The Civil War, then and now

[garthranzz]

The Civil War started 150 years ago today. The racists and plantation owners, now calling themselves "tea partiers" and Republicans, are still trying to rule by fear, enslave others and destroy the union.

Lincoln was not much of a success the first two years, learning on the job, making lots of mistakes and barely holding things together. The Emancipation Proclamation had to be held off until a tactical draw/strategic victory (Antietam) made it plausible, and Lincoln still had to delay its implementation three months. Lincoln was beset from all sides. He managed to minimize his weaknesses and play to his strengths.

Who knows? There's precedent - Lincoln, FDR, JFK - even Truman got his act together and won a second term. But principles, man, stand up for principles.

[zbdent]

1. Yesterday morning, in the darkness and without my glasses, I saw the

headline on the print edition of the Akron Beacon Journal ... "Civil War looms in Ohio"

Thankfully, I found it to be an article on the civil war of 150 years ago, not the tea party ...