Does Obama err by leaning on Lincoln?

He's just sticking to the theme -- "A New Birth Of Freedom," from the Gettysburg Address. The inauguration is days before the 200th anniversary Lincoln's birth.
Obama seems to like mapping out overarching themes and then sticking with it.

Speaking of pay to play:

"Gov. Janet Napolitano is prepared to sign an executive order allowing about 25,500 state employees to select union representatives who would have a seat at the table with state officials during talks regarding employee pay, working conditions, disciplinary actions and other personnel issues.

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But skeptics call the arrangement political payback to unions, and they worry it would complicate labor relations as the state faces budget shortfalls.

The news comes as Napolitano, a Democrat, prepares to resign to join the Obama administration as secretary of Homeland Security. Republican Secretary of State Jan Brewer would replace her.>

Think Obama could better spend his time splitting logs at Springfield..

"Does Obama err by leaning on Lincoln"?

It must be a slow day for Frank James. He's having to resort to just making up things to concern troll Prez-elect Obama with today.

Well said Frank.
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Lincoln-as-security blanket hadn't occurred to me. Interesting thought.
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The PR blunder aspect of it did. It smacks of vainglory. If Obama falls short of Lincolnesque achievement (and how can he not?) this could bite him in the backside.

Just maybe Obama is smarter than you think and is "giving us a Lincoln security blanket" at a time when people are very apprehensive about our future.

Would you rather have a "Bush towel" that he threw in some time ago?

The PR blunder aspect of it did. It smacks of vainglory. If Obama falls short of Lincolnesque achievement (and how can he not?) this could bite him in the backside.

Posted by: MJ | December 16, 2008 3:39 PM

Yes, it must fail! I need something more to scream at Obama about after the last eight years of glorious Republican leadership.

The news comes as Napolitano, a Democrat, prepares to resign to join the Obama administration as secretary of Homeland Security. Republican Secretary of State Jan Brewer would replace her.>

Posted by: This Has Got To Stop | December 16, 2008 3:11 PM

Teresa,
You're pretty much a nonstop "alleged Dem scandal" machine. Keep up the good work. Obama and the Dems must fail, it is written in the bible.

He and Lincoln may have to lean on each other if Blago sells their seats.

Considering Obama has no achievements and hasn't done a thing for the residents of Illinois - he needs to find something to define himself - and empty suit just doesn't sell well.
Have you bought your Obama coins yet - ha ha

Obama is no Lincoln. He really has no accomplishments so afr other than winning elections. It's a joke for him to compare himself against Abraham Lincoln.

Mr. James,

Where did Obama find inspiration from Lincoln for a massive green energy job creation program?

Doh! I guess your theory makes no sense.

If you're looking for narrow presidential blinders, please check out the current white house resident. Except that he doesn't read.

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This column is silly at best, and ridiculous at worst. Most of the Lincoln references have come from the media, not Obama himself. However, like Lincoln, Obama will face challenges that are far more complicated in the present than they will be remembered after the fact. Do you really think it was as simple as "Lincoln freed the slaves and won the civil war"? Come on.

Some of the comparisons are apt. Both are thoughtful men, shrewd politicians, and gifted speakers. Both are also tall and funny looking and come from Illinois.

But skeptics call the arrangement political payback to unions, and they worry it would complicate labor relations as the state faces budget shortfalls.

The news comes as Napolitano, a Democrat, prepares to resign to join the Obama administration as secretary of Homeland Security. Republican Secretary of State Jan Brewer would replace her.>

Posted by: This Has Got To Stop | December 16, 2008 3:11 PM

Swamp editors,
If you're going to continue to censor Dems comments how about you at least censor comments from "skeptics" like this (see above) that have absolutlely nothing to do with the topic thread and are nothing more than another phony hit job on the incoming Obama administration?

Lovely. In the blogosphere, we call this concern trolling. What do you "serious" journalists call it?

Between crap like this and the news media (including the Trib) spending the past week completely making up a sinister link between Blago and Obama, it's no wonder your entire industry is going bankrupt.

to Kurt S.

Obama actually HAS more experience than Lincoln did!

"Lincoln biographer David Herbert Donald showed how what might have been perceived as the Great Emancipator's serious shortcomings as a war president and commander in chief actually turned out to be some of his greatest assets.

Remember, Lincoln came to the presidency having only meager experience--much less than Sen. Obama's--in public office, let alone experience in the Executive Branch. (Lincoln's experience in the military was limited to little more than two months service during the Black Hawk War.)

According to Donald, Lincoln was also fortunately unburdened by convention, precedent, and standard operating procedures in facing war's challenge. (The parallels with Obama kind of leap from the page, no?)

However, Lincoln was also a quick study who grew into greatness through trial and error in pursuing the most significant of his goals. "

"For Obama, who adopted Lincoln's Illinois as his home state, who worked in Lincoln's Springfield..."

Uh, excuse me - wasn't Lincoln born in Kentucky & raised in Indiana? Does that make Lincoln a Hoosier?

The news comes as Napolitano, a Democrat, prepares to resign to join the Obama administration as secretary of Homeland Security. Republican Secretary of State Jan Brewer would replace her.>

Posted by: This Has Got To Stop | December 16, 2008 3:11 PM

Well done Teresa,
That's the great thing about being a Republican now, we are so far out of power that now we can scream about every little made up thing that even looks like it might taint Prez Obama and the Dems and no one will listen because we have been soundly rejected at the ballot box in two straight landslide elections.
I'm loving it, we have failed on such a spectacular level that we can say whatever we want now. Isn't it great?

Obama is already measuring for his likness to be put up on Mt. Rushmore. Quite an accomplishment for someone that doesn't have any.

I've never seen Democrats more confident then now. You'd think they'd done something to feel that way, but yet, they haven't. Now they have a man as President that is probably more vain then Clinton, if that's even possible. People like that though don't need any prodding from the other side to fail. They'll do that just fine on their own.

quit being partisan, we must stop hope and bring back despair |

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2008/12/16/20081216union1216.html

Now they have a man as President that is probably more vain then Clinton, if that's even possible. People like that though don't need any prodding from the other side to fail. They'll do that just fine on their own.

Posted by: KevB | December 16, 2008 5:19 PM

Kev,
Wasn't it your Republican Prez who spent the last eight years calling himself the "Decider" and the "Commander Guy"? That's not only vain, that's delusional.

Its odd that you criticize Obama's supposed emulation of our greatest president and then go on to suggest he emulate a far lesser one.

Well I am still torn with all of this. On one hand, I feel like give him a chance. But on a personal note, I'm just happy that Michelle will get to stay on Pennsylvania Ave.....o.k. I want her to be in that kitchen frying chicken, baking pies, and all that. I'm happy she is from the south shore area and progressed to Pennsylvania Avenue. At first I was a little reluctant to see this as I felt like they are everyday people. But then I began to have thoughts about how "real" they would serve.

BO has been making selections that I found a little disconcerting. For example, Hillary.... I think Condi would have been a better selection. Arne..... I think Colin would have been better. Rahm......I think Colin would have been better. I would llike to see Donna Brazil on Board as well. Give Dorothy Tillman the Senant Seat, we need a soldier in there. I know I'm jumping around but did I hear that JJJ had been talking to the FEDS for a while?

Can someone tell me why was the new tactical unit at a school showing off equipment?

Can someone tell me why IG can't investigate alderman?

Can someone tell my Dorothy Brown's name was the only name on the voting ticket?

Can someone tell me why they asked on the voting ticket should we change the illinois constitution? and Why?

Can someone tell me whether or not it will always be pay to play?

TX

John E (who's using at least 3 post names on this thread so far) and the other Democratic cheerleaders need to calm down.
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First of all Frank James didn't say anything here that was all that damning of Obama. If anything it's constructive criticism.
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Secondly, some of you lumps sound like 1930's Stalinist Comsomols or Hitler Youth. "Oh heaven forfend that anybody say anything negative about The Leader!" You're an embarrassment.
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PS to John E: The censorship is nonpartisan

Yes, Obama is going way too far in adoring Lincoln. I also agree that Obama does not have a creative or original idea about much of anything. He can't even speak well extemporaneously.

Who is paying for these festivities? What kind of model is he setting in a time when many are losing homes, jobs, investments, or any combination thereof?

I also thought that we weren't supposed to be race conscious in the U.S. It's not politically correct. Then why are we hailing Obama as the first black president, especially when he is half white? Perhaps we should find activities befitting the inaugural of the first mixed race president?

Ha ha. So funny to see you empty followers crying in your kool aid. Of course the media built up Obama - but you weren't complaining about it then. And now they're tearing down the empty image they created. Big deal, kool aid kids. Did you really think Obama was Lincoln, Ghandi, King, FDR and Mother Theresa like Obama and the media told you? So gullible. He rose through the corrupt Illinois establishment - and he's just another politician. Oh yeah, boys and girls, there's no Santa Claus either. Now, go back to eating your cheetos.

Obama is a great politician and I hope he is up to handling the Republicans. They sure seemed distressed at how popular he is and are worked up at all of this Lincoln analogy. It must be tough to be a troll (a Republican troll) they must feel rather isolated.

I said...
"If Obama falls short of Lincolnesque achievement (and how can he not?) this could bite him in the backside."
Posted by: MJ | December 16, 2008 3:39 PM
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To which you responded...
"Yes, it must fail! I need something more to scream at Obama about..."
Posted by: rightwing lunatic fringe | December 16, 2008 4:03 PM
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You and I don't know whether the Obama presidency will succeed or fail or achieve something in between.
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However, leaders of Lincoln's stature are rare. They seldom appear more than once in the life of any nation. So even if Obama is a good president, it's extremely unlikely that he will be another Lincoln. Even if he's good, the Lincoln comparisons make him seem vain.
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Now think (if you're capable) of the worst case scenario: Things may go badly for Obama; he could fail; or he could be mediocre; or events may simply be beyond his control. Now imagine his critics mocking him for drawing the Lincoln parallels. Then he would look a pitiful fool.
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Who needs that? Mr. James' point is that for his own sake (and really, I think, for everybody's) Obama had best stop trying to play Lincoln.

Sad to say, most folk out there don't know the first thing about Lincoln or American history.
So, maybe they'll do a little reearch to find out what you're talking about.

It's been obvious to those of us paying attenton that, from the start, Obama has not had an original thought. He just wanted the win, the win of being president. He hasn't a clue as to how to govern, a deficiency that would have been clear had reporters actually done their job.

Lincoln was preceded by Buchanan, considered one of the worst presidents in history.

Obama is preceded by THE worst president in history.

Seems a viable comparison.

Who needs that? Mr. James' point is that for his own sake (and really, I think, for everybody's) Obama had best stop trying to play Lincoln.

Posted by: MJ | December 16, 2008 9:25 PM

Yes sir Mr. MJ the Great Thinker,
We must mock Obama now so that when he fails we can mock him even more. Just like you, I don't care if our whole country goes bankrupt all I care about is Obama failing and the Republican party being back in power again as they should always be. How dare Obama imulate Lincoln, he should emulate Nixon because that's what we're going to turn him into. And just like you MJ, I love Frank James, he's the one Swamp writer that we can always depend on to mock Obama and Dems even if he has to make it up, which is fine with me because they deserve it. We need to pass a law outlawing Democrats, they screwed up everything the last eight years. If it wasn't for President Bush's stellar service they would have tanked our economy and started two needless wars or something.

Slow news day, Frank?

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Posted by: MJ | December 16, 2008 9:25 PM
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I love sitting back and listening to the sore loser Republicans on here whine about Obama. Republicans should always be the minority party because the one thing they do well is whine and make noise. And who is this MJ guy anyway? Did someone recently nominate you as "smartest person in the Republican party" or something? You talk like you haven't been on the wrong end of back to back landslide elections when in reality you have, and you were cheerleading for the losers the whole time.

PS MJ - I doubt that Frank James is in love with you as much as you are him just because he answered one of your posts once.

No wonder Obama has a Lincoln complex!! The liberal media and far left wackos have been fawning over him for two years and the man has done nothing, Absoltely nothing.
Before he starts he is contaminated by Illinois politics. That along with one party rule by the America hating, God hating liberals leads me to think of Obama and his czars in his cabinet and congress more akin to Nero than Lincoln

I was hoping after this election most of the talking and writing pundit heads of the corporate media would realize that what most Americans (except hardcore Republicans) want to talk about is fixing this country. Unfortunately that would mess with their tried and true formula of partisan drivel. The Republicans have been defeated for a very good reason, they stunk up the whole political process the last eight years. I could really care less whether they approve of what Obama is doing or not, they didn't like him from day one and they still lost.

I also think it requires a lot of real reporting and really getting to the bottom of issues which the corporate media (Frank James) is not that good at (or rather won't spend the time on). Much easier to talk scandal and even make them up when there is nothing.

This article is a joke.
What is sad is now the press, like the Tribune/Swamp, wants to learn to ask questions after eight years of smiling at Bush and thinking his bumbling of words and stupid lies were cute. But just like they did the last time we had a Dem President (Clinton), if they can't find something they'll just make something up.
I get a kick out of the rightwing patisans who always toss out the "liberal media" phrase as some sort of red herring to cower the media people into reporting rightwing slanted stories....and it works everytime. This country will never get back on track until the media gets it that they don't have to cower to the Republican party out of fear anymore. The majority of the rest of the country has already rejected them but our spineless media is still scared to death of them. Pathetic.

Obama has a real mental problem with all this Lincoln play acting. As I recall Lincoln was responsible for the Civil War and that war started because states wanted to succeed from the Union, is this what Obama wants to start all over again ?

rightwing lunatic/34 DAYS AND COUNTING/ we must stop hope/etc., etc./JohnE:
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Get a grip. You're hysterical because a commentator (who has been consistently in Obama's corner, BTW) offered gentle, constructive criticism.
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My God, kid... when the people who are really out for blood start to actually attack Obama (unlike what happened here) you're going to have a stroke!
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Oh, and FYI: I never want any Presidency to fail; it's a matter of my own self interest. I don't doubt that you are that malicious and stupidly self destructive, but I'm not.

I'll keep an open mind- there are a lot worse role models that Obama could identify with than Lincoln...

We will be a lot better off as a country if Obama can come close to Lincoln's accomplishments- we all need Obama to be successful.

Obama has a real mental problem with all this Lincoln play acting. As I recall Lincoln was responsible for the Civil War and that war started because states wanted to succeed from the Union, is this what Obama wants to start all over again ?

Posted by: Joe Public | December 17, 2008 3:57 AM

Joe- you have to be kidding..if not, stop posting- go read a history book and then come back to the group.

President-elect Barack Obama really has a thing for Abraham Lincoln. ~ F.J.
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And so do I. With due respect to others and all of the very valid arguments that can be made, Lincoln was the wisest and the greatest. HOWEVER THE great OBAMA IS NOT ABRAHAM LINCOLN. NO ONE IS AND HOPEFULLY WE DON'T WANT ANYONE TO HAVE THAT CHANCE.

democrats, Lincoln had to prosecute a Civil War. 600,000+ Americans died. We don't need that test of the viability of a republican form of democracy again. Remember too, he suspended the Writs of Habeas Corpus. Who among u, on the left, would ever do something as evil as that???

democrats, on this one issue, you MUST get a grip. PLEASE GIVE IT A REST!

“Wasn't it your Republican Prez who spent the last eight years calling himself the ‘Decider’ and the ‘Commander Guy’? That's not only vain, that's delusional.”
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Posted by: head east | December 16, 2008 6:05 PM
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I disagree. It is not delusional for the president to describe himself as “the Decider” or “the Commander Guy.” Both fit within his job description. In Bush’s case, it was simply a matter of vanity inasmuch as he was very bad at both deciding and commanding.

disagree. It is not delusional for the president to describe himself as “the Decider” or “the Commander Guy.” Both fit within his job description. In Bush’s case, it was simply a matter of vanity inasmuch as he was very bad at both deciding and commanding.

Posted by: John W. | December 17, 2008 3:38 PM

Whatever you say Gramps. He's your Prez, you own him and you were dumb enough to vote for him so his legacy is on your shoulders. And I will never miss an opportunity to remind you of that.

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Posted by: HopeNChange | December 18, 2008 1:11 AM
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And I will never fail to remind you in turn that I voted for him once, and that was before anyone reasonable could have known his potential for mischief.
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And, by the way, you have yet to fork up one single bit of widely known information about him that should have put me on notice, in or before 2000, of his potential behavior. I have kept asking you, but you simply never do it. In which case, you remain a loud, clanking bell with no substance - JohnEEE-Boy.

I have kept asking you, but you simply never do it. In which case, you remain a loud, clanking bell with no substance - JohnEEE-Boy.

Posted by: John W. | December 19, 2008 2:17 AM

I'm not going to do your homework for you, Gramps.