December 21, 2010

Oliver Cromwell Would Have Known What to Do with the 111th Congress

"An immovable parliament is more obnoxious than an immovable king."

Oliver Cromwell -- The Dissolution of the Long Parliament, 1653

"You are no more capable of running the affairs of this nation than you are of running a brothel. It is high time for me to put an end to your sitting in this place, which you have dishonoured by your contempt of all virtue, and defiled by your practice of every vice; ye are a factious crew, and enemies to all good government; ye are a pack of mercenary wretches, and would like Esau sell your country for a mess of pottage, and like Judas betray your God for a few pieces of money.

"Is there a single virtue now remaining amongst you? Is there one vice you do not possess? Ye have no more religion than my horse; gold is your God; which of you have not barter'd your conscience for bribes? Is there a man amongst you that has the least care for the good of the Commonwealth?

"Ye sordid prostitutes have you not defil'd this sacred place, and turn'd the Lord's temple into a den of thieves, by your immoral principles and wicked practices? Ye are grown intolerably odious to the whole nation; you were deputed here by the people to get grievances redress'd, are yourselves gone! So! Take away that shining bauble there, and lock up the doors.

"In the name of God, go!"

Posted by Vanderleun at December 21, 2010 10:23 PM
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"It is impossible to speak in such a way that you cannot be misunderstood." -- Karl Popper N.B.: Comments are moderated and may not appear immediately. Comments that exceed the obscenity or stupidity limits will be either edited or expunged.

Interestingly enough, the only monument to Cromwell in London is on the grounds of the Houses of Parliament.

Posted by: Fat Man at December 22, 2010 4:19 AM

High time. But there's nothing wrong with the 111th Congress that torches, pitchforks, tar, & feathers wouldn't fix . . .

Posted by: Punditarian at December 22, 2010 4:45 AM

There are more than sufficient lamp posts on the Avenue to give each their condign place.
To give them the memorial they so seek, we may put a small plaque listing their date of dishonor.

Posted by: Vermont Woodchuck at December 22, 2010 4:54 AM

We might be lucky enough to have a congressman willing to stand up to congress with language that fiery and eloquent in the person of Allen West. Too bad he wouldn't have the power to have congress dissolved and both houses removed by physical violence. That's a fantasy I could savor all day long.

Posted by: Jewel at December 22, 2010 6:09 AM

Hey, wait a minute! Just because the Senate Majority leader communes with a two-bit guinea whore on matters-of-state and a cadaverous, botoxed wreck carrying an oversized mallet has imploded the House doesn't justify you . . . .

Uhhh . . . oh . . .wait . . .

OK, I'll grab some darning needles and put on a silly bonnet and grab me a front-row seat while youze guyz have at it with these costumed hyenas.

Posted by: Don Rodrigo at December 22, 2010 10:27 AM

I misread Jewel's comment and thought he said "Adam West". Now, that would be interesting.

Posted by: StephenB at December 22, 2010 11:26 AM

It would be progress instead of vexation were we to understand what the Founders understood very well, that this is in fact the natural state of Congress since well before Cromwell, and to control it is to constrain it in tight boundaries and limitations. It would take a son-of-a-bitch indeed to end this show, and then we can take on new diseases. Or, we could actually take advantage of the experience of our past. Nah.

Posted by: james wilson at December 22, 2010 11:27 AM

Stephen, Yes, we need Batman, now more than ever.

Posted by: Jewel at December 22, 2010 11:59 AM

I think we should replace Congress with me as King.

One of my first acts as King would be to make litigation-happy lawyers wear boxer shorts on their heads at all times, but especially in court.

If any of the rest of you were King, what manner of decrees would you pass?

Posted by: Don Rodrigo at December 22, 2010 12:00 PM

Good Lord, what a fantasy! Even thinking about it is dangerous... Borders on sedition with this Justice Department. Imagine cleaning that rats nest out, and then drafting middle-class Americans into Congress...

No law degrees allowed.

Posted by: Captain Dave at December 22, 2010 12:02 PM

Sunlight is supposed to be the best disinfectant, but I'm willing to try something involving fire.

Posted by: Jewel at December 22, 2010 12:05 PM

Which includes but isn't limited to lasers, flame throwers and firing squads.

Posted by: Jewel at December 22, 2010 12:06 PM

Gerard, I shamelessly copied this text and emailed it to my two RHINO senators: Chambliss and Isakson. I especially chastised Isakson for his traitorous START vote.

Congress: bastards all. Not a stateman in entire septic tank.

Posted by: twolaneflash at December 22, 2010 3:22 PM

Palin/West 2012.

Posted by: rickl at December 22, 2010 8:20 PM

...It would take a son-of-a-bitch indeed to end this show...

The Lord Protector was all of that and more. He had his flaws, lots of them, but lack of courage wasn't one of them.

Posted by: waltj at December 23, 2010 4:33 AM

Cromwell ended up as a dictator, but that's a ringing good speech, and mighty satisfying.

Posted by: rickl at December 23, 2010 3:23 PM

If you can't lead a squad to a brothel - well!

Posted by: Mikey NTH at December 26, 2010 8:24 PM