Machiavelli, Clinton, Obama and the Resistance

Clinton quoted Machiavelli at the Gridiron club's annual dinner, filling in for Obama who was otherwise occupied with the healthcare reform effort . The words of Machiavelli are quite appropriate at this moment, in this day and age.

"We must bear in mind, then, that there is nothing more difficult and dangerous, or more doubtful of success, than an attempt to introduce a new order of things in any state. For the innovator has for enemies all those who derived advantages from the old order of things, whilst those who expect to be benefited by the new institutions will be but lukewarm defenders. This indifference arises in part from fear of their adversaries who were favoured by the existing laws, and partly from the incredulity of men who have no faith in anything new that is not the result of well-established experience. Hence it is that, whenever the opponents of the new order of things have the opportunity to attack it, they will do it with the zeal of partisans, whilst the others defend it but feebly, so that it is dangerous to rely upon the latter.'' 

(Niccolò Machiavelli, The Prince)

 Obama has beaten, for now, the Machiavellian mindset.