Lincoln Über Alles: Dictatorship Comes to America Hardcover – August 15, 2009

Quite an amazing book about Lincoln's "indiscretions" as 16th POTUS. The book flies in the face of the "Lincoln Scholars" perspective. I have long said that Lincoln was one of, if not the worst Presidents this country has ever had. I know this subject is controversial to some, however if you open your mind and read this book with an open mind, you WILL at a minimum need to question your belief in "The Great Emancipator".Mr. Emison blows the lid off of the "conventional" Lincoln story. The book focuses on the many of the Unconstitutional and even treasonous acts committed by Lincoln and his minions. Although many reviewers comment on the "German connection" made by this author, I found that there was one chapter about it and then sporadic mentioning in the latter chapters. The majority of the book is about Lincoln's interpretation, and subsequent disregard of the Constitution and the concept of State's Right and sovereignty.The book explores the incongruous statements by Lincoln sympathizers past and present. The author gives you examples of "Lincoln Scholar" authors and their statements and shows you how their arguments do not hold water.My opinion is based on many books I have read. When viewing secession of the Southern States compared to the secession of the original 13 colonies, it is clear to see that the South was well within their rite to dissolve their affiliation with the Northern States. Mr. Emmison explains the basis of "equal footing" where all additional states brought in after the initial ratification were so brought in on an "equal footing" as the other existing states. In addition to that, there was a lack of "unmistakablility" by the States in the Constitution. Finally the precedent of Legislative Entrenchment makes it clear that no previous legislative body could have more power that any future body.With all of the aforementioned, it is clear from this book and many others that the North were the aggressors in this conflict. The North wanted to subdue and overthrow a duly elected government by force. It is clear that the war was not fought to free slaves as per the words of Mr. Lincoln himself and the actions he permitted as the commander in chief.I enjoyed this book because I am one of those who believe Lincoln was wrong for our country(s) and gets way too much credit for things he did, said, did not say and did not do. Most of the books about Lincoln try to show him as deity and that he could not do wrong. Those with even an elementary level of knowledge can see through that veil.The book is well written and I enjoyed it greatly.

One thing about reading about the period between 1789 and 1865 is that it gives you a real understanding how we got to where we are today, and it's tragic. Tom DiLorenzo has already made a significant contribution to this understanding by his books on Lincoln, which emphasizes the economic issues and imperialist intents of the Founders who did not want limited government, and how they and their disciples worked within government to still achieve their intended ends of consolidation.They did an excellent job while most Americans slumbered, feeling themselves secure under our governing documents. This showed itself to be an illusion as Lincoln virtually trashed the Constitution and imposed, by the force of his will, a radical new interpretation of the meaning of America, displacing that of the Founders.While DiLorenzo concentrated on economic issues, Mr. Emison seems to concentrate on the legal/constitutional issues more, as well as the legality of secession and exposing the criminal acts of the northern generals against civilians, with their wanton destruction of Southern cities.The difference in perspectives of these two writers shakes out to mean there is little redundancy or overlap of material. So, if you've read "The Real Lincoln" or "Lincoln Unmasked" fear not; you're not going to find the same material rehashed in Lincoln Über Alles.The information and insights they share suppement one another and together make a strong case that Lincoln, in conformity to his mentors Hamilton, Marshall and Clay, abused the power of his office and beyond to do all he could to consolidate power in the Federal government and create an imperial presidency worthy of ruling a consolidated Empire.Mr. Emison makes the important point in his final chapter that the war was not "a war between the states" but a war of the Federal Government against the states, to destroy their rights, usurp their power and consolidate it unto itself.Reading that from Emison I recalled a statement by one of Harriet Beecher-Stowe's brothers. Writing after the war he expressed shock at the intrusions of the Federal government in local matters and the shocking rise in taxes. He said the National government was not fit to properly act in local matters and their intrusions were always harmful. He concluded that the greatest dangers the citizens faced were the encroachments and usurpations of power from the Centralized Government.Upon reading that I thought, "Well....duhhhh." I was shocked he seemed shocked.He was simply getting everything he and his Yankees bretheren had fought for. They had, in fact, labored to forge the links of the fetters by which all citizens, including themselves, would be made slaves of the Central Imperial power: welcome to Obamamerica--the logical consequence of what Lincoln began. Today it is fashionable for neocon's like Glenn Beck to attack the progressives, opine the effects of their policies and attempt to pin all our present ills upon them, while honoring Lincoln. If Mr. Beck were as honest as his colleague at FOX, Judge Napolitano, he would freely admit that the foundation for Progressivism was laid by Lincoln and the radical Republicans who essentially created one party rule in Mordor on the Potomac for a quarter of a century following Lincoln. Neither Progressive nor Neocon could exist with their present effectiveness upon government and society without the unconstitutional, criminal acts of this man as foundation.Mr. Emison, in the clearest and most lucid and readable of terms, sheds new light upon the horrors and abuses of America's great Tyrant and gives us a new depth of understanding of the legal and constitutional aspects of Lincoln's abuses as well as the horrors of total war and the criminal acts of the Federal army and their top generals as examined under the light of the Lieber codes, which were operative most of the war.It is clear to me Lincoln lead a Jacobin-style take over that has poisoned the nation. Let's give him and shadow of a doubt and say that some of Mr. Lincoln's goals were good. But the means he used to achieve them were illegal, brutal, criminal, inhumane, unconstitutional, tyranical and corrupt at their core, creating a much greater and longer lasting evil than the one he sought to correct. We are suffering mightily to this day from the effects of his actions and those of the radical Republicans after the war. This, in my opinion, is one of the best books I've read on Lincoln in respect to both style and content. Buy it and read it; you will consider it a valuable addition to your book collection on that great and tragic event most Americans incorrectly term as "The Civil War."

"Lincoln Uber Alles" is a book sure to enlighten some and anger others. And that is what great books should do.If you believe without debate that Abraham Lincoln was the greatest man of American history and that the "Civil War" was fought to free the slaves and save the union, the information presented in this book will likely anger you. If that is the case, just stick to "safe" and "acceptable" books like those written by Doris Kearns Goodwin, James McPherson, and the like.On the other hand, if you wish to expand your historical horizons beyond the "safe" and "acceptable" history of the man and the war, you will find much of this book enlightening.Emison covers much of the territory previously examined by Thomas DiLorenzo's excellent work "The Real Lincoln," but also examines this period of history in a broader context, including the impact of the German marxist "48ers" on U.S. elections and the execution of the war, topics long forgotten or given little examination in other works outside of Walter D. Kennedy's "Red Republicans."The final chapter, "One Nation Under Surveillance: Will the Republic Terminate in an Empire?" neatly wraps up the theme of the book, explaining why the events that took place 150 years ago still matter today. Even if you don't agree with Emison's assertions on Lincoln and the war, few can legitimately argue against the reality that the federal government today is too big, too powerful and too intrusive, which is the logical outcome when Constitutional checks and balances are perverted or ignored, as they were under Lincoln's watch.Emison's "Lincoln Uber Alles" is a damning treatise, bold in its scope, and substantiated by numerous historical sources. It may leave the open-minded reader asking "Why wasn't I taught this in school?"