As president, Grant was determined to achieve national reconciliation, but on the terms of the victorious North, not the defeated Confederates. He fought hard and successfully for ratification of the 15th Amendment, banning disenfranchisement on account of race, color or previous condition of servitude. When recalcitrant Southern whites fought back under the white hoods and robes of the Ku Klux Klan, murdering and terrorizing blacks and their political supporters, Grant secured legislation that empowered him to unleash federal force. By 1872, the Klan was effectively dead.

For Grant, Reconstruction always remained of paramount importance, and he remained steadfast, even when members of his own party turned their backs on the former slaves. After white supremacists slaughtered blacks and Republicans in Louisiana in 1873 and attempted a coup the following year, Grant took swift and forceful action to restore order and legitimate government. With the political tide running heavily against him, Grant still managed to see through to enactment the Civil Rights Act of 1875, which prohibited discrimination according to race in all public accommodations.

[. . .]

 Around 1900, pro-Confederate Southern historians began rewriting the history of the Civil War and cast Grant as a "butcher" during the conflict and a corrupt and vindictive tyrant during his presidency. And the conventional wisdom from the left has relied on the bitter comments of snobs like Henry Adams, who slandered Grant as the avatar of the crass, benighted Gilded Age.

Though much of the public and even some historians haven't yet heard the news, the vindication of Ulysses S. Grant is well under way. I expect that before too long Grant will be returned to the standing he deserves -- not only as the military savior of the Union but as one of the great presidents of his era, and possibly one of the greatest in all American history.

Knew it was going to make me angry.

Hipparchia:

Medicaid has been a godsend for many people, but it is both means- and asset-tested, which translates to if you had any money saved up for retirement or sending your kids to college, you have to spend it all on your health care first before Medicaid will help you. Both conservatives and "progressives" are fond of pointing out that not everyone who is eligible for Medicaid is enrolled in Medicaid, and now you know why. Many a household has lived very frugally on a modest income and managed to save a very modest but important nest egg. Any rational person would not expect them to give that up just to get health care. ...

And yes, Medicaid was originally a public program. By 2004 it was 60% privatized, and in 2007 was 64% privatized. I don't think this can be considered a "public" program any longer. Expanding Medicaid to cover more people also means expanding the amount of taxpayer dollars we give to the insurance companies, so the bloodsucking parasites win all the way around.

I also won't have to deal with the neighbors doing their laundry while I'm in the shower (ice cold NYC water, OY!). And no more late night walks where we both have to put on layers and do the 3 flights of stairs thing. That always wakes me up and then I'm not tired when we get done.

Experts say that they are being put in place for an assault on Iran's controversial nuclear facilities.