"SOMETHING IS ROTTEN IN THE STATE OF DENMARK!"

Words spoken by Marcellus in Shakespeare's Hamlet voice his conviction that the reign of King Claudius had ushered in a time of moral and political corruption, although the king himself had originally cut a monarchical figure and had possessed all of the superficial characteristics of a ruler.  Somehow, I cannot help but draw parallels between Claudius and the present occupant of the White House.

During the recent shutdown, which by the way affected only 17% of government, it became crystal clear that there was a dichotomy of enforcement, which was defined by political considerations.  For example, World War II veterans originally encountered barriers upon attempting to visit the monument to their sacrifice of 70 years ago, while National Park personnel were under orders to allow an immigration demonstration on the National Mall, never mind the fact that there is virtually nothing to do for park personnel in keeping a monument "open."  Obviously, our veterans do not rate as highly as illegal immigrants in the minds of the leftist oligarchy now in power in our nation's capital.

Like King Claudius, President Obama dazzled his onlookers with original promise that would remain unfulfilled.  In Obama's case, statements that rang with the "audacity of  hope" have resonated hollowly from the mendacity of the one who uttered them.  As examples, the following may prove enlightening:

1.  Obamacare:  The law will save the average family $2,500 each year.

2.  Obamacare:  If you like your present medical plan and your present doctor, you will not have to change.

3.  Obamacare:  The process will be open and transparent.

4. NSA:  American citizens will not be wiretapped illegally.

5. Government bailout of financial institutions:  Every dime will be recovered, with interest.

6.  Budget:  The deficit will be halved.

7.  Same-sex marriage:  The Defense of Marriage Act will be supported.

8.  ACORN:  He never really had anything to do with the organization.

9.  Guantanamo:  The base will be closed.

10. Taxes:  Those earning less than $200,000 annually will not be subject to an increased tax load.

Many voted for Obama in 2008 under the false premise that he would unify the country. But the nation has been divided as never before.  Most would agree that their president should be a mediator and an arbitrator.  However, in the recent Congressional stalemate over the budget, our president did not deign to moderate or compromise.  In fact, he was missing in action as partisanship prevailed, and Congress divided along party lines.  Never in memory had a president presented such an aloof image in a like situation.

On the international scene, the Russian president is now seen as a much more dynamic force than the American leader.  As a result, the few allies of America in the Middle East are now scrambling to rethink their alliances.  And Americans are wondering how it could ever have been conceivable that their country could support an insurrection in Syria controlled by jihadists and Islamists.  Is the foreign policy concocted in Washington on almost a daily basis the result of incompetence or design?

And, finally, lest we forget, this administration has been marked by the tendency of the IRS to be used as a bully-boy against political enemies, the lying and deceit of the Benghazi disaster and the inability or reluctance of the Justice Department to explain how thousands of American firearms were forwarded to Mexican drug cartels.  If Americans are not disturbed by these instances of questionable governmental ethics, then there is something very wrong with the body politic.

Yes, dear readers, it may be that America has reached the nadir of its political decline.  Just as Marcellus saw a reign that fostered moral corruption and deterioration, we are witnessing that things have gotten out of hand in Washington; and, indeed, something is very rotten in the state of America.