In 1861, the Mayor of New York City proposed secession from the Union so as to be a neutral party to any Civil war. And more than few Northerners held a good'riddens attitude toward Southern secession. But Republican Abe meant to save the Union at all costs and then to bind the nation's wounds. He died a martyr for the Union and in doing so made the sanctity of the UNITED States a core American value.
Can one think of legacies more diametrically opposed to honest Abe's than those of fellow Republicans Karl Rove and Tom Delay? Turd Blossom's Lilly livered attempt to dissolve the Union along ideological lines will earn him a lasting scorn and Tom Delay's divide by gerrymander scheme has left him a permanent scoundrel. Two elections (arguably) were won by means of their divide and conquer strategy. The roll call of my way or the highway Republicans from Cheney to Rumsfeld to Bush to Bolton to Gonzalez went world wide with the policies of rancor and division.
Barack Obama has been dropping crumbs for disgusted Republicans to follow since the day he announced his candidacy from the steps on the Illinois Old State Capitol, the site of Lincoln's "House divided" speech. He's given mild props to Reagan, he's got solid Midwestern roots and his nation united message is hitting the mark on both sides of the aisle. Character flaws also reside on both sides of the aisle & ndash; but the Republicans have been top heavy with raging hypocrites from Duke Cunningham to Larry Craig to Trent Lott ad nauseum. The bitter divisions currently dividing the Republicans might cause some to recall the words of another African-American. & The chickens of division have come home to roost in John McCain's barn.
Obama Republicans probably won't rival the Reagan Democrats in number, but it's good to see signs of the UNITED States again.
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- Citizen Voices blogger Chris McConnell is a bookseller, freelance writer, & former & high school & English teacher & and odd jobber who lives in La Jolla.
