Just Like Lincoln
One of the LLWL* is reading Doris Kearns Goodwin's book on Lincoln, 'Team of Rivals' and we got into a discussion of Lincoln and Bush, the similarities and differences in their rule. They were similar in that both were inexperienced and unpopular during their presidencies. The differences = everything else.
From there, the conversation turned to the recent Jon Stewart interview with John Bolton, former US Ambassador to the UN. Stewart addressed the fact that Bush put someone like Bolton, who has vehemently disparaged the UN, as the Ambassador and observed that in times that are divided, like now, it might behoove the President to try to consider other viewpoints. Jon Stewart then brought up Lincoln and noted that Lincoln tried to accommodate differing views by appointing his main rivals to his cabinet. Bolton retorted that Stewart was historically wrong on Lincoln, and noted that the President is only responsible to the people who voted for him.
Here's the Bolton interview:
The next night, Jon Stewart mentioned the claim by Bolton -- that he was wrong about Lincoln -- and proceeded to call Doris Goodwin, who said that Bolton had the wrong Lincoln.
Here's that clip:
And finally, the original Doris Kearns Goodwin interview with Jon Stewart is here: Doris Kearns Goodwin.
* LLWL = Lady Lawyers who Lunch (my officemates)
3 comments:
Bush and Lincoln, let me see...
The differences, to be honest, seem a bit nitpicky:
- One had a beard; the other is clean-shaven.
- One did everything he could to unite a country divided; the other did everything he could to divide a county united.
- One signed the Emancipation Proclamation granting rights to oppressed people; the other favors a Constitutional amendment banning gay marriage denying rights to oppressed people.
Like I said, trivial.
But the similarities seem striking:
- One got his education writing on a shovel with coal, a substance high in coke; the other also got his education high on coke.
- One was born in a one-room log cabin; the other was born at a time when behind the main residence on the Kennebunkport estate, the pool house was a one-bedroom bungalow.
- One was a war President because he did not want the southern states to secede; the other was a war President because he did not want the UN weapons inspectors to succeed.
- One wrote his deepest thoughts about ending a war and respecting the war dead on the back of an envelope; the other could write all of his deepest thoughts about ending a war and respecting the war dead on the back of an envelope.
As a philosopher, I don't want to answer this question for you, but I don't think that the contention is as far fetched as some might make it seem...
Steve:
Obviously, you are planning to write the definitive book on Bush & are just beginning your research. Doris Kearns Goodwin should watch out, she certainly has competition.
A few other ways they are alike:
Both Lincoln and Bush slept in the Lincoln bedroom.
Both suspended habeas during the Civil War; one in the States, one in Iraq.
Both are Republican.
Lincoln got shot in a theater. Bush did shots and then went to sleep it off in a Theater.
Differences:
Lincoln had an oratorical gift; Bush can't pronounce the word orator.
Lincoln was known as "Honest Abe;" Bush is hardly "able to be honest."
Lincoln was a lawyer; Bush thinks that he is the law.
Nice - - - I'm still reeling from this Bolton episode. Weeks later, I'm still seeing him appearing on television clips, some serious shows, others popcorn...what is the state of our national media when no one brings up his statement on Lincoln?
Judging by the high level staffers in the Bush admin. with no education, experience, justifiable reason to have their job or pay grade...
Post a Comment