I’m not sure, but I think if Nero were alive today, he probably would be a Republican.
According to a well-known expression, in 64 A.D., Roman Emperor Nero “fiddled while Rome burned” in a fire that destroyed most of the city and left over half its population homeless. The expression has a double meaning: Not only did Nero play music while his people suffered, but he was a worthless leader in a time of crisis.
Like Nero, Trump and the GOP have been fiddling while the party burns to the ground from a blaze they started with their lies and broken promises, leaving conservatives within the party homeless. Additionally, Republicans have proven themselves to be worthless leaders in America’s time of crisis.
While the fiddling part of the story is debatable, the Great Fire that nearly destroyed Rome really occurred while Nero hid out at his villa in Antium, far from the fire. Nero was so ruthless and cruel that many believed he ordered the fire started to make way for building his Golden Palace and surrounding pleasure gardens.
Likewise, the great fire started by the GOP’s political pyromaniacs destroyed the party while they hide behind recycled campaign promises made to their constituents back home. And as recent polls and midterm elections have shown, many believe Republicans started the fire to make way for building their palaces and pleasure gardens of political power.
After the fire was out and the damage had been done, Nero finally returned to Rome to offer relief from the tragedy, but his reputation of ruthlessness and cruelty kept the people from trusting him.
Trump and the GOP are offering relief from the tragedy they created, as well. They’re promising AGAIN to repeal Obamacare. They’re promising AGAIN to end late-term abortion and taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood. They’re promising AGAIN to fix the illegal immigration problem.
However, as it was with Nero, the GOP’s track record of ruthlessness, lies, and broken promises are keeping the voter from trusting them as well.
In a speech to the House of Commons, Winston Churchill paraphrased a quote by George Santayana when he said, “Those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it.”
Will we learn from Nero and the Great Fire about how not to vote in November? Or will conservatives be left helplessly standing by as Trump and the GOP burn America to the ground while fiddling away any hope of dousing the flames?
I think you know how I would answer that question.
David Leach is the owner of The Strident Conservative. His politically incorrect and always “right” columns are also featured on NOQReport.com.
His daily radio commentary is distributed by the Salem Radio Network and is heard on stations across America.
Follow the Strident Conservative on Twitter and Facebook.
Subscribe to receive podcasts of radio commentaries: iTunes | Stitcher | Tune In | RSS
14 comments for “If he were alive today, Emperor Nero probably would be a Republican”