> So, he was opposed to projecting American power abroad in the Mexican
> War, but in the Civil War he sought to keep the Union in tact in order
> to project American power abroad ? That seems precisely the
> contradictory hackiness yet non-hackiness that is at issue in the
> exchange with Robert Wood on Richardson.
Clearly, things had changed from 1846 to 1861, augmented by AL moving from Congress to the White House. Why that's surprising, I don't know.
Should Obama win in November, we might see the same movement -- from opposing the Iraq war in '03, to taking over the helm in '09. Then there'll be the continuing Israeli pummeling and strangulation of the Palestinians, which Obama will not oppose, and who knows what other delights will arrive on his watch? Again, none of this should surprise anyone, if it happens. What will be interesting to see is how Obama's liberal supporters adapt to him becoming an imperial manager, and what kind of apologia they'll concoct when he's the one bombing Muslims.
Dennis