Honest Abe's the One

Two months ago, Discovery Channel and AOL began a contest to name the "greatest American." It seemed merely comedic given the 100 nominees, luminaries such as Jimmy Carter, Brett Favre, Christopher Reeve, Ellen DeGeneres, Hugh Hefner, Michael Jackson, Michael Moore and Oprah Winfrey. Recently, they've narrowed the contest to 25. Voting's open and the Top 5 vote getters will be unveiled next Sunday on Discovery Channel.

The good news: many laugh-out-loud options are flushed, including Jimmy Carter, Cesar Chavez, Hillary Clinton, Hugh Hefner, Michael Jackson and Martha Stewart. The bad news: the list still includes un-worthies like Lance Armstrong, Bill Clinton, Oprah Winfrey and Wright Brothers (two co-greatest?). John Hawkins already choose his top 20. And Woody at GM's Corner's got a great list of those remaining, with links and brief bios ("Lance Armstrong - Won Tour de France six times and married to shacks up with slut Sheryl Crow."). My view hasn't changed: clearly, Abraham Lincoln should -- must -- win. Even over the only other known Republican still listed: Ronald Reagan.

So stop by GM's Corner to campaign in the comments, then go vote for Lincoln. Oprah just won't do.