Obama's Choices: Fear not.. read this great review of "Team of Rivals"

[Voice for Peace]

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/06/books/review/06mcpherson.html

A few brief excerpts:

...from p.1...
Joseph Medill, the editor of The Chicago Tribune and one of Lincoln's most loyal supporters, later asked the president why he had made these appointments. "We needed the strongest men of the party in the cabinet," Lincoln replied. "These were the very strongest men. Then I had no right to deprive the country of their services." They were indeed strong men, Goodwin notes. "But in the end, it was the prairie lawyer from Springfield who would emerge as the strongest of them all."

...from p.2...
Such a bald-faced challenge would have justified Seward's dismissal. But Lincoln did not want to worsen the crisis by breaking up his administration after less than a month in office. So he responded in a manner that would become his hallmark in dealing with recalcitrant but important subordinates, generals or senators: a firm assertion of his own policy and responsibility for it, done in such a way as to avoid a personal rebuff that might create an enemy.

...from p.3...
How did he do it? Goodwin deals with this question better than any other writer. Part of the answer lay in Lincoln's steadfastness of purpose, which inspired subordinates to overcome their petty rivalries. Part of it lay in his superb sense of timing and his sensitivity to the pulse of public opinion as he moved to bring along a divided people to the support of "a new birth of freedom." And part of it lay in Lincoln's ability to rise above personal slights, his talent for getting along with men of clashing ideologies and personalities who could not get along with each other.
:fistbump:

[Voice for Peace]

1. please kick & rec this.... pleeeeez pleez I am BEGGIN YOU

[FrenchieCat]

2. K & R!

[Shiver]

3. kicked

[Cults4Bush]

4. This is how you change peoples minds, not by name calling.

I wanted Hil as VP from the start of cycle, I dont like her very much at all but I thought she'd be a good Veep. Like others Im under enthused as SOS but we'll see if she obeys her president or not. If she doesnt then it should be interesting around here.

[Skwmom]

5. You don't unite people by putting two of the most POLARIZING politicians of our time

in charge of the State Department.

[w4rma]

6. Lincoln's Cabinet was far more dysfunctional than Doris Kearns Goodwin's book would have us believe.

Lincoln and the myth of 'Team of Rivals'
President Lincoln's Cabinet was far more dysfunctional than Doris Kearns Goodwin's book would have us believe.
…
Consider this inconvenient truth: Out of the four leading vote-getters for the 1860 Republican presidential nomination whom Lincoln placed on his original team, three left during his first term -- one in disgrace, one in defiance and one in disgust.
…
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-pinsker18-2008nov18,0,1360359.story

[HughMoran]

8. Heh, the rivals couldn't hack it!

Can you imagine Hillary leaving in disgust and having no political power at all?

One side says "don't hire someone you can't fire", but what they don't say is "don't take a job that will be the last job you'll ever hold". She'll play ball - she's got no other choice.

[Coexist]

7. better yet, read the entire book

I really enjoyed it.

[H2O Man]

9. It's a great book.

I strongly recommend that people read it, too.

[Mass]

10. You realize this cabinet was a failure, as has been explained by many people.

Here is a another NYTimes column about the book. I suggest you read it for a different view.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/20/opinion/20oakes.html

[Coexist]

11. the cabinet was not a failure, and Lincoln's handing of a nation in crisis

was tempered and at times, brilliant.

Lincoln was aware of Chase's dealings, it was not a failure, if you read the book, he allowed him to hang himself and allowed himself to remain above the fray, while an influential man was doomed by his own scheming.

Consider reading more than the reviews. Its worth it.

[Mass]

12. I read the book and read alternative views. Sometimes, books are well written and still not

necessarily factual. Lincoln was a great president, but not necessarily for his "Team of Rivals".

You realize some people may disagree with you on what constitute a success or a failure, do you?

[Coexist]

13. absolutely, I obviously disagree with you.

[Voice for Peace]

14. of course I didn't realize that, if I had, if it's true, I wouldn't have posted this one

:crazy: :hi: