It takes someone like me given to whimsy and flights of fancy at times to wonder what would happen if Ms. Clinton died, and of course an assassination would be dramatic. Apart from those few that might personally mourn her passing, the political scene would certainly turn dramatically interesting as Democrats could draft Al Gore, appealing to his sense of patriotism to turn away from saving the world to saving America. And of course, an Oscar and Nobel on his resume would certainly lend stature to the presidency, notwithstanding legitimate criticism still nothing to be sneezed at. Perhaps Al Gore’s ego will get the better of him, as it has with so many others. If he was Roman Catholic he might believe sainthood within his reach, but failing that he may settle for the presidency.

While I might wish Ms. Clinton would just simply disappear, it remains a curiosity to me that Caesar Bush remains alive despite the many millions that hate him worldwide and wish him dead. Such a thing brought to mind my belief that the Devil makes mistakes. From the accounts in the Bible God is reported to have made mistakes, so why not the Devil? For example, after choosing them David and Solomon both disappointed God, so perhaps Hitler disappointed Satan. The Devil may have had more ambitious plans for Hitler, but Hitler succumbing to his own power may have become “unmanageable,” as so often seems the case with those having great power.

My good friend Byron, the Episcopal priest, stopped by yesterday and we were discussing various issues of the day when the conversation turned to some of the stupid things even brilliant people do. He knows my writing; and given to metaphysical speculation as I am, he knows I speculate about the possible errors God made in the Creation, this being characteristic of all those possessed of artistic and scientific creativity. So when I began to speculate Satan had made errors as well, it came as no surprise to him.

The basis of such metaphysical speculation on my part has to do with the assumption that both God and Satan have to work with the material at hand in the case of human beings. While the Bible records instances of the Holy Spirit coming upon individuals, even indwelling some, so the Bible records instances of Satan and demonic spirits entering some. Satan entered Judas, and while he got Judas to betray Jesus, the outcome wasn’t what Satan anticipated according to the Bible. So, it seems Satan erred in his choice of how to get the job done. But if we are to give any credence to the Bible, we must allow both God and Satan are limited by their choices of the human material they have to work with. And as with earthly parents, there are no guarantees concerning their children. Some will be saints, and some will be devils. But we may never know at any given time which we are dealing with, or what will be the outcome.

I speculate no matter how good the person may be, very few can be trusted with power and riches. The old story of power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely remains all too true. Satan may grant power and riches to those that do his bidding, but as with all tyrants he has no one he can trust. Eventually his servants, given enough power, will begin to disappoint the Evil One. As they begin to think more like their master, they begin to assume their own power and authority and use it to their own purposes.

But whether any credit there being a God or Satan or not, here in America we are suffering under a leadership that has proven it feels no obligation to We the People. These leaders have the power and the authority, and it has corrupted them. Because of this if Caesar Bush decides to go out in a blaze of glory by bombing Iran with the probability of truly starting WWIII in nuclear earnest there is virtually no one to stand in his way. Those that might be disposed to oppose him are too corrupt themselves to thwart Caesar’s purpose; and aside from that many good people believe the circumstances already set in motion are leading to no other viable option.

We read and hear Iraqi militants are feeding on corruption; and why not since they have those like Cheney and Halliburton as role models. Cook the books and lose a billion here, a billion there and it makes no difference whether in Iraq or our own Congress. Michael Corleone was correct in calling Kay naive to think the Mafia operated any differently than the government. However, since I am more than a little inclined to believe both God and Satan must rely on human instrumentality, and humans being both fallible and unpredictable in too many cases, it might explain why otherwise very intelligent people do really stupid things.

Much like the sheer stupidity, to be charitable, of Nancy Pelosi and her sponsors regarding the Armenian genocide debacle and the majority in the MSM turning illegal aliens into “immigrants,” J. K. Rowling has forfeited her chance at literary greatness. “Just when you thought it was safe to immerse kids in books about witchcraft, J.K. Rowling has to succumb to political correctness and ‘out’ Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Dumbledore...”

As a literary person and one well qualified academically, a writer and author of books it is my place to judge other writers and authors. While I have commended the genius of Rowling providing children so much to fire their imaginations, I really don’t believe she caved to political correctness. Many talented people, even those of rare genius are capable of doing really stupid things. I believe this is what happened to Rowling; a moment of temporary insanity if you will. Unfortunately, it is not something she can recover from. She has made the declaration and there is no going back from it. Some mistakes remain forever beyond correcting.

The word “perversion” remains in dictionaries, and no amount of fame and fortune will change the dictionary definition of perversion. Rowling has allowed a pervert to subvert her work to her detriment and that of millions of readers; and this at a time when so much media attention is finally being given to the perverts preying on children, the target audience of Ms. Rowling; the children who have made her so successful.

No one doubts Ms. Pelosi is a very intelligent and well educated person, but the sheer stupidity of her espousing a genocide declaration against Turkey when that nation’s cooperation is sorely needed by America defies reason. Such things left those like Emerson, Thoreau, Lincoln and many others wondering whether many seemingly good works were of God or the Devil. And in how many instances has even the best of intentions of some been turned to evil because of unintended consequences; which gives me pause to wonder if either God or Satan fully understands the consequences of their actions and choices. At least the Greeks were willing to accord their gods and goddesses the frailties and uncertainties common to humankind. So yes, as long as I have already been consigned to the outer reaches of perdition beyond redemption by orthodox believers of every kind I admit I can imagine both God and Satan slapping their heads and saying as I have done so many times myself, “How could I have done something that dumb!”

But when it comes to mythology, for me looking back it seems the America I was born into and grew up in was a fairytale, and had I not lived it I understand how it seems a fairytale now to many who never knew such an America, and when my generation is gone it may pass into legend creating its own mythology with the passing of time. But for there to be any future America at all presumes a leadership that will put the interests of our nation before that of its own, a leadership that will cease nationalizing debt while privatizing profits which at present seems only a fairytale wish.