GEORGE W. BUSH
Abraham Lincoln and George W. Bush Compared (a 2007 assessment)
Similarities
Lincoln was a Republican and, of course, so is Bush

Lincoln's step mother was a Bush--Sarah Bush Johnston

Lincoln had strong ties to the South.  He was born in Kentucky, as was his wife, and he maintained close ties with friends in that state throughout his life.    
Bush has strong ties to the South.  He owns a ranch in Texas, his brother is former Governor of Florida, and his father owns a residence in Houston.

Bush made virtually no trips outside the United States prior to his presidency.
Lincoln's only trip outside American borders was to the Canadian side of Niagara Falls.
  
Lincoln was a champion wrestler, and liked to play an early version of baseball.  Bush has been actively involved in athletics.  He never was a varsity player like his father, but he loves physical activity, and is an avid jogger.  He once owned a stake in the Texas Rangers.

Dissimilarities
Lincoln was born poor. Bush was born rich.

Lincoln received less than one year of schooling  Bush graduated from Phillips Academy (also known as Andover), Yale University, and Harvard Business School.

Lincoln had no executive experience prior to becoming President. Bush was Governor of Texas prior to becoming President.

Lincoln was an avid reader.  Bush is not

Lincoln was intellectually curious, and fascinated by science and technology. He is the only American President to hold a patent.  Bush is not regarded as intellectually curious. David Frum, one of Bush’s former speechwriters, and a professed fan of Bush, has written: “He (Bush) is…often uncurious and as a result ill informed.” 
 
Lincoln never held grudges. Bush has a reputation for never forgetting a slight. 
 
Lincoln, like all Republicans of his day, was regarded as a liberal.  No one calls Bush a liberal.

Lincoln firmly believed in a strong federal government. Bush champions states rights and regularly denigrates the role of government, especially the federal government (i.e. "Washington") 

Lincoln supported tariffs in order to protect American industry and American jobs. Bush believes in free markets even if it means the loss of American jobs.

Lincoln raised taxes in order to pay for the war effort.
Bush is the only President in American history who has lowered taxes while prosecuting a major war. 
 
Lincoln, when he served in Congress, opposed pre-emptive attacks by the American government against Mexico   When President, he waited until Fort Sumter was fired upon before responding militarily. 
Bush believes in pre-emptive attacks; in fact this view is the basis of "the Bush Doctrine" (which is a radical departure from previous U.S. foreign policy).

Lincoln loved words, was a fine extemporaneous speaker, and was widely regarded as "the best stump speaker of the West." Bush is not regarded as eloquent, although some of his speechwriters are.

Lincoln, never demonized his enemies.  Here are his words from the Second Inaugural Address:  “With malice toward none, with charity for all”
Bush demonizes his enemies.

Bush seems to believe that evil can be eradicated: “Our responsibility to history is already clear: To answer these attacks and rid the world of evil.” 
Lincoln:  “The true rule in determining to embrace or reject any thing, is not whether it has any evil in it, but whether it has more of evil than of good.  There are few things wholly evil or wholly good.   Almost ever thing…is an inseparable compound of the two; so that our best judgment of the preponderance between them is continually demanded.”

Lincoln refused to let his generals to make political decisions. He told General U.S. Grant, his top general:  “You are not to decide, discuss, or confer upon any political question.  Such questions the President holds in his own hands, and will submit them to no military conferences or conventions.”
Bush says his generals--the most recent being General David Petraeus--make crucial decisions about when, where, how many, and how long American forces will fight.