The American Caesar

Originally posted by AThousandYoung
After WWII, was there a returning general who could have been analogous to Julius Caesar under slightly different circumstances, or is there a fundamental difference in the two Republics prohibiting this?

haha u r an idiot this is america land of the free we dont have caesars or dicktaters

Originally posted by Melanerpes
For pretty much all of the past century, the US has been extremely prosperous and one of the world's top powers (if not THE top power). This sort of thing tends to produce a strong consensus that the system is sound. Even during times of political divisiveness and seeming mass cynicism (like we have now), almost no one has seriously wanted to see the kind ...[text shortened]... g to return America to its past glory while calling for the slaughter of some scapegoat group.

I'd like to think that if an American Caesar were to establish himself against the [Senate's] will (as Caesar did), that we would not have to wait 5 years for him to be assassinated (44 BC). Americans are more impatient than that -- and we have more FIREARMS at hand.

Of course, what would happen afterwards is open to question.

Originally posted by joneschr
OK, so if any American general would have been inclined to become an American Caesar (if given the possibility) who would it be? Any timeframe, but lets rule out Civil war.

I'm thinking Patton.

Three American Presidents have held the highest ranking position in uniform prior to being elected: Washington, Grant and Eisenhower. I wish you had not excluded the Civil War as I think Col. Custer may have had a large enough ego to have been a Ceaser. LOL I would nominate Gen George S. Patton jr but, He saw himself as a warrior only (in his life at that time and several other life times in the past).

Originally posted by expuddlepirate
Three American Presidents have held the highest ranking position in uniform prior to being elected: Washington, Grant and Eisenhower. I wish you had not excluded the Civil War as I think Col. Custer may have had a large enough ego to have been a Ceaser. LOL I would nominate Gen George S. Patton jr but, He saw himself as a warrior only (in his life at that time and several other life times in the past).

He thought he was Napoleon reborn.

Originally posted by expuddlepirate
I wish you had not excluded the Civil War as I think Col. Custer may have had a large enough ego to have been a Ceaser.

He didn't really have any claim to being a 'great' general though, did he?