Do you guys want to talk about Lincoln or bash Republicans and Conservatives, of which, I am a proud one?

I don't worship President Lincoln, by any means. But I do think a cottage industry has risen on both extremes that he was ultimate good or ultimate evil. I believe he was a consummate politician with a desire to gain political office through a new and, as yet, unsteady Republican party. I believe he was caught in a whirlpool of hate, mistrust and greed that existed between the two parties and that he had, in fact, contributed to the mistrust and hatred by his own rhetoric, a rhetoric which was necessary to obtain the support of the Radical Republicans. Once elected, his own words and the Radical's support had him cornered in a situation where he could not negotiate or appease the Deep South states or he would fracture the very foundations of Republican party. I've always thought his position was much like the pro-Life, pro-Choice, single issue voters today. Just so you know, I am a strong pro-Life person. My religious beliefs lead me to this conclusion. Today, no Democratic presidential candidate can be elected and be pro-Life and we will see if a pro-Choice Republican can be nominated. I want to defeat the current crop of Democrat candidates, at all costs, but I don't know if I can vote for a pro-Choice Republican. I may "have to", but I'm sure there are a lot of pro-Lifers who might sit the next one out. For me, there are a lot of similarities between the passions involved in the Abolition movement and todays Abortion controversy. Well, to get back to Abe. I don't see him as consummate evil, but I do think we have a distorted or contrived view of him. You know, before and after he was elected, people thought be was a "bumpkin". They ridiculed his manner of speech, the quality of his voice, his physical appearance. Most people in Washington and Eastern society thought he was a "rube". I'm very angry with my president, George Bush. I strongly support him on most issues, but his positions on border security, illegal immigration and spending violate my core principles. But, I've always thought some of the same ridicule we direct at George for his shameless Southern accent and mannerisms, his stumbling speech and that goofy snickering laugh, in another time would have described and been written about President Lincoln. Can you imagine, especially you Bush haters, lionizing our current president because we "needed" him to be an iconic figure? I think this is the role President Lincoln filled and his premature death, made this formerly derided and disrepected figure the fallen champion of all the good that MUST have come from the deaths of 620,000 men.

These are just my thoughts and ramblings, but maybe someone else has a more pragmatic and even simplistic view of this man, his motives, his times and his circumstances.

I'm not a Jeff Davis fan either. These two guys, in their respective positions are about the worst choices for two leaders who would lead this country to a devastating war.

Jim