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Our Prince

ceaser@virginia.edu (James Ceaser) — Thu, 28 Nov 2013 13:26:57 -0500

It is a good idea in judging a political leader to place yourself in their position. Imagine that you had run for president with throngs of enthusiastic followers worshipping your every word and gesture, with millions worldwide wearing t-shirts with your picture emblazoned on them, with nearly every journalist singing your praises, with the most renowned intellectuals testifying to your subtlety and brilliance, with rock stars declaring you “cool.” Imagine that virtually everyone you encountered was a sycophant, a flatterer, an adulator. You were head of a world-wide cult that deemed you a god. Almost the minute you were elevated as the leader of the world’s foremost nation, the most august of international juries awarded you the premier prize for international diplomacy. You had only to utter an ordinary phrase for the pundits to proclaim your genius, drop a self-deprecating comment for the intelligentsia to marvel at your sophistication, speak in the most empty slogans for the millions to draw inspiration. Just flash your smile and the females would swoon, or make a quip about a movie and the youth would count you hip. You were celebrated above all in the most enlightened places, on the campuses of the best universities, in the board rooms of the most advanced high tech firms, in the homes of the greatest of movie stars.

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