It is not as mysterious as one may think.  Historian Arnold Toynbee explained that societies obsessed with their sex organs are collapsing.

And the other collapsing signal is when a society shows no respect for the dead.

Every day, there are a series of endless commercials on TV peddling sex drugs.  When the heart doesn't pump sufficient blood for an erection there are multiple drugs that are designed to do the trick.  They always include the usual warning.

A verbal warning is provided that if the erection lasts more than 4 hours, call a doctor.

The answer to the above-referenced question of what George Bush has in common with Roman Emperor Julian displays a striking parallel between the U.S.A. today and Rome's collapse in an ancient yesterday.

In the October 2006 issue of Vanity Fair, Harvard historian Niall Ferguson writes of ancient Rome shortly before its collapse:

"It is a study that properly begins with the first signs of imperial overstretch.   Until the time of the Emperor Julian (A.D. 331-63) Rome could still confidently send its legions as far as the River Tigris.  Yet Julian's invasion of Mesopotamia (present day Iraq, but called Mesopotamia under Persian rule) proved to be his undoing."

British historian Edward Gibbon explains that Julian was victorious at Ctesiphon, 20 miles from Baghdad.  But Baghdad's scorched earth response to Rome's proud military legions sent the Romans back to Rome in defeat.

Historian Arnold Toynbee defined the point at which any society becomes decadent.  Toynbee mentioned that this occurs when a society dwells upon its sex organs and displays no respect for the dead.

Tragically, child pornography on the Internet represents dire decadence.  Grave robbers and the Iraq War dead evidence disrespect for the dead.  This disrespect is also evident in Ann Coulter's disrespect for the widows of the 9/11 tragedies.  This fits another decadence definition.

Listening to Ann Coulter being interviewed on Fox New Sunday evening revealed her disrespect for the dead.  Her judgment of the widows of 9/11 definitely reached a decadent low, fitting uniquely in Arnold Toynbee's definition of the pivotal point at which a society is on its last legs.  

The fact that Ann Coulter's books have achieved consistent bestseller status makes one wonder exactly what kind of people would buy a book by such a brazen, heartless, ignorant individual.