It was said in the movie Patton that Caesar, in order to remember humility, had a man stand behind him to constantly whisper to him “Sic transit gloria mundi”, which was translated “All glory is fleeting”. The Pope, when he is coronated, is reminded three times during the ceremony of the same phrase, which is translated, “Holy Father, thus passes the glory of the world”.

Barack Obama badly needs one of those guys right now.

Charles Krauthammer yesterday asked of the Democratic nominee, “Has He Lost His Mind?”. What prompted the question is this elaborate stage for his acceptance speech tonight.

The stage is similar to structures used for rock concerts and has been set up at the 50-yard-line, the midpoint of Invesco Field, the stadium where the Denver Broncos’ American football team plays.

Up to 80,000 supporters will see Mr Obama appear from between plywood columns painted off-white, reminiscent of the White House, to accept the party’s nomination for president.

He will stride out to a raised platform to a podium that can be raised from beneath the floor.

As if the tsunami of hubris wasn’t quite large enough, there is a picture at that link of a mockup of the fuselage of Air Force One that will also be at the stadium when he gives his speech.

So Barack Obama, who has already a Messianic complex bigger than the actual Messiah had is going to give his acceptance speech from a massive stage decked to look like a Greek Temple? That’s beautiful. There’s no way the McCain campaign will be able to use that to their advantage like its used every single Barack Pride moment since he announced he was going to campaign over in Europe.

You know, there’s a lot I don’t like about John McCain, and I’d like to write more about him so this place doesn’t look like the I Hate Obama Shack. Every time I open my RSS reader, though, I’m simply inundated with Barack Obama stories - either stories about how he’s done yet another stupid or arrogant thing or a story where the MSM are laying down palm fronds for him the way the multitude did for Jesus as he rode into Jerusalem on an ass.

And before you ask, it doesn’t appear that Barack Obama will ride into Invesco Field on the back of an ass. Joe Biden isn’t quite strong enough to carry him anyway.

The whole plan is giving quite a few Democrats reasons to buy Tums by the truckload. Barack Obama has been getting more and more visibly cocky even as his poll numbers fall and fall again and his campaign has been flailing badly. You may remember how he has threatened radio stations and private citizens with federal prosecution if they dfare to legally exercise their free speech. His campaign has also launched a screechy attack against conservative writer Stanley Kurtz who has been steadfastly digging up the previously buried story of the association between Obama and unrepentant killer William Ayers. Ed Morrissey says that the big reason behind the pageant of pride tonight is fundraising and I’d be hard-pressed to disagree with that much.

The Obama campaign is is serious trouble at this point. After the convention, there aren’t a lot of natural places in the campaign for a poll bump. He’s going to have to make his own luck from here on out and he’s not been very good at doing that.

(some links via memeorandum)

Other Posts of Interest:

• 84 Trash Bags of American Flags: The Obama Campaign’s Newest Chunk of Ineptitude
• McCain to Obama: Oh, Now It’s On Rookie!
• Obama: Shame on You, America