When Rome went from being a Republic to an Imperial dictatorship, the transition was billed, and often seen, as a "restoration" of the Republic. Augustus, a far more intelligent and diplomatic man that Bush could ever dream of being, was able to convince most Romans that all was restored to normality after the civil wars and that they were now really free. He even theoretically retired from being the head of state for much of his rule.

Bush is doing his best to create his own little Imperial dictatorship. But he and his advisors don't have the skills and intelligence of Augustus and his advisors.