One thing about this "imperial presidency" nonsense

All one has to do is to read any elementary school textbook of American History, let alone the words of our founding citizens to realize that our first and founding war was fought not only against a king but against ALL kings, ALL monarchs and ALL despots, not only then, but forever and ever! Our system of governance was designed expressly to prevent the sort of tyranny human beings had emigrated to these shores to escape. To twist the words of our constitution to defend ANY other belief is a betrayal of the very foundations of the democratic and republican struggle that is the history of this nation. This fact is not open to interpretation or argument. Period!

that it is valuable to ignores.

...without risking suspicion of sedition:

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots
and tyrants." -- Thomas Jefferson

Feel nervous just reading that statement here? That's a good barometer of how far we've fallen.

As Ben Franklin predicted: "This constitution will fail, as others have before it, and that will be due to the corruption of the people, for whom in the end only despotism will serve."

"As Ben Franklin predicted: "This constitution will fail, as others have before it, and that will be due to the corruption of the people, for whom in the end only despotism will serve.""

Has the time finally arrived for this?

or rather, those who use the word too frequently.

Personally, I feel that a hearty "fuck you" directed at any who propose that inherent civil rights or basic principles of representative democracy are questions up for partisan debate is an effective and appropriate response to such parties. If it's an FBI agent, be a little circumspect in your phrasing maybe, but it's the thought that counts.

The choice we face then is whether we will coddle our little natures and indulge them, or with a gentle but firm hand make our inner child grow up into an inner adult, and become independent human beings instead of facilitators of corruption, both within ourselves and within our world.

Looking for leaders and heroes is a transaction whereby we agree to give adulation and also our autonomy to another person in return for that person relieving us of responsibility for some part of our lives. There is always a cost for that sort of service rendered.

Yes, the Founders were caught up in the excitement of the discovery that the King bleeds too and that there was a mystifying lack of physical evidence for divine right or the legitimacy of absolute monarchy. Further, the Reformation was only some 250 years away. The fresh air blowing through the civilized world at that time must have been refreshing - we could use some of that now.