Comments on: Great Interview of the Week: Beware of charismatic populists leading private armies http://www.afreeman.org/2008/03/28/great-interview-of-the-week-beware-of-charismatic-populists-leading-private-armies/ Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:35:49 +1000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: Andy http://www.afreeman.org/2008/03/28/great-interview-of-the-week-beware-of-charismatic-populists-leading-private-armies/comment-page-1/#comment-20318 Andy Tue, 01 Mar 2011 23:32:51 +0000 http://www.afreeman.org/2008/03/28/great-interview-of-the-week-beware-of-charismatic-populists-leading-private-armies/#comment-20318 I find the History of Rome interesting not from a political perspective, but from a perspective of spotting what "could happen" For a very short time in history we have had the blessing where in a very few select countries, barbarism does not occur on a massive scale. I don't think we realize how fragile that is or how smart our founding fathers were nor how blessed we are that even the most inept holders of our elected offices have not toppled it. piling on to Jay's comment. I just listened to episode 60 and The years 2008-2010 sounds a lot like what happpens as you edge close to a few having too much power. Same goes when the tables of political power are reversed. For the Palin detractor, I'm not her defender, but I have yet to have a conversation with a Palin or a Bush detractor who are willing to do any of the following: 1- Put Obama/Biden under the same scrutiny and standard as they do Palin or Bush. 2- (on Palin) Has been able to cite legislation or public policy she has enacted. Minus 10,000 points in the debate if you quote Tina Fey while detracting from Palin. 3- Not resort to either name calling or absolute profanity (usually in under 10 responses)- you actually used the term "Tea baggers" . Got hate? Use the N word much? I find the History of Rome interesting not from a political perspective, but from a perspective of spotting what “could happen” For a very short time in history we have had the blessing where in a very few select countries, barbarism does not occur on a massive scale. I don’t think we realize how fragile that is or how smart our founding fathers were nor how blessed we are that even the most inept holders of our elected offices have not toppled it.

piling on to Jay’s comment.

I just listened to episode 60 and The years 2008-2010 sounds a lot like what happpens as you edge close to a few having too much power. Same goes when the tables of political power are reversed.

For the Palin detractor, I’m not her defender, but I have yet to have a conversation with a Palin or a Bush detractor who are willing to do any of the following:

1- Put Obama/Biden under the same scrutiny and standard as they do Palin or Bush.
2- (on Palin) Has been able to cite legislation or public policy she has enacted. Minus 10,000 points in the debate if you quote Tina Fey while detracting from Palin.
3- Not resort to either name calling or absolute profanity (usually in under 10 responses)- you actually used the term “Tea baggers” . Got hate? Use the N word much?

]]> By: Jay http://www.afreeman.org/2008/03/28/great-interview-of-the-week-beware-of-charismatic-populists-leading-private-armies/comment-page-1/#comment-19832 Jay Tue, 18 Jan 2011 19:28:21 +0000 http://www.afreeman.org/2008/03/28/great-interview-of-the-week-beware-of-charismatic-populists-leading-private-armies/#comment-19832 I wonder too if Mike would still correlate Obama with Vespasian. During the campaign he seemed far more a populist to me than a "conciliatory pragmatist," but now that he is firmly in office, I don't see the caparison working at all anymore. And we are anything but more stable than we were two years ago. Vespasian might have taxed the snot out of the Romans, but he was an incredible tightwad too, and rebuilt the Roman treasury thanks to it. Not much of a correlation there. I see him more as a faux Hadrian - similar goals, but not as much wisdom. I thought the McCain/Pompey comparison was pretty apt, but Bush/Commodus? Please. I'm not a big fan, but I'm beginning to expect that he will be remembered more as a Claudius. Hated and thought stupid during his time, but with contributions remembered in due time. Obama and H. Clinton as Marius and Sulla? That could be interesting. They seem to have a complicated working relationship, and switch between enemies and friends all too often. Anyway, speculation is fun! I wonder too if Mike would still correlate Obama with Vespasian. During the campaign he seemed far more a populist to me than a “conciliatory pragmatist,” but now that he is firmly in office, I don’t see the caparison working at all anymore. And we are anything but more stable than we were two years ago. Vespasian might have taxed the snot out of the Romans, but he was an incredible tightwad too, and rebuilt the Roman treasury thanks to it. Not much of a correlation there. I see him more as a faux Hadrian – similar goals, but not as much wisdom.

I thought the McCain/Pompey comparison was pretty apt, but Bush/Commodus? Please. I’m not a big fan, but I’m beginning to expect that he will be remembered more as a Claudius. Hated and thought stupid during his time, but with contributions remembered in due time.

Obama and H. Clinton as Marius and Sulla? That could be interesting. They seem to have a complicated working relationship, and switch between enemies and friends all too often.

Anyway, speculation is fun!

]]> By: binz http://www.afreeman.org/2008/03/28/great-interview-of-the-week-beware-of-charismatic-populists-leading-private-armies/comment-page-1/#comment-18195 binz Tue, 05 Oct 2010 21:47:43 +0000 http://www.afreeman.org/2008/03/28/great-interview-of-the-week-beware-of-charismatic-populists-leading-private-armies/#comment-18195 I just last week I was listening to THoR's post-Carthage to pre-Caesar episodes, and I thought 'Holy sh*t! That sounds sorta like where we are now in the US.' And then I read this. Whoa. Wonder what Mike would add now, what with the ascension of populist demagogues like Glenn Beck (him railing against the 'OLIGARHY' fer Christ sake) and Sarah Palin, with her attacks on the 'elites', and the rise of the Teabaggers, with their inchoate rage, who form the perfect vessel to used by such people. I just last week I was listening to THoR’s post-Carthage to pre-Caesar episodes, and I thought ‘Holy sh*t! That sounds sorta like where we are now in the US.’ And then I read this. Whoa.

Wonder what Mike would add now, what with the ascension of populist demagogues like Glenn Beck (him railing against the ‘OLIGARHY’ fer Christ sake) and Sarah Palin, with her attacks on the ‘elites’, and the rise of the Teabaggers, with their inchoate rage, who form the perfect vessel to used by such people.

]]> By: Deadlines suck… | A Free Man http://www.afreeman.org/2008/03/28/great-interview-of-the-week-beware-of-charismatic-populists-leading-private-armies/comment-page-1/#comment-6661 Deadlines suck… | A Free Man Tue, 02 Dec 2008 11:27:53 +0000 http://www.afreeman.org/2008/03/28/great-interview-of-the-week-beware-of-charismatic-populists-leading-private-armies/#comment-6661 [...] of Rome”. The latter is up and running again after a hiatus that went on far too long. Check out my interview with Duncan from a few months ago and look forward, hopefully, to one with Carlin in the not to [...] [...] of Rome”. The latter is up and running again after a hiatus that went on far too long. Check out my interview with Duncan from a few months ago and look forward, hopefully, to one with Carlin in the not to [...]

]]> By: roman entertainment http://www.afreeman.org/2008/03/28/great-interview-of-the-week-beware-of-charismatic-populists-leading-private-armies/comment-page-1/#comment-2836 roman entertainment Wed, 04 Jun 2008 18:16:57 +0000 http://www.afreeman.org/2008/03/28/great-interview-of-the-week-beware-of-charismatic-populists-leading-private-armies/#comment-2836 [...] about podcasting, which roman emperor is the most similar to the 2008 presidential candidates andhttp://www.chrisdellavedova.com/2008/03/28/great-interview-of-the-week-beware-of-charismatic-populis...Ancient Rome :: Roman EntertainmentRoman entertainment Entertainment was essential to daily life in [...] [...] about podcasting, which roman emperor is the most similar to the 2008 presidential candidates andhttp://www.chrisdellavedova.com/2008/03/28/great-interview-of-the-week-beware-of-charismatic-populis…Ancient Rome :: Roman EntertainmentRoman entertainment Entertainment was essential to daily life in [...]

]]> By: The Roman Empire and the United States. - YaHooka Forums http://www.afreeman.org/2008/03/28/great-interview-of-the-week-beware-of-charismatic-populists-leading-private-armies/comment-page-1/#comment-2837 The Roman Empire and the United States. - YaHooka Forums Thu, 22 May 2008 03:29:59 +0000 http://www.afreeman.org/2008/03/28/great-interview-of-the-week-beware-of-charismatic-populists-leading-private-armies/#comment-2837 [...] United States. Excerpt from an interview of a roman historian by someone... here's the link... Great Interview of the Week: Beware of charismatic populists leading private armies | chrisdellavedo... No point to make... just found it interesting. -Hedons CDV:Now is the time when we get to the [...] [...] United States. Excerpt from an interview of a roman historian by someone… here’s the link… Great Interview of the Week: Beware of charismatic populists leading private armies | chrisdellavedo… No point to make… just found it interesting. -Hedons CDV:Now is the time when we get to the [...]

]]> By: Dan http://www.afreeman.org/2008/03/28/great-interview-of-the-week-beware-of-charismatic-populists-leading-private-armies/comment-page-1/#comment-2835 Dan Wed, 30 Apr 2008 17:54:13 +0000 http://www.afreeman.org/2008/03/28/great-interview-of-the-week-beware-of-charismatic-populists-leading-private-armies/#comment-2835 Great interview of the producer of a great podcast. THoR is another catalyst in my desire to pursue a Humanities degree. <em>Dan's last blog post..<a href='http://www.dansanders.net/2008/04/24/lets-do-lunch/' rel="nofollow">let’s do lunch</a></em> Great interview of the producer of a great podcast. THoR is another catalyst in my desire to pursue a Humanities degree.

Dan’s last blog post..let’s do lunch

]]> By: Joe Kremer http://www.afreeman.org/2008/03/28/great-interview-of-the-week-beware-of-charismatic-populists-leading-private-armies/comment-page-1/#comment-2827 Joe Kremer Wed, 23 Apr 2008 06:42:34 +0000 http://www.afreeman.org/2008/03/28/great-interview-of-the-week-beware-of-charismatic-populists-leading-private-armies/#comment-2827 I am a huge fan of THoR and enthusiastically listen to Mr. Duncan's podcast every week. The reason that his podcast works is the same reason this interview was just as good, he keeps it simple and to the point. Not only that, he stays true to this fascinating period of world history and I can tell just by listening to him that he enjoys doing it just as much as we enjoy listening to it. Thank you Mike Duncan and please continue with THoR for as long as you possibly can. Might I suggest after you've covered Romulus Augustulus a podcast called "The History of the Visigoths"? Best of luck and continued success! I am a huge fan of THoR and enthusiastically listen to Mr. Duncan’s podcast every week. The reason that his podcast works is the same reason this interview was just as good, he keeps it simple and to the point. Not only that, he stays true to this fascinating period of world history and I can tell just by listening to him that he enjoys doing it just as much as we enjoy listening to it. Thank you Mike Duncan and please continue with THoR for as long as you possibly can. Might I suggest after you’ve covered Romulus Augustulus a podcast called “The History of the Visigoths”? Best of luck and continued success!

]]> By: Geo http://www.afreeman.org/2008/03/28/great-interview-of-the-week-beware-of-charismatic-populists-leading-private-armies/comment-page-1/#comment-2829 Geo Thu, 10 Apr 2008 05:00:29 +0000 http://www.afreeman.org/2008/03/28/great-interview-of-the-week-beware-of-charismatic-populists-leading-private-armies/#comment-2829 I anxiously each installment of the History of Rome. This wa sa great interview I will show my students soon, the comparisons of Rome and US are fun and predictive. Mostly I was so happy to see someone else say that Pete Rose should be in the Hall of Fame, and I had never thought of Shoeless Joe Jackson that way. Then the steroid opinion really struck me. So thanks for a good interview. I anxiously each installment of the History of Rome. This wa sa great interview I will show my students soon, the comparisons of Rome and US are fun and predictive.

Mostly I was so happy to see someone else say that Pete Rose should be in the Hall of Fame, and I had never thought of Shoeless Joe Jackson that way. Then the steroid opinion really struck me.

So thanks for a good interview.

]]> By: K & Co. » An interview with Mike Duncan http://www.afreeman.org/2008/03/28/great-interview-of-the-week-beware-of-charismatic-populists-leading-private-armies/comment-page-1/#comment-2830 K & Co. » An interview with Mike Duncan Mon, 07 Apr 2008 15:58:16 +0000 http://www.afreeman.org/2008/03/28/great-interview-of-the-week-beware-of-charismatic-populists-leading-private-armies/#comment-2830 [...] my Monday’s a little more bearable with his weekly History of Rome podcast recently gave this informal interview. I thought it was delightful. Especially the comparison of modern politicians to ancient Roman [...] [...] my Monday’s a little more bearable with his weekly History of Rome podcast recently gave this informal interview. I thought it was delightful. Especially the comparison of modern politicians to ancient Roman [...]

]]>