User blog comment:JoshofBlades/Why the Empire Should Prevail Over the Stormcloaks! (part 2)/@comment-201.52.249.198-20111120045857/@comment-4113369-20111123145425

Well, the reason they didn't kick the Thalmor's collective asses was because the Thalmor were stronger. Like one Thalmor said (the robed guy in Markarth, I think it was), "The Empire exists because we [The Thalmor] allow it to". They are basically high fantasy nazis, though, so they are assholes. But strong ones.