Morning Coffee (148)

Greetings, Coffee Quaffers. I shouldn't even be here this fine, crisp beach morning. No, I had intended on going to the Sandbridge Civic League meeting, but it appears that the current president of said league is not terribly civic minded, as he didn't return my email soliciting information as to the location of the meeting. Secretive organization, that Sandbridge Civic League. I suppose they don't want strange, bearded newcomers interfering with their affairs.

Calling on all Spirits:
In 2003, I walked the same ground as Alexander the Great while in Afghanistan. I did it again in 2008. In 2006 and 2007, I walked the same ground as Augustus, Constantine, and a slew of of other Romans. I own Roman coins with the faces of Emperors Constans and Constantius I. Today, I am a master tactician, able to lead a small army of Macedonians to victory over numerically superior enemies. I'm also a political genius with the ability to navigate through a civil war and establish a dynasty. What's more, I'm able to force a fractured religious movement into accepting a unified doctrine. All this because I leaned on and took support from these great historical men. The problem is, it's all complete and total nonsense.

But this sort of nonsense is exactly what Barack Obama is doing as I type. Today, he boards a train in Philadelphia to retrace Abraham Lincoln's last segment of his trip to Washington, DC. Except, as Harold Holzer notes, this trip rings of gaudy showmanship. Obama has already been to the Capitol, and "backtracking north to come south may be a bit of an artifice." Nevertheless, Obama will stop in Baltimore, which Lincoln passed through in disguise due to an assassination threat, and attend some sort of event. He'll be sworn in on the Bible that Lincoln used in 1861. After that, he'll link(-oln) up with Congress for a lunch served on replica dishware to that picked out by Mary Todd Lincoln. And while it's true that Obama was born poor (albeit not in a log cabin), and served in the Illinois state legislature, let's not forget that the former was simply luck of the draw, while the latter was a conscious choice. As was announcing his candidacy on the steps of the old state capitol building in Springfield. It's hard to tell what of this has been carefully cultivated by Obama and what hasn't.

While Obama might be overdoing the link with Lincoln, his supporters most certainly are. The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies selected as the official theme of the inauguration, "A New Birth of Freedom." This is a phrase taken directly from the famed Gettysburg Address. The committee also elected to serve dishes that Lincoln enjoyed, seafood stew, duck, and pheasant, for the post-inauguration lunch.

Many commentators seem to agree with Princeton University historian Sean Wilentz when he says, "Basically, a lot of it is twaddle, but it's harmless twaddle." While this may be true, or not, it seems that it has the potential to raise expectations unduly. And twaddle as it may be, none of it is warranted. Obama may have been born poor, he may have gotten to where he is because he's eloquent, and he may be black, but to compare him in any manner to a man who many, through the lens of nearly 150 years, consider to be the greatest President in history is grossly premature. And frankly, to encourage such comparisons smacks of supreme arrogance. That's not to say he won't be a good or even great President. But, despite whatever similarities there are, manufactured or real, he's got an awful lot to prove before he is in the same class as Lincoln.

A quote from Sean Wilentz for my good friend Luke: "To the extent that he's emulating any president, Lincoln is about as good as it's going to get. If he was trying to emulate Calvin Coolidge, that would be a problem." Wow. Really, Sean? I know you're a historian, but do you know anything about Coolidge? Nah, I guess you're in favor of the Imperial Presidency, too.

If you're like me and Presidential Pageantry makes you ill, you should read the article "Networks Prepare for Inauguration" on Variety.com. Of course, if you love that sort of thing, go there too, because you'll be all excited about all the neat Obama-related celebrations that are happening. If that's the case, Don Rieck's statement, "There is something of a Camelot-y feel about the Obamas" will give you a warm and fuzzy feeling in the pit of your stomach instead of the nausea it induces in me. Anyway, do you want me to explain all the reasons I find this to be just wrong? I will, but I don't want to beat a dead horse. Can someone say, "Cult of Personality?" I remember that there used to be a day when we ridiculed nations that fostered such feelings in their leaders.

A New Declaration of Independence:
But through all the Lincoln-isms and pageantry Obama, before boarding his train this morning in Philadelphia, decided that it wasn't enough. He said,

"While our problems may be new, what is required to overcome them is not. What is required is the same perseverance and idealism that our founding fathers displayed. What is required is a new declaration of independence, not just in our nation, but in our own lives - from ideology and small thinking, prejudice and bigotry - an appeal not to our easy instincts but to our better angels."

Can someone explain to me what this means in plain English? Is he saying that we're presently ideologically driven, small-minded bigots? He, a black man, was elected President. Doesn't sound like we're still a bunch of bigots. So we have new problems, but ones that require "not new" solutions? Then why a "new declaration?" That sounds like a new solution. Also, we must have perseverance and idealism, but not ideology. Even though ideology and idealism are quite related according to the dictionary, I know that modern parlance gives ideology a negative connotation. Interestingly, the modern use suggests that ideology is merely idealism combined with perseverance. Worse than the nonsensical nature of this rhetorical flourish, I wonder if the man has a single original thought in his head. Lincoln stopped at in Philadelphia on his trip in 1861 and made a much better speech that mentioned the Declaration and better angels too.

Eye O You:
If you need another example of how government mismanages money, yesterday California Controller John Chiang said that the state will be delaying $3.7 billion in tax refunds because the state has no money. The state may even have to issue IOUs to residents; it is unable to rely on borrowing from special funds and investors. What's worse, CNN news reported yesterday that it is unknown if banks will even honor any state-issued IOUs sent to residents. It's possible that Californians could go without a refund at all, despite rating one. Amazing.

I suggest that next year, Californians not pay taxes during the year and instead wait until they get the bill from the government of California. That way, the people can see if they themselves properly budgeted their money. If not, and they have no money, they can issue IOUs to the government. I mean, why not? Sure, it's a duty to pay taxes to some degree, but don't you think that the government has a duty to taxpayers, that being responsible management of the taxes paid?

Maybe we do need a new Declaration of Independence, but one of a different type than envisioned by Obama. One that says that government will have limited interference with our lives, manage the budget frugally, and be tempered by the law and adequate checks and balances. Free us from government stupidity...

Word of the Day: Magnanimous (adjective): 1. Noble in mind or soul; free from mean or petty feelings or acts. 2. Showing a generous spirit; generous in forgiving.

On This Day in History: Octavian (Augustus) marries Livia Drusilla (38 BCE). Pope Gregory XI moves the Papacy back to Rome from Avignon (1377). Captain James Cook and his crew become the first Europeans to sail below the Antarctic Circle (1773). The US takes possession of Wake Island (1899). The US pays Denmark $25 million for the Virgin Islands (1917). Popeye the Sailor Man first appears in a comic strip (1929). President Dwight D Eisenhower delivers a televised farewell address three days before leaving office. In it, he warns against the power of a growing "military industrial complex (1961). See, contrary to liberals' beliefs, as evident from their outrage, Bush was not the first US President to conduct a televised farewell address. A B-52 collides with a KC-135 tanker over Spain and drops three 70-kiloton nuclear bombs (1966). Operation Desert Storm begins (1991). President Bill Clinton posthumously raises Meriwether Lewis' rank from Lieutenant to Captain (2001).

"Perhaps one of the most important accomplishments of my administration has been minding my own business." - Calvin Coolidge.
"You can't know too much, but you can say too much." - Calvin Coolidge.
"I have never been hurt by what I have not said." - Calvin Coolidge.