I think the point I was trying to make in comparing Lincoln's administration with that of Bush and Obama and the divisions they faced was in the levels and affects on such large numbers of the U.S. population and the number of issues. I don't think that the "Bleeding Kansas" issue had much of an effect on people in California, Maine, Florida. Ect. where as today such divisive issues like abortion, immigration, gay rights, globalization, etc.etc. is felt in about every state in the Union in all walks of life. What made me curious about the topic was George W. Bush's response on a show about Lincoln in which he makes a comparison with his presidency and Lincoln's concerning divided Americans in which he felt that Lincoln faced a more divided America than he did.??. I think it was on either PBS or the Hist. Channel and year ago or so.

Robert Caudle