was the compromises that his precessors (I'll agree with your assessment of their competence) had made with the South in order to preserve the Union.
The consequence of Lincoln's actions was that the Union was preserved. And had Lincoln served out his term, some of the grosser aspects of Reconstruction might have been avoided.
BTW -- the movie Lincoln was based on the book (Team of Rivals) by Doris Kearns Goodwin, a highly regarded historian. You might read it.

He still has the right to embarrass himself in public.
One more demonstration that athletes and other celebrities are not particularly knowledgeable outside of their own fields.

Right now a minority essentially has a veto over legislation, so it has little incentive to work on a compromise.

On the question of the gap between the parties on long term parties:
Does this reflect a gap between voters themselves, or just the more extreme party members? Surveys show relative agreement among the majority of voters such as approving of a combination of cuts and tax increases to solve budget problems, and a low priority for immediate deficit solutions....

who has a chance at getting elected win a Republican primary?