The great lesson from ‘Lincoln’

The legacy left by our 16th president can tell us a lot about what we must do in 2012 in order to see this country move forward.

Let me finish with this.

I have to say I am thrilled when I see a good politician do a good piece of political work—something good for the people who need something good for them, something good for the country anytime.

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The film Lincoln shows what a true “pol” our most beloved president was. He knew what the country needed: the dead end to slavery. He saw his opportunity, and he saw the door to that opportunity closing. If he didn’t get the Constitution changed before the south got re-admitted to the Union, he wouldn’t get it done when the Confederates were back voting in the Congress.

Yes, he used pork. Yes, he used patronage. But all these measures are legal. And so, let’s never forget, was slavery. The movie shows how Lincoln managed to use a number of legal means—pork, patronage, persuasion—to get rid of one historic evil.

For Subscribers

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAbdul El-Sayed tries to woo MAHA voters as Democrats seek inroads with RFK’s supporters

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKratom-like substances are popping up in a typically benign supplement

FOR SUBSCRIBERSGOP super PAC increases its spending for Sen. Jon Husted in tough Ohio race

FOR SUBSCRIBERSRecords reveal tumultuous marriage between slain New York Times executive and wife

FOR SUBSCRIBERSFrom clean energy warrior to ‘wall of shame,’ James Talarico reverses on a fossil fuel money pledge

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCongressional staff planned official trip with luxury stops in Italy and France weeks before election

FOR SUBSCRIBERSA harrowing ordeal aboard an Israel-bound plane

FOR SUBSCRIBERSOpenAI CEO Sam Altman to skip congressional hearing on rogue AI agents

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKey DOJ lawyers departed Trump ‘grand conspiracy’ probe amid pressure to produce, source says

FOR SUBSCRIBERSTrump’s new AI chatbot often links to a site launched under Clinton 26 years ago

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAt MAHA summit, industry CEOs the movement once vilified take the stage

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThis Paralympian has two goals: Win medals and give away $500,000 to her teammates

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCornell rape allegation spotlights stringent New York state laws that have long drawn criticism

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It’s a great bit of history, a great lesson in how it takes politicians to do the job—sometimes the really big ones. What’s the old phrase? Can’t live with them, can’t live without them.

I’d rather live with them. Who else is going to run things and get things done that history often demands we do.