wkmac,
I don't agree with your statement: "Like Rome, we have seen our zenith and must endure our corrupt Ceasars and a powerless Senate while we wait on the Goths and VisaGoths to sack what will be left of us in the end!"
That sounds defeatist to me. I would think that perhaps the best thing to do would be to overthrow those who are corrupt and seize power in the legislature. There is a national election in a few months, and every seat in Congress is up for grabs. Now would be the time to throw the bums out and start anew. There really are some fresh faces running for Congress around the country, many of them veterans of our recent attempt at 'nation building', or region building as some of the party faithful refer to it.
I believe GWB said this in 2000:
The vice president and I have a disagreement about the use of troops. He believes in nation building. I would be very careful about using our troops as nation builders. I believe the role of the military is to fight and win war and therefore prevent war from happening in the first place. So I would take my responsibility seriously. And it starts with making sure we rebuild our military power. Morale in today's military is too low. We're having trouble meeting recruiting goals. We met the goals this year, but in the previous years we have not met recruiting goals. Some of our troops are not well-equipped. I believe we're overextended in too many places.
I see he has changed his mind on the nation building thing, but hasnt changed much of anything else. Thats why its time for a change, and another reason why a judge who would strengthen the Executive branch should be opposed. I'm reasonably sure Alito is an honest man, but his views on the Constitution could do irreparable harm to our Republic.