--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Now, for the first time, the President…" description: "\"“Now, for the first time, the President began to look genuinely powerful, even dangerous. This was a classic political coalition: it had worked in Medi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/013/bruce-sterling-3596_coalition_now-for-the-first-time-the-president-beg_672686.png" --- # Now, for the first time, the President began to look… ![“Now, for the first time, the President began to look genuinely powerful, even dangerous. This was a classic political coalition: it had worked in Medieval France. It was the long-forgotten bottom of the heap, allied with the formerly feeble top, to scare the hell out of the arrogant and divisive…” quote by Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/013/bruce-sterling-3596_coalition_now-for-the-first-time-the-president-beg_672686.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/013/bruce-sterling-3596_coalition_now-for-the-first-time-the-president-beg_672686.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/013/bruce-sterling-3596_coalition_now-for-the-first-time-the-president-beg_672686.png) > ““Now, for the first time, the President began to look genuinely powerful, even dangerous. This was a classic political coalition: it had worked in Medieval France. It was the long-forgotten bottom of the heap, allied with the formerly feeble top, to scare the hell out of the arrogant and divisive middle.”” [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote compares a modern political coalition to a medieval power structure, where the weak bottom allies with the feeble top to intimidate the middle. **In simple terms:** Coalitions can unite weak and feeble to threaten the middle. Key Takeaway Strategic alliances can shift power dynamics. Themes politics power strategy Mood cautious critical Type political historical When to use this quote - election campaigns - policy advocacy - social movements Key Concepts historical analogy social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What risks arise when disparate groups unite? - How can the middle class resist manipulation? A Different Perspective Such alliances may be unstable and short‑lived. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Coalition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coalition/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [United states of america](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states-of-america/) ## Related quotes > [The job of nation building, the job of nation leadership in a difficult, complex coalition has worked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azim-premji/the-job-of-nation-building-the-job-of-nation-leadership-in-a/) [Azim Premji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azim-premji/) > [ “The ICC \[Interstate Commerce Commission\] illustrates what might be called the natural history of government intervention. A real or fancied evil leads to demands… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/the-icc-interstate-commerce-commission-illustrates-what-might-be/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [The central con of the political coalition assembled by Ronald Reagan and maintained by his successors was that government was a common enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-noah/the-central-con-of-the-political-coalition-assembled-by-ronald-reagan/) [Timothy Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-noah/) > [The president began this program by executive order. He should immediately end it by executive order. For over a year now, he has said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/the-president-began-this-program-by-executive-order-he-should/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [“For my own part,” the president began, “I consider the central idea pervading this struggle is the necessity that is upon us, of proving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-goodheart/for-my-own-part-the-president-began-i-consider-the-central-idea/) Adam Goodheart > [Since the presidency of Ronald Reagan, conservatives have succeeded by adhering to a platform that rests firmly on three legs: smaller government, faith and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gaffney/since-the-presidency-of-ronald-reagan-conservatives-have-succeeded-by/) [Frank Gaffney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gaffney/) > [I think it is difficult to achieve a meaningful political coalition if you have race-based programs that divide members of the coalition. The problem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-julius-wilson/i-think-it-is-difficult-to-achieve-a-meaningful-political-coalition/) [William Julius Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-julius-wilson/) > [We have to go massively, like we did in the first Gulf War where we destroyed Saddam's ability to take Kuwait. We need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kasich/we-have-to-go-massively-like-we-did-in-the-first-gulf-war-where-we/) [John Kasich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kasich/) > [There's a lot of things we can do to balance out what Obama's done and going forward show the American people the Republican Party…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/there-s-a-lot-of-things-we-can-do-to-balance-out-what-obama-s-done/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) > [Here, I am looking for a document issued by a public attorney. I don't find. He is accused by the political leaders of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-verges/here-i-am-looking-for-a-document-issued-by-a-public-attorney-i-don-t/) [Jacques Verges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-verges/) > [We've had Saudis and Jordanians and Pakistanis who have - and Syrians - who have been involved in armed attacks against coalition forces in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/we-ve-had-saudis-and-jordanians-and-pakistanis-who-have-and-syrians/) [Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/) > [Vajpayee had a much bigger stature than Mr Modi. He knew how to run a coalition government very successfully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-patnaik/vajpayee-had-a-much-bigger-stature-than-mr-modi-he-knew-how-to-run-a/) [Naveen Patnaik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-patnaik/) > [Research promoted by NARA within a major coalition of Federal and private sector research partners has at last demonstrated that an Electronic Records Archives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-weinstein/research-promoted-by-nara-within-a-major-coalition-of-federal-and/) [Allen Weinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-weinstein/) > [And the commitment that I've been giving to the Australian people is that there'll be no surprises and no excuses under a Coalition government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-abbott/and-the-commitment-that-i-ve-been-giving-to-the-australian-people-is/) [Tony Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-abbott/) > [One of the things the United States does well is building coalitions. What the U.S. knows is that if you don't have a coalition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/one-of-the-things-the-united-states-does-well-is-building-coalitions/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) ## More by Bruce Sterling > [They used to be seen as insane or unthinkable acts of madmen. But if they take place they'll be called 'war' too. And there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/they-used-to-be-seen-as-insane-or-unthinkable-acts-of-madmen-but-if/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [“You give a guy a license to steal, you've got to expect him to use it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/you-give-a-guy-a-license-to-steal-you-ve-got-to-expect-him-to-use-it/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [“America hadn't really been suited for its long and tiresome role as the Last Superpower, the World's Policeman. As a patriotic American, Oscar was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/america-hadn-t-really-been-suited-for-its-long-and-tiresome-role-as/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [“But the economy's out of control. Money just doesn't need human beings anymore. Most of us only get in the way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/but-the-economy-s-out-of-control-money-just-doesn-t-need-human-beings/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [It's going to be really interesting to see what the heroin market does in the next two years or so. One thing you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/it-s-going-to-be-really-interesting-to-see-what-the-heroin-market/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [Information wants you to give me a dollar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/information-wants-you-to-give-me-a-dollar/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [Architects thrive after massive urban disasters. The abject collapse of East Berlin gave us the only city in Europe with a mighty host of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/architects-thrive-after-massive-urban-disasters-the-abject-collapse/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [Information wants to be free. Believe it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/information-wants-to-be-free-believe-it/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [The internet brought many laudable things, but prosperity, stability, accountability and honest politics were not four of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/the-internet-brought-many-laudable-things-but-prosperity-stability/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [I was once a student in a punk T-Shirt hooked on screwed-up scenarios. That's how I became the esteemed cultural figure that I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/i-was-once-a-student-in-a-punk-t-shirt-hooked-on-screwed-up-scenarios/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [ “If America suffers from drugs, perhaps you should ask what America is lacking, \[“What an asshole,”\] Eric King commented suddenly. They ignored him.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/if-america-suffers-from-drugs-perhaps-you-should-ask-what-america-is/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [“Forget trying to pass for normal. Follow your geekdom. Embrace nerditude. In the immortal words of Lafcadio Hearn, a geek of incredible obscurity whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/forget-trying-to-pass-for-normal-follow-your-geekdom-embrace/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [I like to get paid for doing basic research, so it's pleasant to write some nonfiction about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/i-like-to-get-paid-for-doing-basic-research-so-it-s-pleasant-to-write/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [Find a client and get a job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/find-a-client-and-get-a-job/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [I wouldn't describe that "position" as "parasitic." I'd describe that experience as "edifying." I don't merely write from a critical intellectual distance. I actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/i-wouldn-t-describe-that-position-as-parasitic-i-d-describe-that/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) [Explore all 126 Bruce Sterling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) ## More Coalition quotes > [One of the things the United States does well is building coalitions. What the U.S. knows is that if you don't have a coalition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/one-of-the-things-the-united-states-does-well-is-building-coalitions/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) > [And the commitment that I've been giving to the Australian people is that there'll be no surprises and no excuses under a Coalition government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-abbott/and-the-commitment-that-i-ve-been-giving-to-the-australian-people-is/) [Tony Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-abbott/) > [Research promoted by NARA within a major coalition of Federal and private sector research partners has at last demonstrated that an Electronic Records Archives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-weinstein/research-promoted-by-nara-within-a-major-coalition-of-federal-and/) [Allen Weinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-weinstein/) > [Vajpayee had a much bigger stature than Mr Modi. He knew how to run a coalition government very successfully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-patnaik/vajpayee-had-a-much-bigger-stature-than-mr-modi-he-knew-how-to-run-a/) [Naveen Patnaik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-patnaik/) > [We've had Saudis and Jordanians and Pakistanis who have - and Syrians - who have been involved in armed attacks against coalition forces in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/we-ve-had-saudis-and-jordanians-and-pakistanis-who-have-and-syrians/) [Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/) > [Here, I am looking for a document issued by a public attorney. I don't find. He is accused by the political leaders of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-verges/here-i-am-looking-for-a-document-issued-by-a-public-attorney-i-don-t/) [Jacques Verges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-verges/) > [There's a lot of things we can do to balance out what Obama's done and going forward show the American people the Republican Party…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/there-s-a-lot-of-things-we-can-do-to-balance-out-what-obama-s-done/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) > [We have to go massively, like we did in the first Gulf War where we destroyed Saddam's ability to take Kuwait. We need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kasich/we-have-to-go-massively-like-we-did-in-the-first-gulf-war-where-we/) [John Kasich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kasich/) > [It would be a tragedy if the remarkable international coalition against terrorism, successfully marshalled in the aftermath of 11 September, were to fragment over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kennedy/it-would-be-a-tragedy-if-the-remarkable-international-coalition/) [Charles Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kennedy/) > [“Unless the Labour leadership candidates decide to settle the issue through televised mud-wrestling (Adam Boulton, I think, for referee, and he may even take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-aaronovitch/unless-the-labour-leadership-candidates-decide-to-settle-the-issue/) David Aaronovitch > [The Democratic Party is a coalition. Its strength and its weakness is, it's a coalition of interest groups, caucuses. It's a lot less homogeneous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/the-democratic-party-is-a-coalition-its-strength-and-its-weakness-is/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [The Coalition's message of jobs and growth is resonating very, very strongly in North and Central Queensland and one thing they're particularly fearful of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-brandis/the-coalition-s-message-of-jobs-and-growth-is-resonating-very-very/) [George Brandis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-brandis/) > [The job of nation building, the job of nation leadership in a difficult, complex coalition has worked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azim-premji/the-job-of-nation-building-the-job-of-nation-leadership-in-a/) [Azim Premji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azim-premji/) > [Military operations cannot be tidy or free of friction - particularly in a coalition whose contributing nations see the campaign through national prisms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-jackson/military-operations-cannot-be-tidy-or-free-of-friction-particularly/) [Mike Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-jackson/) > [Like Hamas, ISIS was deeply embedded in urban areas. And the international coalition against ISIS worked hard to protect civilians and create humanitarian corridors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-austin/like-hamas-isis-was-deeply-embedded-in-urban-areas-and-the/) [Lloyd Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-austin/) [Browse all 153 Coalition quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coalition/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Now, for the first time, the President began to look genuinely powerful, even dangerous. This was a classic political coalition: it had worked in Medieval France. 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