[WhiskeyPapa]

In fact, it was the incredible stupidity of the Dems which allowed Lincoln to be elected in the first place.

No, they wanted Lincoln elected because they wanted to split. Look at Lincoln's resume. Not very impressive.

And yet look what he did. Awesome.

Walt

[justshutupandtakeit]

I am not convinced that was their purpose during the election but the larger point is that Lincoln was elected because of the split within the Democratic party. It is certainly possible that the Slaveocrats underestimated Lincoln after all they were aristocrats who looked down upon a nobody with no connections, pedigree or education as less than a slave. They used "White Trash" such as he for their menial jobs when slaves were not available. Thus, it is easy to believe them capable of not realizing the caliber of man they would be facing. This I believe properly qualifies as "stupidity."