That union is not simply a matter of law or accident of geography, but a moral commitment we make to our fellow citizens and to our shared future. That democracies endure not only because of constitutions or armies, but because free people choose, again and again, to bind their fates together. That only by maintaining a sense of shared sacrifice and responsibility — for ourselves and one another — can we do the work that must be done in this country. And that it is precisely when the climb is steepest that we relearn how to take the mountaintop, as one nation and one people.
That’s the very definition of what it means to be American. And together, that’s how we will do what Lincoln called on us to do, and “nobly save…the last best hope of earth.”
Yes, and where do billionaires fit into this picture? Wealth inequality is a tangible and pervasive demonstration of the many ways some Americans' fate is not at all bound to the rest. We'll never be able to come together if democratic systems are unable to confront this problem.
Perhaps reminding Republicans of the views of the man who brought Republicans into the Presidency and the rise of their party is useful. As it is, Democrats carry Lincoln’s vision; they are the new party of Lincoln.
Unfortunately, I think the party of Lincoln died when Andrew Johnson was sworn in as President. I have not seen another American politician in many years, if ever, who is bold, brave, brilliant, and principled enough to be placed anywhere near Lincoln.
That said, while the Democrats are not the party of Lincoln, they are the only major US party that isn't antithetical to everything Lincoln stood for (except maybe wrestling and iconic hats).
The MAGA folks that would need to be convinced by this statement don’t read, they watch. However true the argument, however stately the prose, I don’t understand the intent of this. Who is it for? We’re in the midst of a hostile fascist takeover, our weak American democracy allowed it to happen and is currently failing, these eloquent think pieces seem like a slap in the face honestly.
It's self-serving for leaders who proudly created the system in which MAGA has flourished. They are incapable of the self-awareness necessary to own their role, admit wrongdoing, and risk their own power in the pursuit of something else.
I agree that the foundational role of racism in Trump's rise is impossible to ignore, but I also think you're really limiting your analysis. Don't forget that Obama won two elections himself! He came to power as a generational voice for hope and change akin to FDR, but utterly failed to govern that way. Imagine if Obama had commanded the Democratic Party toward justice the way Trump commands the Republicans toward lawlessness. Why was Hillary Clinton his heir apparent? Why did so many of his senior officials move onto Silicon Valley jobs to lay the groundwork for technofascism? Despite the mandate Obama received in 2008 to confront the military industrial complex and other financial interests, he retreated into the kind of soppy rhetoric he's still peddling today.
I gave multiple examples of leadership failure that go beyond legislative achievement. His failure to combat outrage and misinformation networks by foreign governments also led to Trump's rise. Ultimately the point is that another Obama won't get us out of this mess.
Obama literally held more power than any person in generations, possibly in all of history, and your claim is that to accomplish anything meaningful he needed more???
He had a filibuster proof majority in the senate for a few weeks, and he spent that on Obamacare. The Republican minority in the senate blocked everything else.
Learn how the government works and read some history.
The reason why Trump is governing by executive order is that Democrats un the Senate will block any of his heinous policies from becoming law.
Thank goodness.
Beautifully eloquent. But why is he writing an ebullient substack about Lincoln?
Is it because Gettysburg is planning a massive, highly detailed live theatrical re-creation of Lincoln’s historic 1863 train arrival, his procession through town, and his delivery of the Gettysburg Address?
Or is it because he'd rather not use his platform to forcefully call out kakistocrats on Capitol Hill?
[OP] D-R-AZ | a day ago
Excerpt:
That union is not simply a matter of law or accident of geography, but a moral commitment we make to our fellow citizens and to our shared future. That democracies endure not only because of constitutions or armies, but because free people choose, again and again, to bind their fates together. That only by maintaining a sense of shared sacrifice and responsibility — for ourselves and one another — can we do the work that must be done in this country. And that it is precisely when the climb is steepest that we relearn how to take the mountaintop, as one nation and one people.
That’s the very definition of what it means to be American. And together, that’s how we will do what Lincoln called on us to do, and “nobly save…the last best hope of earth.”
ShockinglyAccurate | a day ago
Yes, and where do billionaires fit into this picture? Wealth inequality is a tangible and pervasive demonstration of the many ways some Americans' fate is not at all bound to the rest. We'll never be able to come together if democratic systems are unable to confront this problem.
CaptainAsshat | 23 hours ago
>can we do the work that must be done in this country.
If we don't agree on the work that must be done, however, how can we even approach the same mountain?
[OP] D-R-AZ | 20 hours ago
Perhaps reminding Republicans of the views of the man who brought Republicans into the Presidency and the rise of their party is useful. As it is, Democrats carry Lincoln’s vision; they are the new party of Lincoln.
CaptainAsshat | 20 hours ago
Unfortunately, I think the party of Lincoln died when Andrew Johnson was sworn in as President. I have not seen another American politician in many years, if ever, who is bold, brave, brilliant, and principled enough to be placed anywhere near Lincoln.
That said, while the Democrats are not the party of Lincoln, they are the only major US party that isn't antithetical to everything Lincoln stood for (except maybe wrestling and iconic hats).
DopplerDrone | a day ago
The MAGA folks that would need to be convinced by this statement don’t read, they watch. However true the argument, however stately the prose, I don’t understand the intent of this. Who is it for? We’re in the midst of a hostile fascist takeover, our weak American democracy allowed it to happen and is currently failing, these eloquent think pieces seem like a slap in the face honestly.
kateinoly | a day ago
Seriously?
ShockinglyAccurate | a day ago
It's self-serving for leaders who proudly created the system in which MAGA has flourished. They are incapable of the self-awareness necessary to own their role, admit wrongdoing, and risk their own power in the pursuit of something else.
kateinoly | a day ago
Bullshit. The only way Obama contributed to Trumpism is by being black.
ShockinglyAccurate | a day ago
I agree that the foundational role of racism in Trump's rise is impossible to ignore, but I also think you're really limiting your analysis. Don't forget that Obama won two elections himself! He came to power as a generational voice for hope and change akin to FDR, but utterly failed to govern that way. Imagine if Obama had commanded the Democratic Party toward justice the way Trump commands the Republicans toward lawlessness. Why was Hillary Clinton his heir apparent? Why did so many of his senior officials move onto Silicon Valley jobs to lay the groundwork for technofascism? Despite the mandate Obama received in 2008 to confront the military industrial complex and other financial interests, he retreated into the kind of soppy rhetoric he's still peddling today.
kateinoly | a day ago
It is impossible for a president to govern when the only stated goal of half the government is to oppose everything you propose.
ShockinglyAccurate | a day ago
In my opinion your expectations of the President of the United States are far too low and your terms for the opposition are far too accommodating.
kateinoly | 23 hours ago
You must not understand how laws are passed in the US
ShockinglyAccurate | 21 hours ago
I gave multiple examples of leadership failure that go beyond legislative achievement. His failure to combat outrage and misinformation networks by foreign governments also led to Trump's rise. Ultimately the point is that another Obama won't get us out of this mess.
kateinoly | 20 hours ago
I repeat, you seem to have no clue about actual presidential powers.
Zank_Frappa | a day ago
Obama literally held more power than any person in generations, possibly in all of history, and your claim is that to accomplish anything meaningful he needed more???
kateinoly | 23 hours ago
Bullshit
He had a filibuster proof majority in the senate for a few weeks, and he spent that on Obamacare. The Republican minority in the senate blocked everything else.
Learn how the government works and read some history.
The reason why Trump is governing by executive order is that Democrats un the Senate will block any of his heinous policies from becoming law. Thank goodness.
DopplerDrone | a day ago
Agreed
CruelAngelsPostgrad | 21 hours ago
Beautifully eloquent. But why is he writing an ebullient substack about Lincoln?
Is it because Gettysburg is planning a massive, highly detailed live theatrical re-creation of Lincoln’s historic 1863 train arrival, his procession through town, and his delivery of the Gettysburg Address?
Or is it because he'd rather not use his platform to forcefully call out kakistocrats on Capitol Hill?