Doris Kearns Goodwin (leftist) wrote an amazing book about Lincoln called 'Team of Rivals'. It details Lincoln's predicament: he was the last choice of his party, surrounded by ambitious, craven men. He did the only thing he could have done-- he made them his cabinet. By the end of his term they were almost to a man his staunchest allies. Read it, and amaze yourself at how small this barack obama really is.
ping