The documentary on Roger provides the essential background for why the body politic is acting the way it does today (2017). It is partially balanced by understanding the idea of the political hallucinations (see Groundhogs), but I would include McCain’s recent (perhaps last) presentation to his fellow Senators that will go down in history as the, “we should stop acting like a-holes” speech. In the meantime, while waiting to see if Congress will get back to “regular order”, the following is our take on Roger’s rules that are getting us into this mess.
- Fake sincerity or get nowhere in politics
- Politics isn’t theater. it is performance art for its own sake.
- White shirt + tan face = confidence
- Open multiple fronts on your enemy
- Confused and beset on every side.
- Praise ’em before you hit ’em
- Admit nothing, deny everything, launch a counterattack
- Nobody ever built a statue to a committee
- Avoid obviousness
- Never do anything till you’re ready to do it.
- Always keep the advantage.
- Hate is a stronger motivator than love.
- He who speaks first will lose.
- Attack, attack, attack, never defend.
- Folks want government out of the bedroom and the boardroom.
- Lay low, play dumb, keep moving.
- To win do everything. Nothing is on the level.
- There are more, lots more.
Niccolò Machiavelli/Quotes
It is better to be feared than loved if you cannot be both.
Men judge generally more by the eye than by the hand, for everyone can see and few can feel.
Every one sees what you appear to be, few really know what you are.
Politics have no relation to morals.