Here's the legend of King Canute, a wise monarch who knew that his power was limited.
Long ago, England was ruled by a king named Canute. Like many leaders and men of power, Canute was surrounded by people who were always praising him. Every time he walked into a room, the flattery began.
"You are the greatest man that ever lived," one would say.
"O king, there can never be another as mighty as you," another would insist.
"Your highness, there is nothing you cannot do," someone would smile.
"Great Canute, you are the monarch of all," another would sing. "Nothing in this world dares to disobey you."
The king was a man of sense, and he grew tired of hearing such foolish speeches.
One day he was walking by the seashore, and his officers and courtiers were with him, praising him as usual. Canute decided to teach them a lesson.
"So you say I am the greatest man in the world?" he asked them.
"O king," they cried, "there never has been anyone as mighty as you, and there never be anyone so great, ever again!"
"And you say all things obey me?" Canute asked.
"Absolutely!" they said. "The world bows before you, and gives you honor."
"I see," the king answered. "In that case, bring me my chair, and we will go down to the water."
"At once, your majesty!" They scrambled to carry his royal chair over the sands.
"Bring it closer to the sea," Canute called. "Put it right here, right at the water's edge." He sat down and surveyed the ocean before him. "I notice the tide is coming in. Do you think it will stop if I give the command?"
His officers were puzzled, but they did not dare say no. "Give the order, O great king, and it will obey," one of then assured him.
"Very well. Sea," cried Canute, "I command you to come no further! Waves, stop your rolling!. Surf, stop your pounding! Do not dare touch my feet!"
He waited a moment, quietly, and a tiny wave rushed up the sand and lapped at his feet.
"How dare you!" Canute shouted. "Ocean, turn back now! I have ordered you to retreat before me, and now you must obey! Go back!"
And in answer another wave swept forward and curled around the king's feet. The tide came in, just as it always did. The water rose higher and higher. It came up around the king's chair, and wet not only his feet, but also his robe. His officers stood before him, alarmed, and wondering whether he was not mad.
"Well, my friends," Canute said, "it seems I do not have quite so much power as you would have me believe. Perhaps you have learned something today. Perhaps now you will remember there is only one King who is all-powerful, and it is he who rules the sea, and holds the ocean in the hollow of his hand. I suggest you reserve your praises for him."
Cool story, right? You could say that it's about the limits of power. It's a warning about flattery. One could also claim that it's a cautionary tale outlining the difference between a decree and an accomplishment. Just because the king says it's gonna happen doesn't mean it's gonna happen.
Flash forward a thousand years. Here's Obama courtier and flatterer-in-chief Debbie Wasserman Schultz on yesterday's Meet The Depressed, as outlined by the great Ann Althouse:
On "Meet the Press" today:
Hell, let's issue a "standard" on business efficiency. From now on, no businesses can lose money. They must all be efficient. Just send out an executive order from the Royal Desk Of The Community Organizer.
Dammit, I think he should issue a standard, put in a royal guideline, and send forth a decree on poverty. From now on, all Americans must earn at least 30K per year. Write down the decree, have it stamped and sealed, and make it so.
If Obama can send out a Papal Encyclical that declares the only acceptable average is 56 miles per gallon, why stop there? Why doesn't he jot down a quick little memo about his desire to fuel Air Force One with nothing but algae, good will, and fairy farts? According to Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, his deeds and desires are one and the same. Make it so, Barack. Please make it so.
You eventually have to ask yourself....Does Debbie Wasserman Schultz really believe this mess? Probably.
Does King Barack really believe that he can wave his mighty hand and have the tides recede? Or have all vehicles average 56 miles per gallon?
No. Listen carefully for 45 seconds. This is the often-ridiculed speech about government's ability to make the oceans recede. What he's really saying is this...."If the oceans don't recede, it's your fault. If auto makers can't average 56 miles per gallon with their vehicles, they're just too dumb to fulfill King Barry's objectives."
All we have to do is dedicate the rest of our lives to accomplishing this pathetic little dude's desires.
Long ago, England was ruled by a king named Canute. Like many leaders and men of power, Canute was surrounded by people who were always praising him. Every time he walked into a room, the flattery began.
"You are the greatest man that ever lived," one would say.
"O king, there can never be another as mighty as you," another would insist.
"Your highness, there is nothing you cannot do," someone would smile.
"Great Canute, you are the monarch of all," another would sing. "Nothing in this world dares to disobey you."
The king was a man of sense, and he grew tired of hearing such foolish speeches.
One day he was walking by the seashore, and his officers and courtiers were with him, praising him as usual. Canute decided to teach them a lesson.
"So you say I am the greatest man in the world?" he asked them.
"O king," they cried, "there never has been anyone as mighty as you, and there never be anyone so great, ever again!"
"And you say all things obey me?" Canute asked.
"Absolutely!" they said. "The world bows before you, and gives you honor."
"I see," the king answered. "In that case, bring me my chair, and we will go down to the water."
"At once, your majesty!" They scrambled to carry his royal chair over the sands.
"Bring it closer to the sea," Canute called. "Put it right here, right at the water's edge." He sat down and surveyed the ocean before him. "I notice the tide is coming in. Do you think it will stop if I give the command?"
His officers were puzzled, but they did not dare say no. "Give the order, O great king, and it will obey," one of then assured him.
"Very well. Sea," cried Canute, "I command you to come no further! Waves, stop your rolling!. Surf, stop your pounding! Do not dare touch my feet!"
He waited a moment, quietly, and a tiny wave rushed up the sand and lapped at his feet.
"How dare you!" Canute shouted. "Ocean, turn back now! I have ordered you to retreat before me, and now you must obey! Go back!"
And in answer another wave swept forward and curled around the king's feet. The tide came in, just as it always did. The water rose higher and higher. It came up around the king's chair, and wet not only his feet, but also his robe. His officers stood before him, alarmed, and wondering whether he was not mad.
"Well, my friends," Canute said, "it seems I do not have quite so much power as you would have me believe. Perhaps you have learned something today. Perhaps now you will remember there is only one King who is all-powerful, and it is he who rules the sea, and holds the ocean in the hollow of his hand. I suggest you reserve your praises for him."
Cool story, right? You could say that it's about the limits of power. It's a warning about flattery. One could also claim that it's a cautionary tale outlining the difference between a decree and an accomplishment. Just because the king says it's gonna happen doesn't mean it's gonna happen.
Flash forward a thousand years. Here's Obama courtier and flatterer-in-chief Debbie Wasserman Schultz on yesterday's Meet The Depressed, as outlined by the great Ann Althouse:
On "Meet the Press" today:
It would take 45 years if the Keystone Pipeline were in place, to produce as much oil as President Obama's policy to — on fuel efficiency standards for American automobiles would in increasing those over the next few years.David Gregory presses her: "So President Clinton had it wrong when he encouraged President Obama to get behind (the Keystone Pipeline)?" And with a second shot, she makes the point more clearly:
It would take 45 years to produce out of oil shale from the Keystone Pipeline as much oil as we save in the increase in fuel efficiency standards from President Obama's policy that would be implemented by the middle of the next decade.Is it really that simple? All King Barry O'Bama of Hyde Park has to do is issue a policy, and the vehicles become more efficient? They'll suddenly get 56 miles per gallon?
Hell, let's issue a "standard" on business efficiency. From now on, no businesses can lose money. They must all be efficient. Just send out an executive order from the Royal Desk Of The Community Organizer.
Dammit, I think he should issue a standard, put in a royal guideline, and send forth a decree on poverty. From now on, all Americans must earn at least 30K per year. Write down the decree, have it stamped and sealed, and make it so.
If Obama can send out a Papal Encyclical that declares the only acceptable average is 56 miles per gallon, why stop there? Why doesn't he jot down a quick little memo about his desire to fuel Air Force One with nothing but algae, good will, and fairy farts? According to Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, his deeds and desires are one and the same. Make it so, Barack. Please make it so.
You eventually have to ask yourself....Does Debbie Wasserman Schultz really believe this mess? Probably.
Does King Barack really believe that he can wave his mighty hand and have the tides recede? Or have all vehicles average 56 miles per gallon?
No. Listen carefully for 45 seconds. This is the often-ridiculed speech about government's ability to make the oceans recede. What he's really saying is this...."If the oceans don't recede, it's your fault. If auto makers can't average 56 miles per gallon with their vehicles, they're just too dumb to fulfill King Barry's objectives."
All we have to do is dedicate the rest of our lives to accomplishing this pathetic little dude's desires.
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