Re: "Strauss was a philosopher, not a political scientist, who focused on the classics (esp. Plato) but who was infuenced by Germans who also influenced Hitler's thinking including Nietsche and Heidegger."
Seeming mavericks like PAGLIA, NIETZSCHE, STRAUSS, and CHEENEE's guru Victor Davis HANSON---------are less mysterious if the first level of seeing them is in the context of their common background, the CLASSICS DEPARTMENT ("philology" in NIETZSCHE's case), NOT that STRAUSS was "influenced" by NIETZSCHE, but that ALL of these people immersed themselves in the pre-Christian values, where physical vitality (brute force) had its place, where (later-)Christian virtues like "humility" were seen as WEAKNESSES, and "pride" was fucking-A, more like today's "gloating". It's not PAGLIA or HANSON or STRAUSS being derivative from NIETZSCHE, it's all of them, including NIETZSCHE being Classicists, soaking up the 'tudes and values of the Ancients, wannaBE an Ancient actually.
I doubt that HITLER's "thinking" was influenced by such as NIETZSCHE, whose unintellectual sister sold him at the crude level of her misunderstanding of him, on the basis of a "proto-Nazi" when his mind was gone and he was unable to speak for himself. The Nazis were LOOKING BACK to find historical justifications, the same way CHEENEE looked to HANSON to find historical precedents for the PNAC goals and the Iraq attack----not being INFLUENCED proactively.
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http://www.poplyrics.net/waiguo/soundtrack/funnythinghappened/010.htmA Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum Soundtrack Lyrics
Bring Me My Bride (I, Miles Gloriosus)
(Sondheim)
....(Miles)
"Stand aside, everyone! I take large steps! ....We not only fought but we won, too!
....(Soldiers)
Look at those arms! Look at that chest! Look at them!
(Miles)
Not to mention the rest! Even I am impressed!
....I am my ideal!
....I, Miles Gloriousus Him, Miles Gloriousus
I, paragon of virtues Him, paragon of virtues
....I, in war the most admired
In wit the most inspired
In love the most desired
In dress the best displayed
I am a parade! ....
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