Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe Rise of Commodus II
The Gladiator Games of the American Caesar
Charlie Angus / The Resistance
Jun 17
"When Aelius Lampridius set out to write a history of Caesar Augustus, he had nothing positive to say about the reign of Commodus:
Even from his earliest years, he was base and dishonorable, cruel and lewd, defiled of mouth, moreover, and debauched.
Augustus founded the Roman Empire after the destruction of the Republic. The belief was that a strongman ruler would bring order out of the chaos of the Republican government. In the end, it gave the power to the likes of Nero, Caligula and Commodus.
I found this quote over a year ago as I was trying to make sense of the Trump ascendency. It seemed to so perfectly encapsulate the story of Donald Trump. I had been writing about Trumps gangster nature and his growing fascist tendencies, but there was something else about his reign that stood out from other spin dictators. I called him the new Commodus because he relished the spectacle of cruelty and humiliation."
https://charlieangus.substack.com/p/the-gladiator-games-of-the-american
4 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
The Rise of Commodus II (Original Post)
Disaffected
9 hrs ago
OP
Blue Owl
(59,915 posts)1. All Hail, Commodus!

Kid Berwyn
(25,391 posts)3. Emperor likes everything golden.
Even his showers.
Kid Berwyn
(25,391 posts)2. Like Allen Dulles said about JFK after the assassination...
That little Kennedy, he thought he was a god.
harumph
(3,499 posts)4. More like "Toiletus"
Caesar Toiletus -
Rex stercore