The United States needs a new beginning. It cannot lie in the Tudor-Stuart-like alternation of the Bush-Clinton dynasties, nor in the macho militarism of Republicans who see war without end. It has to involve a fresh face that will reconcile the country with itself and the world, get over divisions — internal and external — and speak with honesty about American glory and shame. ~Roger Cohen
All right, Roger Cohen likes Obama, but what is this business about the “Tudor-Stuart alternation” of dynasties? Isn’t Roger Cohen from Britain? Wouldn’t he know that the Tudors and Stuarts did not alternate? Apparently not. One followed the other, and the latter came to power over both Scotland and England because there was no heir for the former (i.e., the Tudors–apologies for any confusion). The Bushes and Clintons are nothing like the Tudors and Stuarts in this or in any other way. Whatever else you might say about Cohen’s column, its historical parallels could use some work.
2 comments
Comments feed for this article
December 8th, 2007 at 6:59 am
Grumpy Old Man
Palaiologoi and Kantakuzeni?
December 9th, 2007 at 2:56 pm
Daniel Larison
At least there would be alternation there after a fashion. But in that case it would technically be two dynasties simultaneously holding power with John VI and John V officially ruling as co-emperors. I have used the Komnenoi and Angeloi as a loose comparison once in the past, but they did not alternate, either, unless you count the great John the Fat as the last Komnenos grab for power. I would not. York and Lancaster don’t really work that well, either.