Presidency – Omen! A recent Poll says that 52% of American does not believe we will ever win in Iraq – Omen! Some red states are becoming blue states relative to polls indicating how they will vote on November 7 – Omen! Bush’s approval rating is at an all time low – Omen!

Want one more omen for the current administration? Bush in not campaigning in middle America. Over the past two days he was in my home state (Georgia) and Sugarland, Texas – Omen! In fact Bush stood before a partisan crowd in Statesboro and played the fear card once again: “However they put it, the Democrat approach in Iraq comes down to this: ‘The terrorists win and America loses,' 'That's what's at stake in this election. The Democrat goal is to get out of Iraq. The Republican goal is to win in Iraq.'”

As the President has turned into Cheerleader-in-Chief in an attempt to maintain a majority in Congress, Bush, Cheney, Rice and Rumsfeld beware of the Ides of November!