Today's Keith

Lincoln had to fire 3 commanding generals before he settled on US Grant.

Grant was a blood-n-guts leader, criticized - and by some, condemned - because he waded into the war and kept pushing until the other side gave up.

It was ugly and brutal, and it left some scars and festering wounds we're still a bit reluctant to tend to.

But he did it all because, unlike his predecessors, he recognized it for being the brick fight it was.

So he didn't try to pretend he could get the job done by bowing politely and asking Uncle Bob's permission to proceed.

He threw bricks.

And he kept throwing bricks until the Confederacy couldn't fight anymore and had to quit.