144 years ago, the 1864 election for President of the United States was as contentious as ours is today. President Lincoln, a Republican, was commander in chief of the GAR, Grand Army of the Republic. We were engaged in a civil war because the Southern states had seceded from the union over states rights and slavery issues. In July of 1863 the tides of war turned in favor of the union as General Robert E. Lee was defeated at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Gettysburg was to that war what “The Surge” is to the Iraq War. The turning point where battles must still be fought yet victory lies ahead.
In a narrative about Illinois during the Civil War (http://dig.lib.niu.edu/civilwar/narrative7.html), writer Drew Vandecreek (Northern Illinois University, Digitization Project and Lincoln Scholar) had this to say: “Even as his armies pushed deep into Virginia, Lincoln faced his greatest challenge in 1864. Many Northerners had tired of war. Northern Democrats began denouncing General Grant as a ‘Butcher.’ One newspaper declared, ‘Patriotism is played out. Each hour is but sinking us deeper into bankruptcy and desolation.’ While Lee’s armies teetered on the verge of destruction, the Confederacy saw its last bright hope flicker in the fall of 1864. Southerners considered their northern sympathizers (Democrats) to be “large and strong enough, if left to operate constitutionally, to paralyze the war and the majority party (Republicans).”
Fast forward to the present and this last paragraph would read something like this. US, Iraq and coalition troops, reinforced by Brigades forming “The Surge” pushed into formerly hostile areas and pacified them. Former insurgents switched allegiances and now fight alongside US and Iraqi soldiers against Al Qaeda and Sunni militants. Moveon.org, an organization funded by socialist and Nobama supporter, George Soros, took out a full page ad (http://pol.moveon.org/petraeus.html)  in the New York Times saying, “General Petraeus or General Betray US,” when Petraeus, the commander of Multi National Forces-Iraq, testified in Congress we needed a surge to change the wars outcome. Prominent liberals like Nobama, Clinton, Schumer, Durbin, Kennedy and Pelosi vehemently opposed a “surge” buildup. Liberals nationwide along with their allies, the majority of the media, declare the War lost and want to retreat, bring the troops home and let the militants and Al Qaeda win. Liberals decry the billions to fund the war could be better spent on social programs at home. 144 years, ladies and gentlemen, and the same Democrats are still defeatists. Like the Confederates, Al Qaeda and the Iraqi militants are hoping today’s Democrats will be able to paralyze the war effort constitutionally and in the ballot box so they can achieve victory, something the surge has denied them. Had the 1864 Democrats succeeded? The US might be 39 States today and the 11 Confederate States of America might still legally have slaves.
Nobama’s plan to withdraw troops regardless of the consequences, just to garner your votes is tantamount to treason. McCain’s policy will be to continue the turn over to Iraqi armed forces units until we are no longer needed, and then bring our troops home, with honor for both the troops and the United States of America. Your vote will determine if we leave Iraq with honor or with your tails between your legs. NOBama, NO Guts, NO Presidency.

John D Connors
Dixon