Nolan Finley may have attended an underfunded school, or have been AWOL when his history teacher covered the wonderful career of that saint of saints in American esteem and honor: Abe Lincoln.
If Nolan knew more about Abe and Lincoln's legislative career; Finley would not make such a dreadful, embarrassing mis-under-estimation of the power of "taking a walk" on hamfisted, dirty politics for high moral purpose.
Nolan chides and digs Wisconsin Democratic Senators:
"American-style democracy holds together because no matter how nasty the political game gets, the players honor a few inviolable rules. We obey the laws, even the ones we disagree with. We respect the ballot box. And after even the most bitterly contested election, the loser accepts the results, works within the system and awaits another chance to prevail with voters." ("AWOL Dems defy ballot box", Nolan Finley, Detroit News, 2.27.11)
The thrust of Finely's opine:
"Democratic lawmakers in both states fled to neighboring Illinois, where they hope to win with their absence what they couldn't at the ballot box - namely, the right to control policymaking."
However, Nolan's history is a bit shallow: The Wisconsin State Senators act; "Their choice of refuge is eminently appropriate, for Abraham Lincoln himself famously tried to deny his political opponents quorum through a very unorthodox method of departure in 1840." As so well put by History News Network staffers.
Whoa! Let's go back to class, Nolan:
"Ward Hill Lamon was Lincoln's friend in Illinois, and served as Marshal of the District of Columbia during the administration of President Lincoln. When the state bank was threatened in the Illinois legislature, the Whigs came to its defence (sic) by absenting themselves to prevent a quorum, leaving just Lincoln and one other behind to call ayes and noes. When the Sergeant-at-Arms rounded up some Whigs, the dedicated Lincoln jumped out a window in a failed attempt to thwart a quorum."
-- Ward Hill Lamon, The Life of Abraham Lincoln, 1872, pp. 216-8
Now, you know.
Can you emulate "Honest" Abe and retract your condemnation?
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