Below is a quote by Mr. President Lincoln about war ... what do you think in light of todays Bush decisions?

Question

"The provision of the Constitution giving the war-making power to Congress was dictated, as I understand it, by the following reasons. Kings had always been involving and impoverishing their people in wars, pretending generally, if not always, that the good of the people was the object. This, our Convention understood to be the most oppressive of all Kingly oppressions; and they resolved to so frame the Constitution that no one man should hold the power of bringing this oppression upon us. " Abraham Lincoln

It is amazing how different same party members can be! And I agree with President Lincoln

I find in my studying of Abe, and Bush, that though there are similarities, that I donot find Bush to conduct his presidency with the same openness, sympathy to the common people that Lincoln did. AlsoLincoln was fighting a war to preserve a union, on it's own territory.
And to comment about government by representation - I read a quote from Churchill today - A good argument against democracy - spend 5 minutes talking to an average voter.

Answer 1

During the Civil War, Lincoln appropriated powers no previous President had wielded:

He used his war powers to proclaim a blockade.
Suspended the writ of habeas corpus.
Spent money without congressional authorization.
Imprisoned 18,000 suspected Confederate sympathizers without trial.

Nearly all of his actions, although vehemently denounced by the Copperheads (faction of Democrats in the North), were subsequently upheld by Congress and the Courts.

It is amazing how similar same party members can be!

Answer 2

So that could've been true historically, but remember we do not live in the democracy, but in a republic, which means we are represented by a few, take congress for example. And who sits in the congress? The rich folks. But the founding fathers actually planned it that way. They did NOT want to give power to the common folk, because they thought the common folk could be persuaded too easily.
Of course these guys have different agendas in mind than most of the country. So this brings up the question: What are they influenced by?
Ever since Eisenhower, when he built up the military-industrial complex. They are the guys with the money who influence our government officials, and that's how we get in these stupid wars. So we do not have a single man deciding to go to war, but in effect, it's the same thing. It's rich man's war, and poor man's fight. Enjoy.

Answer 3

Yes, and Lincoln made the same hard decision Bush made. That the Constitution also makes the President the Commander in Chief of the military. And when he goes to Congress and asks for their assention, which they both received, to commit troops to a military conflict, that he is the one in charge of the war effort. Not the Congress. There are many parallels, like the changing of tactics and Generals which make your analigy interesting. Lincoln was also very unpopular going into the 1864 election , until Sherman took Atlanta and marched to Savannah. Had that not happened he would have lost the election in 64'. Bush is unpopular now, I wonder if events in the near future will change that, and how history will perceive his Presidency. The similarities are quite interesting. I think you may have been shooting for the opposite, but then again, maybe you can see some of the similarities . Or perhaps you are not really interested in that, and have a close minded approach, that dictates you are only interested in trying to advance a liberal agenda and made the mistake of asking this question, not realizing you were shooting yourself in the foot.

Answer 4

So, why has our cowardly Senate abdicated their constitutional right to declare war? Per the Constitution, it's THEIR responsibility, and they voted to hand it off to Bush (including Kerry, Edwards, and Hillary). They could stop it any time they choose. So, why is it that Congress chooses to keep the war going? Are they doing so to make Bush look bad? Or, are they lining their pockets with oil money? Or, are they simply stupid?

Answer 5

I agree with Lincoln too; however, despite how poorly Bush has handled and managed the war in Iraq, it was approved by congress. At the time there were many democrats suppporting Bush too.

Answer 6

But this could be the twilight of the Imperial Presidency, as George the Liar has proven so incompetent that the next president will truly have to balance power with the legislative branch.

Answer 7

The contrast in the characters of President Lincoln and the frat clowns in office today is blinding.

Thank you so much for the quote.

Answer 8

Right on target !! Mr. President Bush has some "growing up " to do to even try to meet the terms of the above !!!!

Answer 9

Your point is retarded.

President Bush did not send us to war. Hillary Clinton and the other congressmen did when they voted to go to war.

Answer 10

Lincoln didn't have a vicious biased media to contend with.