[HandyDandy]

According to you, This article also proves he was in Washington at the time he said he was, Which pretty much knocks down the argument of critics to the contrary.

If you'd read the article in its entirety you would know that while it puts Butler in a meeting with Lincoln just shortly before the Fords Theater incident, it claims that nobody knows what they conferred about. It also puts a lot of doubt on Butlers account. Next time find a better source. (I'm just trying to be objective, like you)

[DiogenesLamp]

If you'd read the article in its entirety you would know that while it puts Butler in a meeting with Lincoln just shortly before the Fords Theater incident, it claims that nobody knows what they conferred about.

Because it's much too irrational to simply take General Butler's word on it?

In the previous message to which I responded, BroJoeK pointed out that Lincoln had discussed this very issue mid 1864, so is it now such a far stretch to believe he discussed it again, and with the very man with whom he had previously discussed this very same issue?

This is another stupid quibble. Lincoln had articulated some form of this idea throughout his entire adult life. To simply refuse to believe that he ever discussed it again after mid 1864 is an attempt to rehabilitate his actual history.

Lincoln very likely discussed this issue with General Butler in April of 1865, and even if he didn't, according to BroJoeK he had discussed it a mere 10 months earlier. (Seward also said he never gave up on the idea)

So we are in effect quibbling over 10 months out of his entire adult life.

Silly crap, this.