GRADING OBAMA ON THE MACHIAVELLI SCALE

Contrary to what some think, Niccolò Machiavelli (1469 – 1527) was not some kind of ruthless leader but a fussy political philosopher, historian, musician, and poet, who paradoxically wrote romantic and comedic plays. Many credit him with the invention of realist political theory. His “rules” for princes are still quite relevant today. In that light, what kind of grades would President Obama rate on Machiavellian theory? Following, and in no particular order, are a few of Niccolò’s hundreds of political maxims:

“There is no avoiding war, it can only be postponed to the advantage of your enemy.”
Tsk-tsk-tsk. Obviously Obama never heard this one. He gets an F.

“Everyone sees what you seem to be, few know what you really are; and those few do not dare take a stand against the general opinion.”
President O’Chameleon gets an A on this one!

“It is much safer to be feared than loved."
“I wanna be loved with in-spi-ra-tion...” B

“The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him.”
Not to mention the women. Good grief. Z

“Men are so simple of mind, and so much dominated by their immediate needs, that a deceitful man will always find plenty who are ready to be deceived.”
Oh, he got this one a long time ago. B+

“A man who is used to acting in one way never changes; he must come to ruin when the times, in changing, no longer are in harmony with his ways.”
This was written for a rigid ideologue. F

“It must be remembered that there is nothing more difficult to plan, more doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to manage than a new system. For the initiator has the enmity of all who would profit by the preservation of the old institution and merely lukewarm defenders in those who gain by the new ones. ”
“ObamaCare” anyone? A generous F

“There is nothing more important than appearing to be religious.”
25 years “appearing” to attend Rev Wright’s church. B+

“The vulgar crowd always is taken by appearances, and the world consists chiefly of the vulgar.”
Oh yeh, he’s cool. B+ 

“Men never do good unless necessity drives them to it; but when they are free to choose and can do just as they please, confusion and disorder become rampant.”
Read the news lately? F

“A prince must not have any other object nor any other thought but war, its institutions, and its discipline; because that is the only art befitting one who commands.”
President Peace Prize gets a big F on this.

“He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command.”
Hard to know without being behind all those closed-door meetings. C?

“Men sooner forget the death of their father than the loss of their patrimony.”
In other words, don’t over-tax the people’s inheritances and wealth. F

“Men are so simple and so much inclined to obey immediate needs that a deceiver will never lack victims for his deceptions.”
The Food Stamp President gets an A+

“The best fortress which a prince can possess is the affection of his people.”
Depends on the meaning of “his people.” Right now C–

“Though fraud in all other actions be odious, yet in matters of war it is laudable and glorious, and he who overcomes his enemies by stratagem is as much to be praised as he who overcomes them by force.”
He’s as confused as Inspector Clouseau on this one. F

“Occasionally words must serve to veil the facts. But let this happen in such a way that no one becomes aware of it; or, if it should be noticed, excuses must be at hand to be produced immediately.”
This one he knows by heart. A+

“But when you disarm (the people), you at once offend them by showing that you distrust them, either for cowardice or for want of loyalty, and either of these opinions breeds hatred against you.”
Isn’t this why we have the Second Amendment? Obama gets another F

More F’s there than Porky Pig saying “Fee-fi-fo-fum...”