Democrats Genuflect to Old Gods They No Longer Believe In
By John Kass
March 15, 2024
I got myself a big bowl of Chicago Mix popcorn to watch a grand Washington gladiatorial epic spectacle the other day—the Robert Hur hearing—in which the Democrats genuflected before the old gods of the republic they no longer believe in, while herding us all toward the chutes of their authoritarian rule.
Don’t you just love it when weasels like Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell and others profess love of the secular trinity of “Transparency” “Democracy” and “Equal Protection Under the Law” when nothing in their lives suggests they believe the magic holy words they repeat with feigned piety, beseeching us to support the republic they undermine every day in Washington?
I can’t think of anything better, except perhaps for Charles Laughton as the corrupt demagogue Roman Senator Gracchus genuflecting to the old gods of his old Roman Republic, which was doomed–as is ours–by wave after wave of thoroughly corrupt men.
To illustrate I offer you this brief glimpse from the 1960 Stanley Kubrick masterpiece “Spartacus.” Just click on the link of the name of the leader of the slave revolt against Rome, and think.
After making a speech all about virtue while using it to set a snare for an oblivious opponent, we see Gracchus (Laughton) in all his ponderous self-indulgent glory waddling from the Senate down to the marketplace.
He is accompanied by Julius Caesar, who studies his mentor carefully on the road to dictatorship. As they chat, Gracchus purchases a chicken with which to make sacrifice to gods that he doesn’t believe in.
The chicken clucks and flaps its wings.
Caesar: “I thought you had reservations about the gods.”
Gracchus: “Privately I believe in none of them, neither do you. Publicly I believe in them all…Greeting Marcus Claudius Flavius!!!”
Interestingly the movie was written by Dalton Trumbo, the Hollywood black-listed Communist. The premiere was in October of 1960. Of course it was a big hit. It was intended to shed light on the abuse of power.
Even so, a few months later, January 17, 1961, marked President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Farewell Address in which he warned of authoritarian rule through the “military-industrial complex.”
Among today’s genuflectors were Rep. Adam Schiff, who lied repeatedly promoting the Russia Collusion Hoax and lied about the Trump impeachments; and Eric Swalwell, the flatulent imbecile trapped in a Communist Chinese honeypot by the sexy spy Fang Fang yet remains in Congress to this day. They both do. These are our lawgivers.
They and others genuflected before the gods they call “Transparency” and “Equal Justice Under the Law” and so forth.
Cicero Before the Senate
They embraced and defended the Black Lives Matter rioters who destroyed cities because the rioters supported Democrat political aims, but they publicly despised Americans who dared peacefully protest the rigged 2020 elections.
Vice President Kamala Harris raised bail money for the BLM rioters. In New York more than $13 million was awarded to protesters, some of whom tried to firebomb cops. In Chicago for example, 3,000 BLM rioters were arrested, but few were imprisoned or tried for their crimes by George Soros prosecutor Kim Foxx.
They destroyed whole cities, they burned others to the ground, but they were excused because the Black Lives Matter rioters shared political goals with senior Democrat officials from governors like Illinois’ own J.B. Pritzker to Senate Leader Charles “Pagliacci” Schumer of New York to China Joe Biden now in the White House.
What was their common goal of the BLM rioters and Democrat Party officials?
They hated former President Donald J. Trump.
And so their sins were forgiven.
And by contrast, more than 1,200 Americans were charged in the so-called J6 Capitol riot, with 460 imprisoned, even though the protest was truly “mostly peaceful.” The federal hammer forced more than 700 Americans to plead guilty, unlike the soft-glove approach in the Soros blue cities.
Ashli Babbitt, a woman supporter of Trump and a 12 -year veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces was at the Capitol in protest on Jan. 6. She was shot to death by a black Capitol Police officer Lt. Michael Byrd. Babbitt was white. I don’t care about their races except to say this: if circumstances were reversed and a white officer shot and killed an unarmed black BLM protester what would have happened?
More riots, more demagoguery, and Biden and Schumer, Pritzker and Cook County Boss Toni Preckwinkle among others, demanding we uphold “the rule of law.”
In the arena a few days ago, in the place where politicians tear at the public reputations of their victims, was special counsel Robert Hur testifying before the House Judiciary Committee.
He had angered Democrats with his report—signed off by Biden’s Department of Justice—that the president was not mentally fit to stand trial for illegally keeping decades worth of government secrets in torn boxes like junk in his garage. And what sparked their rage?
They publicly support the Biden Justice Department prosecution of former President Donald Trump even as Hur’s report pronounces Biden as unfit to stand trial for the same crime. Biden is President Non Compos Mentis.
Gracchus would have appreciated the modern Democrat theatrics in Washington as I appreciated the Chicago Mix popcorn. There wasn’t anything particularly nutritious about it.
But Gracchus understood completely about public obeisance to gods he no longer believed in. And of course his doomed Republic, much like ours, was left to men who believed in nothing except their own power.
The Death of Cicero Last Defender of the Roman Republic
(Copyright 2024 John Kass)
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About the author: John Kass spent decades as a political writer and news columnist in Chicago working at a major metropolitan newspaper. He is co-host of The Chicago Way podcast. And he just loves his “No Chumbolone” hat, because johnkassnews.com is a “No Chumbolone” Zone where you can always get a cup of common sense.
Comments 47
Ain’t no Cicero in Cook County except the town. Great work, John Kass.
Mr. Hickey
Thank you sir.
Mostly peaceful!? Gimme a break, John. Who are you trying to appeal to?
How about one of security guards videoed who almost got crushed to death.
And just becuz you spend 12 years in the military doesn’t anoint you from committing crimes. There are many vets who turned into dirt bag gang leaders in this town.
Mostly peaceful, as we’ve been taught from the left, is a relative term. I’d challenge anyone who was watching the protest on January 6th to declare that at any point in those three to four hours, that day, that our republic was at any point compromised. Many *ahem* learned afterwards, from the media that J6 was on par or worse than pearl harbor. For some, that sentiment remains.
That said, compare the injuries, deaths and damage done by the “peaceful protests” of the summer of 2020.
John
Ike original stated ‘Congressional military industrial complex. They made him edited it out for fear pissing off the crooks, ah, ah, I mean leaders (gag).
John Kass speaks for us that cannot explain it as good as you can, your columns are excellent!
A good way of looking at it. The politicians in power prosecute (or don’t) where it’s politically advantageous to themselves and their power. They can project “solutions” to the anger they’ve riled up their more partisan constituents. Unfortunately, the majority in the middle Americans are left scratching their heads at the lack of consistency in the partisan application of laws and prosecution. People just want to be treated fairly, and consistency is a huge part of that. I don’t see this from our politicians at any level (Chicago/IL/US).
Ah, the political spectacle of the arena to distract citizens from the politicians self-serving ways. Perhaps even more holidays to watch the spectacle, even grander spectacle, more free money, etc. to buy off the citizens’ gratitude and votes. The downfall of an empire.
Excellent column. The fact that both Schiff and Swalwelll both hale from California speaks volumes of how low the bar is set for their politicians. Thank God our founding fathers had the foresight to create the Electoral College or we’d be doomed. Can you just imagine NYC, Chicago, and Los Angeles deciding elections!
Agree, that “tail” should never ever wag the dog! Californica, New Englica – these Coastals – out with you, good luck – we’ll be just fine, promise
It is foolish to seek Justice from the partisans in DC.
If you are looking for Justice, it’s a small town just south of. Summit.
Eric Swalwell, not just an imbecile, but a” flatulent imbecile.” Well played!
Spartacus —. One of my favorite movies. I’ll have a bowl of that Chicsgo Mix too, but it won’t be for watching a good movie. We can only hope that like when the slaves are recaptured everyone says “I AM SPARTACUS”. Standing unified against the corruption. The double standard (esp BLM riots and Jan 6) of the left is proof of why power corrupts and term limits need to be put into place if the republic is to survive. The DNC in Chicago will make ‘68 look like a picnic. I fear like BLM the demonstrations that will most certainly devolve into destructive rampages will be brushed aside, somehow blamed on Trump and the right. Living in a red state some 500 miles distant from our hometown I see “flyover” country daily. It is solid hard working folks. They want to raise their kids to be good citizens and perhaps serve their country honorably because that’s what country kids do. But orange man is bad and a doddering fool and cackling Veep with their fool of a press mouthpiece know what’s best. God help the US come November if there is not a major course correction.
Right you are John. As far as the DNC summer spectacle going off the rails, I do fear the Chicago Dem hacks & hustlers will figure out how to buy off $$$$ the People of Color protesters & agitators….encourage them to stand down, behave themselves. Don’t know if they can buy off or control the Antifa zealot mobs or the Palestinians & Jew haters. The cynic in me expects trouble.
Excellent insight John! While for the politicians on both sides, power corrupts, what is even more concerning for the life of the Republic is that absolute power corrupts absolutely! I refer to the bloated bureaucracy, made more strong and corrupt than ever by the Biden administration! If not for the courts, it would wield absolute power over the people, like the couple that fought the EPA on what constitutes a public waterway on their land! Just look at how empowered it became during Covid! That is the looming death knell of a free republic, a bureaucracy controlled by a dictatorial party with laws bent to intimidate. Look no further than the mayor of Dalton, IL.
Spot on, on so many points. Thank you John.
Great column John. You never disappoint. Sadly, so many will believe them.
As a Vietnam Veteran, I am ashamed of our government as it stands today! The military-industrial complex sent so many of us there just to make money, and we are still dying from it.
Excellent column Mr. Kass!
I have a simple rule when listening to Democrat politicians: if their lips move, they are lying. Some Republicans too….
You bring up a good point though: I wonder what the average Roman felt as the Republic fell into decay and ruin? That chicken seller probably was a good representation: hoping their leaders knew better and just wanted to make money and live. Edward Gibbons on Rome is a good start. Our politicians truly have lost civic virtue and that is lost on the US population; its the tone from the top.
Good question. He may have thought, what influence can I possibly have, given that I’m just one ordinary man, struggling to make ends meet, like so many others. I need to focus on selling chickens, to whomever will purchase them, so I can put bread on my table.
I think that as a civilization expands democratic governance becomes increasingly unlikely. Things are too big, too complicated, and there are too many competing interests. Too much pluribus but no unum. My hunch is we’ve been democratically ungovernable for a decade.
Excellent. I need to watch Spartacus. Of course, I know about it, but have never watched it, because it was before my time. Did not know Stanley Kubrick directed it.
Do what I say, not as I do. Believe what I tell you not what you see. Orwellian adage fitting for the Demorwellian party. The clowns are intent on destroying this country with their socialist beliefs. Cook/Crook County put their whimsical paid leave ordinance on hold when the collar counties complained they had no money to fund excessive amounts of paid time off. Communist Millionaire Senator Bernie Sanders is proposing a four day eight hour a day work week with overtime pay after 32 hours. Comrade Sanders is lifetime state beaurocrat who has never held a job in the private sector or has any idea on how a small business is run. If you need more money, just print more money. Cook County is run by the same grifters led by Toni Preckwinkle. They get fat and rich at the public nipple, buy votes through shit policies like “Basic Guaranteed Income” and you and I pay for it. I know we have our little ” Never Trump” DNC operatives on this forum doing their best to discourage others on this forum from voting. You can smell these rats from a mile away. Pay them no mind. This election is going to decide whether or not this country slides into the globalist cancer of Socialism/ Communism. Vote for Trump if you don’t want a future of other socialist paradises like Cuba, Nicaragua and Russia. We have been primed already by accepting food and drug shortages explained as “covid supply chain issues” . Bullshit. Vote for Trump or you accept your future willingly. Thank you sir, may I have another. England was saved in the 80’s by Margaret Thatcher. I don’t think we’ll ever find someone like Margaret Thatcher to save us if this happens. Dont be a fool. Save yourself.
Vote for Trump.
Spartacus is one of the greatest films ever! And it has a message, perhaps that’s why you never see it anymore on TV. The ending is ______, but then there’s always the future, yet silence is demanded from the trees. The leaders words before battle are stunningly welded together, captivating ones attention that few productions have ever achieved. Time to watch it once more. Bravo Mr Kass!
John, you once again captured beautifully the political jujitsu being displayed by the Corruptocrats. The most frightening aspect of our current peril is, unlike in a court of law where if a defendant’s mental fitness is at issue, there is a set standard procedure. The court orders a mental fitness exam. A few weeks later at the next court date, the results are known. If he is found unfit, off to the Dept. of Human Services he goes until he is found fit with a new court date every 90 days for a status. We have no such procedure for a president who is non comps mentos except the invocation of the 25th amendment. We all know that’s not gonna happen. The next eight months will be times that try men’s souls! Hang on, kids, there’s a bit of turbulence ahead! As I write this Judge Scott McAfee has just ruled Ms. Willis has to go or Mr. Wade but both cannot stay. A cowardly ruling but no pleasure cruise for Fulton County DA’s office. Robert Hur, like Judge McAfee, gave us a half assed result – I suppose a half of a donkey is a perfect symbol for a party that is no longer presentable to the public! RIP JFK and Henry “Scoop” Jackson.
I didn’t get any popcorn!
I did watch. I did ask myself repeatedly what the hell is this? I did ask where is the “No one is above the law speeches? Then I remembered the law and rules apply to some not all. Rules for thee but not for me!
I found it humorous that Joe was hailed as fiery and feisty at the SOTU speech, yet he’s too old and feeble to be held accountable for important documents in his garage. Hmm! I’m baffled!
Thank you for an excellent column. It gives me hope when I read your words that I’m not alone in my thinking. It’s hard to stay sane in an insane world.
John Kass,….excellent choice of the top intro painting. “Pollice Verso” ( Latin for “with a turned thumb”) by French artist Jean-Leon Gerome. It’s still somewhat debatable if the thumb signals,…up or down,..where actually used during gladiator times. Director Ridley Scott found this painting quite inspirational even before the shooting of the 2000 movie “Gladiator.” Starring Russell Crowe.
BTW,…a big thumbs-up on your column today!
Yianni,
Surely you’re mistaken. BLM rioters? Never! They were simply “spirited, but peaceful, protests!” (My kolo!) Anyway, the pendulum is starting to move away from the far left reaches. We can only hope that it continues its movement, returning us to some semblance of sanity. Hopefully, in our lifetime, we may return to that rule of law, the dems so quickly embrace whenever they’re cornered and caught in their lies. Chumbolones we are not, and therefore, must continue the fight. Not sure if we’ll ever see the light here in Illinois or Chicago, as the left party (no longer anything democratic) is too deeply entrenched and the Republican party here is non-existent, and without arkidia! Soros continues to bankroll all the lefty DAs, SAs and prosecutors, so perps will continue to roam the streets, along with now new arrival Venezuelan gang members. Thankyou China Joe mumbles – may we have another please?
BTW don’t you think we should not watch movies, read books, attend concerts, etc that were made/performed by godless Commies. After all …….. I forgot then we’d have to get rid of our clothing, tvs, stereo equipment, radios, grilling stoves and equipment, fishing gear, auto parts, kitchen appliances, bicycles, motor scooters, skate boards, most of the stuff in hardware stores, etc, etc, etc. We are 2 faced regarding the anti commie line. If your anti commie read the label and see what you bought came from and then don’t buy.
Instead buy American! Be kinda tough, huh. And who got us into buying commie made products? That’s right our own presidents and congress.
This is were ‘kill a commie for Christ’ Helen shows up to speak. Helen, Helen? Were are you when we need you most for your usual anti commie diatribes?
“Rigged 2020 election”?
Mostly “peaceful protest” on January 6th?
Wow.
The BLM “movement” was BS and a terrible stain on our nation. And yeppers, it was aided and abbetted by weak politicians like Biden, Schumer, Fat Pritz, Boss Toni, et al. But equally terrible is Mr. Trump trying to con Americans that the 2020 election was rigged and doubling down by inciting/inspiring mob action on January 6.
As a long time conservative, I wish the above wasn’t so.
Well said
President Trump DID NOT inspire mob action. He said, and I quote “ MARCH PEACEFULLY AND PATRIOTICALLY”. People KNEW and still KNOW that election WAS RIGGED!!!!!
This column — on the grim subject of leftist fake piety and Democrats’ fake democracy — reaffirms the proprietary Kass gift we cherish. It describes governmental falsity and corruption so vividly, so artfully that the description actually heartens and encourages the audience.
The greatest playwright ever had the same gift. Read or watch any of his 11 (or so) magnificent tragedies — on historical subjects as crazed as Biden, as evil as Hillary, as doomed (I’m afraid) as our republic. Those plays’ art does not depress an intelligent audience. Their staging of a great writer’s brilliance actually uplifts you.
And our JK has some gifts that were inaccessible to The Bard back in the day. Our guy has great fun with cigar chompers and chumbolone victimizers.
Actually recent history – in particular the Covid pandemic and our “expert” response to it – dramatically confirms Eisenhower’s prescient warning – not about the “military / industrial complex” – but rather the threat posed by the “experts” within the “administrative state”:
“Yet, in holding scientific research and discovery in respect, as we should, we must also be alert to the equal and opposite danger that public policy could itself become the captive of a scientific-technological elite.”
We should pay attention to this prescient warning from Ike, as it is now very relevant (as Covid made clear), but presently ignored, and often overshadowed by his “military/industrial” complex warning.
Now very relevant? It was relevant the day he said it! JFK was killed bcuz he had just signed a treaty with the Russkis to stop nuclear proliferation. Those bombs makers thought: no more kaching, kaching in their cash registers. Then he refused to start WWlll over Cuba missile crises costing those war producers more kaching. And then there was Bay of Pigs (I think it was named after our generals and Congress) were he refused to go in and help, which btw was given the ok by Ike. Cross the money grabbing war makers and they will wack u faster than the Mob, ooooppps they were involved, I 4got.
Wow. Ike said that? Everyone knows his military industrial complex quote, but that one, which was even more prescient, has been lost to the dustbin of history,
Yup. Copied verbatim out of his Farewell Address. Of course you can see why it plays “second fiddle” to his classic “military industrial complex” warning (or as you say relegated to the dustbin of history) … since it attacks the very foundation of our present governmental structure – namely a government based upon “experts” residing in the vast administrative state and their opinions, rather than one based upon the consent of the governed. Indeed a far cry from the Founder’s vision of American government. Not something the Left nor liberals like to talk about.
When I was a kid, Ike was looked upon as a “do nothing” President. Over the ensuing decades his status has risen such that many view him as one of our greatest Presidents. But what ever one thinks of him as a President, there is general agreement that he was an insightful and very wise man.
January 6th was NOT peaceful for the officers that were injured. I recall protesters with weapons breaking into the capital and chanting hang Pence and threatening officers and congressmen and women.
No doubt the BLM rioters got off due to political alignment but to excuse what happened at our Nation’s capital is wrong and short sited. Looks like you have moved comfortably into the Trump camp John. I am disappointed.
As I previously said, the usual suspects, all DNC operatives now chime in with their usual blather. I know, I know…you’ve motivated me to not vote in protest of Donald Trump and the corruption of the Republican party. . You’re very smart. Your intelligence overwhelms us. Except that your bullshit is very evident. Why don’t you nitwits go back to Facebook/ Meta or whatever it’s called these days. I guess Elon Musk buying Twitter chased you fools away from that site and your handlersat the DNC are too cheap to pay Musk ten bucks for a checkmark.
I’m at least hoping the fools operating on this site pay for their subscriptions. It should cost them something to post their bullshit. And John deserves to be paid.
John, I greatly admire your ability to recall and relate great movie lines to our modern situation. The 2024 DNC convention could make 1968 look like sleepaway camp. Also, pay close attention to the machinations of sleezeball lawyers like Marc Ellias( follow him on X) . He is not hiding the ball. If Trump wins, the Dems will raise hell, making 2017 look like a kindergarten birthday party.
Excellent piece John. The imagery is delicious. The irony is lost on many that we who have always fooled ourselves into believing we are the greatest republic that ever existed, are indeed Rome. The “bread” is the funny money and the “games” are riots and pretend riots. Sadly, no political party will save us, no politician will save us. All because we refuse to save ourselves.
I’d like to know the names of the people who raised the gallows and subsequently chanted “Hang Mike Pence.” I used to go in and out of the door that Babbitt tried to enter when I had floor privileges in the 70s in the House. I felt bad for her but I note you named the police officer who was protecting the Members inside as well as his race. You know he’s been the subject of many threats. I’m done commenting on this site.
Good. Direct your inane comments to your fellow authoritarian socialists. Sane people don’t need to read them.
Ashli Babbit was slowly crawling through a broken door window. Should she have been doing that? No. Is it a crime? Yes. But the officer had no right to be judge, jury, and executioner. She did not in any way threaten the officer. The officer was standing to the side and shot her in the head; she wasn’t even moving towards him. All police officers know that a head shot is a kill shot. A self defense shot is directed to the torso or the legs. Compare that to the lies we’ve been told about Michael Brown, which is what started the BLM movement. Different rules for different people.
Chris Cuomo, no conservative, correctly stated that Jan. 6th was not an insurrection, it was a riot, because insurrections are armed. It was a riot much smaller than the BLM riots and quickly contained.
I remember watching the events of that day and a NewsMax commentator stated that the government is the temple of the Left. The rest of us, that is, those that don’t have government jobs, don’t really matter.
Geraldine Conrad:
In reading you comment about Ashli Babbit, makes me wonder if you saw the video from her side of the room when she was murdered? I’m sure it’s still available. That video has LEOs with AR-15 types of firearms, probably M-4s that can fire 3 round bursts, thus Automatic Weapons of war my ARMY son trained on. There were a few of them right next to Babbit, they did nothing to stop her as she tried to get thru that door window! Not even sure she would have made it through? Nobody has ever really explained why everything went down as it did. Also remember Babbit was Unarmed! America needs to know the truth about her murder. It’s more plain to see than Geo Floyd death, yes there is a video from the officers body cameras that prove that knee was Not on Floyd’s neck, and the training manual shows that technique, yet the Police Chief said in court it wasn’t in their training. So don’t just take the news as the True! False lies abound! And Trump gets 16,000,000+ more votes and somehow Biden gets 81,000,000? That’s even more than Obama which seems impossible, unless mail in voting was rigged! And it was, due to socalled Mules making mass trips to ballot drops, captured via cellular records.
Ms. Conrad. I think you’re ignoring the tyranny of the Democratic Party as well as Mr. Biden. Trying to keep the major opposition candidate (regardless of his perceived transgressions – perceived being the operative word) off the ballot – denial of the ballot to virtually half the citizens – is an attack at the very heart of our democracy. Mr. Biden’s insistence on pursuing student loan forgiveness despite it being declared unconstitutional – which it clearly was from the get go – by the Court debases a foundational principle of our democracy: the”rule of law.” None the less, I for one believe in Diversity: namely diversity of thought … so I wish you would reconsider and continue to comment.
Both the left and right rioters should have got the Richard J. Daley treatment: shoot to maim rioters, and shoot to kill those with molotov cocktails burning buildings. It worked for Da Boss. Ah leadership, where forth art thou
When I was a young man I thought Richard J’s solution to maintain order was an absolute abomination. Now as an old man, I see he had a point … and one with the passage of time looks better and better.
The corruption of science that Ike was worried about (and Thank You for Noting it!) is probably a greater threat today than the military industrial complex of Ike’s era and the immediate decades afterward. Today we witness a weakened U.S. milittary that is being weakened by the Biden budgets. It is the scientific hokum we are fed that is more corrupting.
The best example is the daily call for climate crisis action that is not willing to give credence to clear demonstrations that the planet was warmer in Roman and medieval times, that so-called “models” are mostly wrong with their predictions, or that CO2 is necessary for life to exist, a very small component of warming, that volcanoes and natural phenomena produce far more CO2 than mankind, that depriving poor nations of fossil fuel energy makes them poorer, etc. Our kids and many adults have allowed themselves to be hornswaggled by people bent on power who have found a kool-aid that sells well due to the dumbed down population.
When the “book” about Covid and our nation’s response to it, is finally written … say 25 or 50 years from now … far away from the roiling politics of today, we’ll see how the “settled science” of recent vintage propagated by our contemporary objective disinterested experts looks under history’s microscope. Unfortunately I won’t be around to read the verdict.