2008 as 1812, courtesy of Leo (Tolstoy):

Napoleon, the “outsider,” rises up to overthrow the established order and capture the imagination of France, and then all of Europe. He positions himself as a “reformer,” but is in fact an outgrowth of the political machine that seized control of the Revolution. As he destroys the enemies of France, the conquered aristocracies throw their support behind him, and he emerges as the Emperor, the One who will unify the civilized world.

But Russia stands athwart history, and refuses to bend. Napoleon’s might seems irresistible, but in his way is a crusty old warrior, Michael Iliarionovich Kutuzov. Kutuzov is a man from another time, long ago; a time of honor, heroism, and country. He carries the physical wounds of campaigns long ago, but he has the heart of a lion. He is picked by the Tsar to lead the Russian army against Napoleon, while the fate of the nation lies on the edge of a knife.

Knowing that his nation is in a moment of weakness (in fact, many Russian aristocrats begin rooting for Napoleon to win), he does his best to avoid engaging the great Frenchman, and instead draws the French army into the heart of Mother Russia. At first he is roundly criticized for his bumbling and star-crossed organization. His “strategy” emerges: a full-scale retreat. The Emperor enters Moscow triumphantly.

C’est moi! he shouts. Je suis l’etat, je suis Russe! He leads his conquering army into Moscow, with his insufferably pompous associate Murat, the “King of Naples.” But there is no one there to cheer him on; the great city is a “queenless hive.” Within weeks, Moscow is burning and it is the French who are in full retreat. The “great man” is exposed as an empty suit, and the Russian army hounds him out of Russia, then Europe, and finally into exile.

But what Napoleon did not realize is that he lost the war weeks before entering Moscow, at the Battle of Borodino. There, the mortal blow was delivered by a division led by Prince Bagration, a brilliant military leader from the exotic hinterlands. Napoleon and Murat, in spite of their reputation and superior numbers, are beaten by a rube, a man of action, a fighter who would not give up when all seemed lost.

Tonight, the role of Prince Bagration was reprised by Sarah Palin. The knife was inserted, and the critical artery was cut clean. And while Obama’s momentum will carry him forward for another 60 days, make no mistake about it: the war is over. The rest is Epilogue.

L3