"Humble enough to listen"? We're not talking about the same Mitt Romney, are we? Unless he means listening to opinion polls and humbly changing his positions when they're politically inconvenient.
Abraham Lincoln, good lord. He'll free all the slaves! You know, those rich, white slaves.
I'm tempted to snarkily go along with what #5 said, but I think a simpler, less prejudiced explanation suffices: the first Presidential debate has greatly energized and enthused the Republicans, and has won them round to a warm embrace of Mitt's Post-Truth identity. So, now more than ever, they'll say whatever they can think of in the hopes it will convince the rubes, regardless of the facts - because the evidence, in the form of Mitt's huge poll boost, seems to indicate this is a winning strategy.
@#7 It was something like four points, for something like ten days. There are some quibbles (the effect was smaller in swing states than non-swing states, the answers of the respondents regarding affiliation seemed to indicate that more respondents were identified as Republicans after the debates than before), but that's a pretty huge boost. It sufficed to move Romney from less than a 20% chance in Nate Silver's statistical model to something like a 40% chance. I think the tone of my comment should make it clear this didn't please me in the slightest, but it is the case.
Lincoln blatantly violated the Constitution. So much so that the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court told him outright to basically knock it off, to which Lincoln considered throwing the Chief Justice in jail. Lincoln suspended Habeus Corpus, abused his executive powers, and exercised authority far in excess of his office.
I know he's remembered for saving the union and for freeing the slaves (even though the truth behind that is overlooked as well), but people forget that he essentially had to become a dictatorial tyrant to do so.
So, in that fashion I suppose I agree with Beck that Romney could become like Lincoln... Abusing his authority. Warmongering. Yeah, the republicans have a long, long history of that.
I too believe Romney could split the union... Oh, not what he meant? He certainly isn't going to promote civil rights, what is left? Growing a great beard?
@10 It was in Lincoln's and the Federal Gov't right to suspend Habeas Corpus as stated in Article 1 Section 9 of the US Constitution, during cases of rebellion and invasion of public safety may require it. It was a Civil War, besides problems with border states like Maryland, Missouri and Kentucky.
How Lincoln dealt with Copperheads, was much a violation of civil liberties, given the Lincoln Administration tried them for treason. Lincoln wasn't a dictator, he was a President who was in a very desperate situation, and was very assertive that was absent from previous Presidents' Administration, like the Buchanan's Administration, who sat on their hands as Southerners seceded, raided Federal Armories and blockaded US forts in South Carolina..
@14,
Yeah, presidents do have that authority, but Lincoln's suspension of the writ was overturned (by Chief Justice Taney... which prompted the animosity b/w them).
On your other points, I agree. Lincoln was in a terrible situation and he did the best he could, and did save the Union, and furthermore, put to rest any further (serious) claims of states' soveriegn "rights" to secede.
Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War are extremely complicated. I have mixed feelings on Lincoln's actions, but no, he wasn't a dictator in the true sense of the word. I do disagree with popular polls that place Lincoln in the top spot of 'greatest presidents.' Franklin Roosevelt earned that spot, imho.... but this is getting off topic.
Anyway, Romney's no Lincoln, that's for certain. Also, Glenn Beck is insane. Also certain.
I don't think Glenn Beck is insane as much as poorly educated combined with paranoia. He and David Barton have an ulterior motive in their propaganda that they propagate. What they do well is their disingenuity, in which they gotten down to slick selling.
I've always heard that "Glenn Beck" is a professional personality, it is all show, but this was from someone who said they knew him a couple of years ago.
@18 - Beck doesn't believe a word of it. He just wants to cash in on rubes who believe anything their told, and get free publicity from other rubes who choose to report on his nutso claims.
He's today's equivalent of P.T. Barnum. He knows exactly what he's doing.
Glenn Beck says Romney can't fix the problems, then goes on to compare the dolt to Abraham Lincoln, calling Romney humble enough to listen (presumably to God, presumably to receive the necessary answers to fix the nation's problems). Uh huh.
Rambling, incoherent, self-contradictory, and completely out of touch. I'd say that sums up pretty much the both of them, and their shared religion too.
@18, @20 & @21 The man is clearly mentally ill, and has been for some time. "Cocaine induced paranoia" was the old DSM IV term for it. The guy has a family history of serious mental illness, fried his brain on a decade long coke binge, and sees the Joe Smith story as the shining truth. He may "know" what he's doing, but only in the sense that a pathological liar "knows" what he's trying to tell people.
Glenn Beck's doing comedy now? Because I gotta tell you that is some funny shit!!
Abraham Lincoln, good lord. He'll free all the slaves! You know, those rich, white slaves.
I know he's remembered for saving the union and for freeing the slaves (even though the truth behind that is overlooked as well), but people forget that he essentially had to become a dictatorial tyrant to do so.
So, in that fashion I suppose I agree with Beck that Romney could become like Lincoln... Abusing his authority. Warmongering. Yeah, the republicans have a long, long history of that.
How Lincoln dealt with Copperheads, was much a violation of civil liberties, given the Lincoln Administration tried them for treason. Lincoln wasn't a dictator, he was a President who was in a very desperate situation, and was very assertive that was absent from previous Presidents' Administration, like the Buchanan's Administration, who sat on their hands as Southerners seceded, raided Federal Armories and blockaded US forts in South Carolina..
[/stickupbuttmockseriousvoice]
Yeah, presidents do have that authority, but Lincoln's suspension of the writ was overturned (by Chief Justice Taney... which prompted the animosity b/w them).
On your other points, I agree. Lincoln was in a terrible situation and he did the best he could, and did save the Union, and furthermore, put to rest any further (serious) claims of states' soveriegn "rights" to secede.
Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War are extremely complicated. I have mixed feelings on Lincoln's actions, but no, he wasn't a dictator in the true sense of the word. I do disagree with popular polls that place Lincoln in the top spot of 'greatest presidents.' Franklin Roosevelt earned that spot, imho.... but this is getting off topic.
Anyway, Romney's no Lincoln, that's for certain. Also, Glenn Beck is insane. Also certain.
I don't think Glenn Beck is insane as much as poorly educated combined with paranoia. He and David Barton have an ulterior motive in their propaganda that they propagate. What they do well is their disingenuity, in which they gotten down to slick selling.
He's today's equivalent of P.T. Barnum. He knows exactly what he's doing.
Glenn Beck says Romney can't fix the problems, then goes on to compare the dolt to Abraham Lincoln, calling Romney humble enough to listen (presumably to God, presumably to receive the necessary answers to fix the nation's problems). Uh huh.
Rambling, incoherent, self-contradictory, and completely out of touch. I'd say that sums up pretty much the both of them, and their shared religion too.