The key graph in this opinion piece is the one listing Bush's many alleged sins, especially as they relate to how his administration has "strayed from the rule of law." But Bush has yet to suspend the right of Habeus Corpus, throw newspaper editors and other private citizens in jail without charge or impose rigorous censorship on the nation's press, even to the extent of personally rewriting news stories. Lincoln did all of these things during war, yet is only mentioned in the context of his criticism of Polk. This piece is simply Eric Foner's ideological vent against a president he clearly despises.

Though it's an editorial, the informative nature of the article somewhat raises its stature, IMO.

I find the piece a bit of a disappointment. I was hoping for something more substancial, balanced and eloquent from the writer, who is a history professor at Columbia. More history and less opinion would have given the reader better context for a comparison.

Good journalism; concise, with some opinion mixed in the writing, but otherwise well written and well sourced. I don't think it takes a real scholar to to figure this out about this president, given his record so far.

This is journlism with a spin. I will assume it appeared on an opinion page and as such Mr. Foner makes his argument and if you happen to agree, his case. To me, conspicuously absent from his list is Woodrow Wilson. I wonder if Wilson's banking and tax reforms have ever been accurately assesed for the importantance of their continuing effect on the dwindling populist power of government? Yep, another mainstream media Taboo.

I enjoy being led into a news story with an historical perspective. With this bit of knowled I am better able to understand, as in this instance, that other person in other times have faced the same problem, how does one objectively rate a sitting president without inserting too much bias that is not addressed in the analysis. I myself would whole heartedly agree with the author, but I realize that I am not objective about this subject. Good story, well written and, if not objective, toughtfully concluded.