SIX LINCOLNISMS FOR BARACK

I know some faithful readers tire of my picking at the President. For that, I apologize, but before I quit my criticisms for the year 2009, I quote six "You cannots" from President Lincoln which I pray our current office holder would adapt. Like the saguaro pictured, captured by our daughter somewhere between Tucson and Phoenix, one is the most important and I leave it for the last for effect.

#1 You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.

#2 You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.

#3 You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.

#4 You cannot build character and courage by taking away people's initiative and independence.

#5 You cannot lift the wage earner up by putting the wage payer down.

And #6 You cannot help people permanently by doing for them what they could and should be doing for themselves.

Those statements made by Mr. Lincoln so many years ago parallel my political ideology to a tee. That's why I'm a staunch Republican and simply disagree with nearly every thing our current Commander-in-Chief stands for and represents.

I still love my country; I still pray for my President Barack Obama. And, yes, I still do a lot of things that I'm uncomfortable doing. But I sincerely pray that he take Lincoln's words to heart.