Party of One.

Notes from The SuzeMuze.

Since I was a kid I have crushed on Abraham Lincoln. I would devour any yarn penned about his years growing up into the great servant of our beloved America that he became. I was aware of his true love who died young, how it broke his heart wide open, and wondered about whether she had loved him back in the same way. His generous way with people as store clerk, post master, friend, and ultimately politician, I cherish knowing about.

That he was really funny with a brilliant sense of humor, though pensive and authentically sad. I‘ve argued that his sadness was not clinical depression as some have rumored. His sadness was real. It was about something. Look at the warring divided citizenry he was enveloped in. Who wouldn’t be sad?

Lincoln never forgot what Love is meant to do in our world. It is meant to fuel and feed everything. This was his fabric, this knowing. His very being. This was his belonging. What made him discard a prepared speech and deliver a divinely inspired call. - a cry for humanity at Gettysburg.

My career emerged early in my late teens on-air in radio/TV news and later presidential politics invited me into its fold as a writer and for press relations, position papers and to get at the heart content of speeches. One of my original songs had advanced a candidate at a national convention gathering. Colleagues and candidates were all democrats. So was I. When I got invited to the inauguration I wasn’t that excited about who we were celebrating, Though I was thrilled to go to this remarkable occasion and swim in the history that resonates there. So I went in honor of Abe Lincoln. I kept this to myself. I was inspired by Lincoln and I was a party of one.

The power of Lincoln’s spirit and presence haunted me in the halls of my own story. A footprint parallel almost touching came to the forefront of recognition. I shared the revelation in a book I wrote,”They say a man bearing the family name planted the very first corn in Sangamon County Illinois. He lived in the same place at the same time in history as Abraham Lincoln. Both families migrated from Kentucky. Both men were lawyers. They could have easily bumped into each other at the State Capitol in Springfield. I kind of like that idea. It warms me to think of such a thing. History lives. History breathes. History is here. Now. In me.”

To this day, when the opportunity presents itself, I’ve incorporated Lincoln’s story and power of example into kids music arts storied programs and little TV vignettes.

I have so longed for the soulful party of Lincoln to re-emerge. One that connects with his wisdom and wounding and character and commitment in service of our democratic principles and the people who are this precious humanity. In all this time, while I have seen glimpses professionally and politically I never expected its heart to rise completely. Until now.

With all the horror of what we have been through, the betrayal of the complicit GOP has actually provided a gateway, an actual blessing without intent, forcing the birth of a true 21st century party of Lincoln at The Lincoln Project founded by top notch integrity, remarkably brave, gifted, former all star republicans now engaging all the other groups of former republicans, independents, veterans, moms, young people from all walks of life who have risen up now to unite with the Democrats to bring democracy home again.

This is a party I can fully belong to. The party of The Lincoln Project. Inspired and fueling a fire of the phoenix of great leaders and citizens who serve the totality of this vulnerable diverse humanity with dignity, grace, and a soulful mission.

Truly and still a party of one - in the truest sense of what that means. One party. Uniting all. One true nation. - These United States. Under God. Indivisible - with Liberty and Justice for All.

-Susan drennan Gabriel bunn The SuzeMuze #LincolnVoter

Democracy united.

party of one.