LINCOLN, BUSH AND THEIR CRITICS

We admire Lincoln today as an American folk hero. During the Civil War, however, he was the most unpopular president the nation had ever known. His critics called him a tyrant, a hick, a stupid baboon who was unfit for office. As commander in chief of the armed forces, he was denounced as a bungling amateur who meddled in military affairs he knew nothing about.

--Russell Freedman from his book, Lincoln A Photobiography

Does the above quote sound familiar? I am currently reading, Lincoln A Photobiography by Russell Freedman. I was struck by the similar attacks that the critics expressed over 140 years ago about Lincoln to what Bush's critics accuse him of today. As Solomon said, "There is nothing new under the sun."

History has since regarded Lincoln as one of our greatest presidents and very few people remember what his critics had to say. I think history will view Bush in a much more favorable way than he is viewed now and his critics will be forgotten over time.

It is always important to be a student of history so we can see the big picture and realize that life is much more than what is talked about in the latest poll. Bush is a student of history and he realizes that. This is why he is willing to stand on principle and do what is right despite how much criticism he gets and no matter how low his poll numbers go. He sees beyond the latest poll to what is best for this country 40 years from now.

According to one of Clinton's own advisors, Clinton didn't deal with the terrorism problem while he was in office because he knew his poll numbers might suffer as a result. He cared more about his poll numbers than protecting this country. He was offered Bin Laden on a silver platter and turned it down because of fears of what public opinion might be.

We should all be thank-ful that Bush cares more about protecting this country than about his poll numbers.

Reliapundit adds: WELL SAID! For those interested, TAB has posted several times on the Copperheads and Lincoln, and how it resembles the current attacks on Bush.