Moore to the Point – The Greatest American Nero

Note: This “Moore to the Point” commentary aired on NewsTalkSTL on Wednesday, September 7th. Audio included below.

It only aired for three seasons, but “The Greatest American Hero” was easily a favorite of my adolescent television viewing. And the theme song was one of the best.

I was reminded of it this past weekend as I saw a clip from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on The Ingraham Angle . When asked about President Biden’s Thursday night, “Great Divider” speech, DeSantis called it “one of the most disgusting speeches an American president has ever given,” and also referred to Biden as “the American Nero.”

Nero, of course, was no hero. But my mind, working in the goofy way it does, immediately jumped to the early 80s TV hit. And while Nero is known as a failed leader and infamously for literally (and figuratively) fiddling while Rome burned, it occurs to me the lyrics from the show’s theme song may be more fitting than you’d think. Picture Joe, reading from the teleprompter:

Look at what’s happened to me,I can’t believe it myself.Suddenly I’m up on top of the world,It should’ve been somebody else.

Yeah, Joe, it really should have. And no, Joe, it’s not extreme – and certainly not evil – to advocate for American greatness. Millions of right-of-center Americans genuinely love our country and want what’s best for it – for all of us. Believe it or not.