Liars and Lire

This, come si dice, blaghe has rumbled back to life, in light of some recent developments in the news here. If this and/or previous postings scoot your Vespa, let me know, maybe there will be more.

"I was introduced to Bernard Madoff 21 years ago at a business meeting. ... I now view that day as perhaps the unluckiest day of my life. ... This beast who I call Madoff. He walks among us. He dresses like us ... but underneath the facade is a true beast. ... He is an equal opportunity destroyer."

"Life has been a living hell. It feels like the nightmare we can't wake from."

"The man sitting in this courtroom robbed me. ... He discarded me like road kill. ... Forgiveness for now will have to come from someone other than me."

And it was ever thus, for:

"Men will more readily forget the death of their fathers, than the loss of their property."
~Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince

Of Mother Goose, Lame Ducks, and Quail

Excerpted from Fox Interview transcript:

Cheney: Well, ultimately, I'm the guy who pulled the trigger that fired the round that hit Harry. And you can talk about all of the other conditions that existed at the time, but that's the bottom line.


This is Harry.

This is the round
That hit Harry.

This is the trigger
That fired the round
That hit Harry.

This is the guy
Who pulled the trigger
That fired the round
That hit Harry.

This is the ranch
Where hunted the guy
Who pulled the trigger
That fired the round
That hit Harry.

These are the quail,
That live on the ranch
Where hunted the guy
Who pulled the trigger
That fired the round
That hit Harry.


This is the dame
Who raised the quail,
That live on the ranch,
Where hunted the guy,
Who pulled the trigger
That fired the round
That hit Harry.

This is the reporter that wrote the tale
Told by the dame
Who raised the quail
That live on the ranch
Where hunted the guy
Who pulled the trigger
That fired the round
That hit Harry.

This is the house, with influence stale,
Now trying to spin the reporter’s tale
Told by the dame
Who raised the quail
That live on the ranch
Where hunted the guy
Who pulled the trigger
That fired the round
That hit Harry.

This is the man who faces jail
Who worked in the house, with influence stale,
Now trying to spin the reporter’s tale
Told by the dame
Who raised the quail
That live on the ranch
Where hunted the guy
Who pulled the trigger
That fired the round
That hit Harry.

This is the spy, heroic female
Exposed by the man who faces jail
Who worked in the house, with influence stale,
Now trying to spin the reporter’s tale
Told by the dame
Who raised the quail
That live on the ranch
Where hunted the guy
Who pulled the trigger
That fired the round
That hit Harry.

The gunman's evidentiary trail
Leads to the spy, heroic female
Exposed by the man who faces jail
Who worked in the house, with influence stale,
Now trying to spin the reporter’s tale
Told by the dame
Who raised the quail
That live on the ranch
Where hunted the guy
Who pulled the trigger
That fired the round
That hit Harry.

Benvenuti

Benvenuti--welcome--to "The Machiavelli Minute". Look around, take your time, soak it in...we've published all the archives of the Machiavelli Minute here, and in 2006, we're gonna hit the ground running as we try to keep up with the fickle mistress, Fortuna, as she plays her games with the mere mortals in the power centers of the world.

But the first order of business, a brief introduction. Below please find a forwarded email that lays out the mission statement of The Machiavelli Minute, from its illustrious founder, my grandfather, Niccoló Machiavelli.

To: Lorenzo
From: Niccolo
Date: 6/22/1513

To the Magnificent Lorenzo Di Piero De' Medici:

It is customary for those who wish to gain favor of a Prince to endeavor to do so by offering him gifts of those things which they hold most precious or in which they know him to take especial delight. With the utmost diligence I have long pondered and scrutinized the actions of the great, and now I offer the results to your Highness within the compass of a small volume. I have not sought to adorn my work with long phrases or high-sounding words, or any of those superficial attractions and ornaments with which many writers seek to embellish their material…For in the same way that landscape painters station themselves in the valleys in order to draw mountains or high ground, or ascend and eminence in order to get a good view of the plains, so it is necessary to be a Prince, to know thoroughly the nature of the people, and one of the populace to know the nature of princes. May I trust that your Highness will accept this little gift in the spirit in which it is offered; you will recognize in it my ardent desire that you attain to that grandeur for which fortune and your own merits have destined you.

ttyl,
Nic

War 'n' Christmas

"Considering, therefore, why it is that in ancient times the people were greater lovers of liberty than in our own times, I believe [it is] based upon the difference between our religion [Christianity] and ancient religion. In our sacrifices there is some ceremony ... but no act that is fierce or brave. Theirs lacked neither pomp nor ceremonial magnificence...[but were also] full of blood and ferocity, involving the killing of a multitude of animals--this spectacle was awesome, and produced similarly awesome men.

"If it is true that our religion also requires strength, it is the kind of strength that makes you willing to suffer rather than to undertake bold deeds. So this way of living, then, seems to have rendered the world weak and handed it over as prey to wicked men, who can safely manage it when they see that most men think more of going to Heaven by enduring their injuries than by avenging them."

-Niccoló Machiavelli, The Discourses Book II, chapter 2

_______________________________________

"This is insulting to Christian America. It's insulting. This is driven by secular progressives ...Secular progressives which are driving this movement, OK, don't want Christmas. They don't want it as a federal holiday, they don't want any message of spirituality or Judeo-Christian tradition because that stands in the way of gay marriage, legalized drugs, euthanasia, all of the greatest hits on the secular progressive play card."

-Bill O'Reilly - 11/30/05

"Happy Holidays" is fine. Just don't ban "Merry Christmas," that's all we're saying.

-Bill O'Reilly - 12/20/05

_______________________________________



"Gimme that Old Time Religion!"

-Bruno Machiavelli, Impresario

Il Teatro Machiavelli

_______________________________________



"God bless us, every one.

Tiny Tim, impoverished crippled boy

A Christmas Carol




http://mediamatters.org/issues_topics/war_on_christmas
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/12/2/151252/389

Cruelties, timing of

"Well committed may be called those [cruelties], which are perpetrated once for the need of securing oneself, and which afterwards are not persisted in[...]. Cruelties ill committed are those which, although at first few, increase rather than diminish with time. [...] The conqueror must arrange to commit all his cruelties at once so as not to have them recur...every day, and so as to be able, by not making fresh changes, to reassure people and win them over by benefitting them."
-Niccoló Machiavelli,
The Prince, chapter 8

"The Attorney General is charged by statute with interpreting the law for the Executive Branch. This interpretive authority extends to both domestic and international law. [...] As you have said, the war against terrorism is a new kind of war...this new paradigm renders obsolete Geneva's strict limitation on questioning of enemy prisoners and renders quaint some of its provisions..."
-Alberto Gonzales, Attorney General of the United States of America
Re: Decision Re Application of the Geneva Convention on Prisoners of War to the Conflict with Al Qaeda and the Taliban
Writing as White House Chief Counsel
January 25, 2002


"This is no different than what happens at the Skull and Bones initiation, and we're going to ruin people's lives over it, and we're going to hamper our military effort, and then we are going to really hammer them because they had a good time. You know, these people are being fired at every day. I'm talking about people having a good time, these people, you ever heard of emotional release? You [ever] heard of need to blow some steam off?"
-Rush Limbaugh, May 2004


"That is a great question. What kind of gift to give Democrats here on the anniversary of Abu Ghraib. I’m glad you called, Christopher.

"We’ll think of more as they, as they come up. You know, you might give them a little pyramid game, something that is in the shape of a pyramid. Wire tap kit. Could borrow that. ... Jumper cables. A pair of jumper cables...[A]nd these are things we all have lying around the house, folks. Just get rid of it. It is junk. Give them a German shepherd. Oh, yeah, a German shepherd dog, little German shepherd puppy. You can train yourself.

"It is Abu Ghraib Day. Senator Kennedy issued a statement, Democrats celebrating the one year anniversary of the Abu Ghraib scandal. I don’t know how I forgot this. Obviously, at the top of the gift list has to be women’s underwear. Remember, women’s underwear was put on the heads of Islamic prisoners to humiliate them. Democrats found this totally objectionable, can’t believe it. Another thing, remember all of the pictures of Abu Ghraib prisoners with bags on their heads, with eye holes cut out. Give them some of those. Those are cheap. Go to the grocery store, get groceries, then give them the empty bags with the eye holes cut out favorite liberal Democrat, that as well as handcuffs. The bag for the head has a series of uses for liberal Democrats as well. Then, of course, there is a leash. A leash can be found at any pet store and it goes along with the German Shepherd that you are going to give away to a democrat here as they celebrate the one year anniversary of Abu Ghraib Day.

..."You know, the Democrats today celebrating the one year anniversary of Abu Ghraib. Now you have to be very careful about how far they take this. I mean, it is one thing to start giving them gifts. We forgot, a water board would be a great gift. For some libs, if you could find a naked Iraqi inflatable insurgent doll that would be a thrill."
-Rush Limbaugh
26 April 2005



"Saddam Hussein on line one, Mr. President, he wants to hire your lawyers."
-Bruno Machiavelli, Impresario
Il Teatro Machiavelli


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A25239-2005Mar10.html
http://lawofwar.org/Torture_Memos_analysis.htm
http://coldfury.com/reason/?p=424
http://www.americanprogress.org/site/pp.asp?c=biJRJ8OVF&b=79532

Fortune is a Woman

"I certainly think it is better to be impetuous than cautious, for Fortune is a woman, and it is necessary, if you wish to conquer her, to take her by force; and it can be seen that she lets herself be overcome by the bold rather than by those who proceed coldly. And therefore, like a woman, she is always a friend to the young, because they are less cautious, fiercer, and master her with greater audacity."
-Niccoló Machiavelli,
The Prince, chapter 25


"As I was telling my husb--...As I was telling President Bush..."
-Condoleeza Rice
November 2004


"...sexual orgies eliminate social tensions and ought to be encouraged."
- Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, speaking at Harvard


"Ahh, traditional values. Happy Valentine's Day, young lovers!"
-Bruno Machiavelli, Impresario
Il Teatro Machiavelli

Liberality vs. Miserliness

"Either a prince spends that which is his own or his subjects' or else that of others. In the first case he ought to be sparing, in the second he ought not to neglect any opportunity for liberality. And to the prince who goes forth with his army, supporting it by plunder, sack, and extortion [...] this liberality is necessary, otherwise he would not be followed by soldiers. And of that which is neither yours nor your subjects' you can be a ready giver [...] because it does not take away your reputation if you squander that of others, but adds to it; it is only squandering your own that injures you."
-Niccoló Machiavelli,
The Prince, chapter 16

"You can be equally concerned about our troops in Iraq and those who suffered at the tsunamis with celebrating democracy."
-George W. Bush, on the $40M inauguration tab, excluding unprecedented taxpayer-funded security costs)
January 2005

http://www.inaugural05.com/


"Yes, your majesty, you are a fine violinist...umm...is it getting warm in here?"
-Bruno Machiavelli, Impresario
Il Teatro Machiavelli

Ruling Acquired Lands

"[W]hen dominions are acquired in a province differing in language, laws, and customs, the difficulties to be overcome are great...the best and most certain means of [retaining them] would be for the new ruler to take up his residence there. Disorders can be seen as they arise and can be quickly remedied, but living at a distance, they are only heard of when they get beyond remedy."
- Niccoló Machiavelli
The Prince, chapter 3


"Let them what's got ears to hear, eyes to see, and a taxpayer-funded jumbo jet take note. 'Nuff said!"
- Bruno Machiavelli, Impresario,
Il Teatro Machiavelli

Seems vs. Is

"A prince should appear upon seeing and hearing him, to be all mercy, all faithfulness, all integrity, all kindness, all religion. And there is nothing more necessary than to seem to possess this last quality...(E)veryone sees what you seem to be, few perceive what you are, and those few do not dare to contradict the opinion of the many who have the majesty of the state to defend them."

--Niccoló Machiavelli


My faith sustains me because I pray daily. I pray for guidance and wisdom and strength. If we were to commit our troops -- if we were to commit our troops -- I would pray for their safety, and I would pray for the safety of innocent Iraqi lives, as well.

One thing that's really great about our country... is there are thousands of people who pray for me that I'll never see and be able to thank. But it's a humbling experience to think that people I will never have met have lifted me and my family up in prayer. And for that I'm grateful. That's -- it's been -- it's been a comforting feeling to know that is true. I pray for peace.
George W. Bush
3/6/03

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/03/20030306-8.html

"I trust God speaks through me. Without that, I couldn’t do my job."
George W. Bush
7/9/04

Reported by the Lancaster New Era on July 16, 2004, during a private meeting with an Amish group
http://lancasteronline.com/pages/news/local/4/7564


And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
Matthew 6:5-7 (King James Version)

Honesty

"One sees from the experience of our times that the princes who have
accomplished great deeds are those who have cared little for keeping
their promises and who have known how to manipulate the minds of men by
shrewdness; and in the end they have surpassed those who laid their
foundations upon honesty."

"Let a prince have the credit of conquering and holding his state, the
means will always be considered honest, and he will be praised by
everybody; because the vulgar are always taken by appearances and by
the issue of the event; and in the world there are only the vulgar, and
the few who are not vulgar are isolated when the many have a rallying
point in the prince."

--Niccoló Machiavelli

"Why of course the people don't want war ... But after all it is the
leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it is always a
simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a
fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship
...Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding
of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to convince them
they are under attack, and denounce the pacifists for lack of
patriotism and exposing the country to danger."

-- Hermann Goering, at the Nuremberg Trials after World War II


<http://www.prwatch.org/prwissues/>
http://www.blackboxvoting.org/
http://csmonitor.com/specials/neocon/index.html
http://www.bushgreenwatch.org/
http://www.bushlies.com/
http://www.truthout.org/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi/9/4360