Lincoln, being an Illinois native son, naturally has a significant place in the Chicago Historical Society Museum (also known as the Chicago History Museum). It’s located in the Lincoln Park section of the city for goodness sake. In walking through the Lincoln exhibit, I am always struck by the vitriol of the political cartoons of that era. It seems no insult, personal or political, was deemed too low to heap upon Mr. Lincoln. Considering the reverence with which Lincoln is regarded today, it’s a real shock to see him lampooned as slow-witted, clumsy, grace-less and inept. When Lincoln ran for his second term, it was widely believed that McClellan would clean Honest Abe’s clock in the election (and to be honest, without the Union victory at Gettysburg the outcome might have been different).

          It interests me to see and hear Obama’s political detractors today. It will interest me to see what history makes of the man? And what will history make of those who call the First Lady Moo-chelle?    

          Several years ago, when the United States was seeking support for the invasion of Iraq, France suggested that the effort was misguided and that they would not allow fly-overs of French territories for U.S. military aircraft.
          The response from the Republicans and the Bush administration was so eloquently symbolized by “freedom fries,” the brainchild (and I use the term loosely) of the congressional cafeteria. “We’re not going to serve French fries any more – they’re going to be freedom fries.”
          Two stories, well actually maybe just one and then a whine.
          My wife Eileen and I were on Navy Pier shortly after that debacle and went into a restaurant – got a table and looked at the menu. When I saw “freedom fries,” we got up and left – but not after letting the server know that we didn’t want to eat in any establishment selling freedom fries.
          A few days ago I believe John Kerry suggested that America’s oldest allies did not include the English. That’s true, of course. (it did include the French, without whose aid we might never have liberated ourselves from British rule). In a sense it is to this administration’s credit, despite that pointed snub of all things British, that English muffins have not been dubbed “freedom muffins.” In a sense, the Obama administration's recent deliberative circumspection is even more to their credit.
          When you are driven to bash your long-time friends because they don’t support your actions, maybe the proper course is to re-evaluate those actions and stop bashing old friends.
           But then, France-bashing is de rigueur for the conservative right. (I think they don’t even have a word for de rigueur)