Someone once said, history repeats itself because no one was listening the first time. All one needs to do is look at the ever-widening ideological divide and partisan bickering going on in America to understand Americans are slow learners. And, unless a Lincolnesque figure rises to the occasion, America is headed for another Civil War sans the bloodshed.

Sure, today’s ideological war is waged with words rather than muskets and canons, but it still reaps similar results when extremists on both sides of the political aisle refuse to consider any common ground --simply because they want to get their way. All this tugging left and yanking right does is extend the already-gaping hole in the middle. The only way we will ever experience relief from the partisan gridlock in Washington is if we choose a president who will help us find common ground by leading us from the middle. (There is nothing wrong with compromise, just as long as sound principle is not forfeited along the way.)