“Well meaning ape” “Original Gorilla” “A first-rate, second-rate man”= all quotes about Lincoln during the Civil War, by members of his cabinet, by the General in charge of all the Armies, by leading members of his party at the time. His mental capacity was characterized as “painful imbecility” by Sect. of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase.
Lefties, even in the face of more and more good news out of Iraq, are still posting their claims accusing President Bush of “bumbling” the war effort (sorry, no link for anti-American jeramiads).
And it can be argued that Lincoln “bumbled” the first 3-4 years of the war. He named bad, incompetent generals. He didn’t free the slaves until several years into the war, and then only as a political manoeuvre, effective only in areas that the Union did NOT control, there fore in actuality, it didn’t free a single slave. It was an act of serendipity that Union successes came in the late summer of ‘04, or he would not even have been elected.
FDR presided over our defeat in North Africa and great losses, much much greater than in Iraq, in the Pacific (some bordering on massacres) and the Invasion of Normandy. He presided over the “Battle of the Bulge” where Allied troops were taken by surprise, many cut off, captured and killed by an almost played out German Army.
Wars are difficult to plan, and you throw the plan out the window once the war begins. You can only truly gauge the success of a president years after he has left office. The tide does seem to have turned in Iraq, and even the hostile press is recognizing it, much to lefties (like you)chagrin, because all the scorn they heaped on President Bush for these four years is now forcing them to eat crow as he is successful.
I don’t doubt you hate to admit America wins EVER militarily or that George W. Bush ever does anything correctly as a leader, but time will help you get over it.