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Originally Posted by Takeda Shingen
I'd agree with that. Abraham Lincoln was a politican, and a shrewd one at that. There is no reason that a great politician would not make for a great politician.
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Politicians tend to get bad press. They rank at about the same level as used car dealers, yet you need a good politician who knows not only what needs to be done, but how it can be done. When you need open heart surgery, do you go to the surgeon with 20 years experience or the wet behind the ears rookie fresh out of school?
Lincoln was very smart about looking at the big picture and how to get there, not only the grand vision, but the endless deals, maneuvering, ego managing that goes into building a coalition. He had no ego (for a politician), he played the country hick card to the hilt, even though he was always 2-3 steps ahead of anyone else.
The more interesting question is what modern president could have done as good a job as Lincoln in his place?
Kennedy, Eisenhower and Obama did not have the experience. Reagan, Bush sr. and jr., Carter did not have the political skills. LBJ could'nt make the hard military decisions. Nixon did not have sufficient
gravitas to rally the country.
I think only FDR and perhaps Truman would have had a shot.