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chillspike Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Sep-23-10 06:47 PM
Original message
Caligula's Horse
From Rep. Alan Grayson:

Dear Friend,

Here is a short, and very relevant, history lesson.

The Roman Senate governed Ancient Rome for five centuries. It looked much like the Congress today. The purpose of the Roman Senate was to rule in accordance with the wishes of the Roman People. The building in which the Roman Senate met, the "Curia Julia," still stands in Rome today.

In 27 B.C., Augustus Caesar formally took control of Rome, and established the Roman Empire. But the Roman Emperors didn't abolish the Senate. Instead, the Roman Senate continued to meet, for five more centuries, doing pretty much nothing.

Sound familiar?

During the Roman Empire, the Emperor held all the power. The Senate was simply a debating society, chosen by the Emperor, and serving at his pleasure. To prove this point, in 39 A.D., Emperor Caligula appointed his horse, Incitatus, to the Roman Senate.

What we are heading for, here in America, is something very much like that. The way things are going, Big Money will choose our "leaders" in Congress, and they will serve at Big Money's pleasure.

Big Money doesn't put horses in Congress. Just the hind-quarters of horses.

For the past few weeks, we have shown how Big Money is trying to select - not elect, select -- the Congressman from my district. Big Money has now spent three times as much in lying TV attack ads as all of the money that my Republican opponent has raised. Big Money is going all out to replace me in Congress, because I can't be bought.

Big Money doesn't care who replaces me, as long as he's pliant. It might as well be Caligula's horse.

We are at a turning point in our own history. What will we be? A government of the people, by the people, and for the people? Or a dictatorship, ruled by the Empire of Money?

Help us make sure that government of the people, by the people, and for the people, does not perish from this earth.


Truth,

Alan Grayson

P.S. To the 2000 supporters who have contributed to our campaign since this corporate firebombing began, from my heart, thank you.

http://www.graysonforcongress.com/
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HiFructosePronSyrup Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Sep-23-10 06:49 PM
Response to Original message
1. It was much like congress today.
lol, wut?
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karnac Donating Member (495 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Sep-23-10 06:49 PM
Response to Original message
2. Caligula's Pet?
heh
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Cleita Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Sep-23-10 06:50 PM
Response to Original message
3. Very good.
To Alan Grayson

:toast:

I hope he runs for President some day.
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dhill926 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Sep-23-10 07:09 PM
Response to Original message
4. nice wordsmithing......
"Big Money doesn't put horses in Congress. Just the hind-quarters of horses."

Hard to believe he's actually a rep. Will be getting some cash from me........

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eridani Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Sep-23-10 07:17 PM
Response to Original message
5. Grayson for president in 2016!! n/t
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Canuckistanian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Sep-23-10 07:21 PM
Response to Original message
6. Very nice
Historical Roman allegory AND a GOP ass-kicking.

I approve!

:thumbsup:
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Curmudgeoness Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Sep-23-10 07:28 PM
Response to Original message
7. What we are headed for..." I feel as if Big Money
is already choosing who goes to the Senate. Too many people can be swayed by the attacks that Big Money make against the unchosen ones.
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mulsh Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Sep-23-10 07:42 PM
Response to Original message
8. Caligula planned to appoint Incitatus ( his favorite horse) a consul.
Edited on Thu Sep-23-10 07:51 PM by mulsh
just a plan. A pretty funny one if you look at the early Ceasar's republican beliefs. Of course none of his contemporary or subsequent Roman biographers did so.

edit I think you're spot on about our current senate.
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Vinnie From Indy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Sep-24-10 06:29 PM
Response to Original message
9. K&R
Cheers!
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Mimosa Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Sep-24-10 06:36 PM
Response to Original message
10. Wondering if Grayson likes "I, Claudius"
It's awesome when an elected public servant knows something of history! :D

So few these days would even know about Caligula.
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