The "Ruler" Is Ready

Monarchies and dictatorships have rulers. Representative republics like the United States have governors...at least until January 20th:

The co-chair of Barack Obama's Transition Team, Valerie Jarrett, appeared on Meet the Press this weekend and used, shall we say, an interesting word to described what she thinks Barack Obama will be doing in January when he's officially sworn into office. She told Tom Brokaw that Obama will be ready to "rule" on day one. It's a word that reflects the worst fears that people have for Obama the "arrogant," the "messiah," that imagines he's here to "rule" instead of govern.

Jarret told Brokaw that "given the daunting challenges that we face, it's important that president elect Obama is prepared to really take power and begin to rule day one."

The term "ruler" implies someone who has singular authority to make and enforce the law. Such is not the case in the United States, though that distinction may be lost on the new administration which will have a Congress full of toadies.

By the way, the person making that "ruler" statement is Obama's choice to replace him in the Senate.