Good morning, it’s Friday, Feb. 12, 2021, the day of the week I pass along quotations intended to be inspirational or thought-provoking. Today’s comes from America’s greatest president, born this day in 1809 just outside the Kentucky hamlet of Hodgenville.
First, though, let me point you to RealClearPolitics’ front page, which presents our poll averages, videos, breaking news stories, and aggregated opinion pieces spanning the political spectrum. Today’s lineup includes Rory Cooper on Joe Biden’s stance on reopening the nation’s public schools (National Review), Stacey Abrams and Lauren Groh-Wargo about how to turn red states blue (New York Times), and a column Times’ editors wouldn’t publish from their own Bret Stephens. We also offer original material from our own reporters, columnists, and contributors, including the following:
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A Monsoon of Manure. J. Peder Zane cites the reasons he’s not watching the impeachment trial.
The Federalist Society Stood by the Law, Not Trump. Jonathan D. Urick responds to critics who have pounced on the conservative legal movement for its role in the Trump administration.
Time for Republicans to Tell Trump, “You’re Fired.” Jason Garshfield blames the 45th president for squandering a relatively strong position for the GOP following November’s election.
Yes, I Do Believe the Stock Market Is Rigged. At RealClearMarkets, investor Ken Fisher explains why “rigged” is not a negative thing.
Five Facts on Pandemic Relief Spending. No Labels has this primer at RealClearPolicy.
A Boon for Charitable Giving Is Threatened by Congress. Also at RCPolicy, Howard Husock warns of unintended consequences from a bill that would rein in donor-advised funds (DAF) accounts.
There Is No Point in Extending U.S. Commitment to Afghanistan. At RealClearWorld, Daniel Davis argues that the problems in Afghanistan can only be resolved by the parties that must live with the results.
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Joseph R. Biden Jr. inherited a divided country, of this there is no doubt. What also cannot be disputed is that Abraham Lincoln took national office at a time of far greater division.
Yes, the violent and frightening Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol was staged by a mob trying to forestall the peaceful transition of power from one political party to another — one ethos for another, as well. By the time Lincoln took the oath of office on March 4, 1861, seven Southern states (Texas, Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi and South Carolina — the ringleader of secession) had already voted to leave the Union and were raising armies.
The galvanizing event in this precipitous rebellion was the election of Abraham Lincoln as the 16th president of the United States. And so, the very question before the nation was whether those states would and could remain “united.”
Lincoln did his rhetorical best in his inaugural address. Although he was unable to persuade Southern whites to use their “better angels” as a touchstone, Lincoln tried. Perhaps in the 21st century, we will be smarter and will heed his call.
“Physically speaking, we cannot separate,” Lincoln said after taking the oath of office. “We cannot remove our respective sections from each other, nor build an impassable wall between them. A husband and wife may be divorced, and go out of the presence, and beyond the reach of each other; but the different parts of our country cannot do this. They cannot but remain face to face; and intercourse, either amiable or hostile, must continue between them.”
And that’s our quote of the week.
Carl M. Cannon
Washington Bureau chief, RealClearPolitics
@CarlCannon (Twitter)
[email protected]
