Bush And Lincoln

TW: Karen Tumulty at Time Mag uploaded this photo to the Time blog and asked for comments. The thought that came to my mind was one which had been germinating anyway. W. Bush has recently referred to some Lincoln bios while describing his own approach to the Presidency. After having recently read, "Team of Rivals" and many others over the years on Lincoln, I say "I 'knew' Abe Lincoln and you sir are no Abe." W. Bush referencinig Abe Lincoln is a prime example of someone knowing just enough about a topic to be dangerous.

W. Bush governed as an ideologue, while in his mind relying upon Lincolnesque indomitable will and pride of purpose. Unfortunately W. Bush missed the chapters where Lincoln's charisma, intellectual curiosity and pragmatic flexibility came to the fore. These latter characteristics enabled Lincoln to weave through the massive ideological gulfs separating the Radical Republicans of the North (primarily New England abolitionists) from the rest of the tenuous coalition by which he held together the Union during prolonged and excruciating obstacles.

By the end of Lincoln's Presidency many of his former foes had evolved into some of his greatest admirers (i.e. Ed Stanton). With W. Bush we merely impatiently await his departure while the next guy confronts the myriad of messes left behind.