Robert Kuttner would like Bush to learn from Lincoln

admirable as the idea might be, the notion of bush learning anything from anyone seems extremely far-fetched given the evidence of the past 5 years...

Lincoln deliberately included in his Cabinet the prominent leaders of different factions of his party who had opposed him for the 1860 nomination. Some, like his treasury secretary, Salmon Chase, a fierce abolitionist, wanted Lincoln to proceed much more aggressively. Others feared that Lincoln was moving too fast and alienating border states like Maryland and Kentucky that permitted slavery but had voted not to leave the Union.

[...]

Can you imagine Bush including in his inner Cabinet such Republicans as John McCain, who opposes Bush on torture of prisoners, or Chuck Hagel, who challenges the Iraq war, or Lincoln Chafee, who resists stacking the courts with ultra-right-wingers? Not to mention Democrats, a group Lincoln also included among his top appointees.

no... i can't...

Lincoln gained incomparably in wisdom over four years. Does anyone think George W. Bush is wiser now than in 2001?

i certainly don't and i can't imagine that many others do either...
but kuttner holds out hope and i suppose that's the least i can do as well, particularly in the spirit of the holiday season...

President Bush believes in redemption, and so do I.

Submit To Propeller
Tweet