A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....11-06-03...CBS, The Reagan Mini-series and the '04 Democrats

Billie; JohnHuang2 | JohnHuang2

[Billie]

CBS, The Reagan Mini-series and the '04 Democrats

by JohnHuang2

CBS, ending a remarkably successful promotion campaign to boost ratings for a mini-series, pulled the plug on the mini-series, "The Reagans." The film portrays the 40th President as a right-wing nutcase and an idiot. CBS for weeks denied the portrayal was unfair or distorted the Reagan legacy. Besides, experts said attacking a dying President who can't defend himself as a nutcase and an idiot was a brilliant move by CBS. The more controversy, the better. There's no such thing as bad publicity, these brilliant experts observed.

CBS says its move to cancel the mini-series and move it to Showtime had nothing to do with the growing public backlash. It's just a coincidence, really! Part of CBS's remarkably successful promotion campaign to boost ratings for the mini-series, originally set to air midway into November ratings sweeps. Airing it before a smaller cable audience was all part of the plan to show the movie to the widest audience possible.

Although CBS maintained publicly the movie was fair and accurate, CBS tried some last-minute editing, probably ending up with 2 minutes worth of film after the unfairness and inaccuracies were removed. The 4-hour mini-series got mini-er and mini-er, becoming a mini-mini-miniseries. A two-minute mini-series? CBS now says that, although "producers have sources to verify each scene in the script" (even completely bogus scenes have sources!), the film "does not present a balanced portrayal of the Reagans" and that we here at CBS just found out about it. CBS denied any culpability and vowed to find the real un-balancers! Producers say CBS authorized the script.

CBS claims all it wanted was a love story about the Reagans and was surprised that a bunch of Left-wing Hollywood producers, who see Reagan as a nutcase and an idiot, would portray Reagan as a nutcase and an idiot. Nobody thought this could possibly happen.

Some say CBS's decision to pull the plug is dangerous. It's dangerous that powerful media corporations can't act like powerful media corporations any longer, facing a system of checks-and-balances with the public and advertisers in a free market place. That's never happened before! It's just not fair -- the public should pick on somebody its own size.

Meanwhile, the AP reports that "Democrats are struggling to find a message and messenger to challenge President Bush, who appears vulnerable on major issues."

Bush appears so vulnerable that his job approval rating has climbed back up to 56 percent, a new ABC News/Washington Post poll found. If this is vulnerability, I don't know how much more vulnerability Democrats can stand. Democrats have been struggling to find a message and messenger to challenge Bush only since approximately March 2, 1999, when then Governor Bush announced formation of a presidential exploratory committee. Bush grew so Vulnerable afterwards that he won the presidency the following year.

Released Sunday, the Washington Post poll, which the Washington Post called evidence of just how Vulnerable Bush is, also shows Bush Vulnerability taking its toll on '04 Democrats, with dean of Metrosexuals Howard Dean, front-runner for the nomination with 17 percent, trailing Bush, 54 percent to 39 percent. Tired former Army Gen. Wesley Clark, in 3th place with 14 percent, doesn't fare much better, trailing Bush by 12 points, 52 percent to 40 percent. For Democrats, stuck hopelessly in Bush Vulnerability, relief appears nowhere in sight. (Bush Vulnerability eased a bit the prior week, a Quinnipiac University poll showing a tightening contest, with Dean trailing Bush by only 6 percentage points, 48%-42%. But with Bush Vulnerability rebounding strongly by the middle of the week, as reflected in the Post poll, the respite for Democrats proved short-lived).

Embattled Democrats hotly reject suggestions they're bogged down in Bush Vulnerability, insisting they're making wonderful progress and that falling polls and public apathy towards Dean and the others don't mean a thing. Besides, the problem may boil down to lack of name recognition. For example, does anyone doubt that Joe Lieberman, who trails Bush, 53 percent to 40 percent, trails Bush because no one's ever heard of Joe Lieberman? It's not as though he's ever run nationally before, say, as running mate on Gore's spine-tinglingly exciting ticket in 2000. But just wait till people learn of this electrifying, thrilling candidate!

The unwelcomed poll numbers caps off an especially bloody week for the Metrosexual Nine, marked by squabbling and bickering over the Confederate flag, gun racks and other pre-eminent issues. Dean drew fire from rivals after saying in an interview in Iowa that he, though Metrosexual, still wants "to be the candidate for the guys with Confederate flags in their pickup trucks." (Guys with Confederate flags in their pickup trucks could not be reached for comment). Dean told the Des Moines Register that "We can't beat George Bush unless we appeal to a broad cross section of Democrats." Dean, having ripped rivals for being "Bush-lite," wants to bring southern voters back in the Democrat fold by being Bush-lite. Even expert observers have caught on, brilliantly noting that Dean's remarks about pickup trucks could be an appeal to southern voters, as opposed to subway commuters in New York or residents of Beverly Hills. As savvy readers can glean from Dean's comments about a bunch of guys with Confederate flags in their pickup trucks, integral to Dean's brilliant Southern Strategy is to avoid pigeonholing southern voters as a bunch of guys with Confederate flags in their pickup trucks. Or that working white families in the south are dumb and racist. Besides, says Dean, there's a good reason why they're dumb and racist: Republicans, who trick "working white families in the south (into) voting for tax cuts for the richest 1 percent while their children remain with no health care" by appealing to race. It's a "cornerstone of Republican politics for the last three decades," said Dean.

Dean denies his Southern Strategy stereotypes working white families in the south by calling working white families in the south a bunch of hicks with Confederate flags in their pickup trucks, who hate blacks so much they'd rather vote for rich Republicans than tolerant, big-hearted liberals like himself, even if voting for rich Republicans means letting their children go without health-care.

Dean's Confederate flag comments ignited a firestorm of criticism from rivals, however.

Clark, who saved us from real imminent threats like China's Embassy in Yugoslavia, blasted Dean, saying "Every Democratic candidate for president needs to condemn the divisiveness the Confederate flag represents." "Every Democratic candidate for president" would not include Clark -- or has Clark already changed party registration ('Independent' to Old Europe Democrat)? To be fair, Clark, for days, hasn't changed his stance on an issue -- a record for Clark.

Gephardt blasted Dean, saying Dean seeks the votes of people "who disagree with us on bedrock Democratic values on civil rights." These bedrock Democratic values include the belief that Bobby Byrd shares these bedrock Democratic values, which hold that blacks and Latinos are stupid and need racial quotas to compete with intellectually superior whites.

Lieberman (whoever he is) said through spokesman Craig Smith (whoever he is) that Dean "ought to be more careful about what he says." "Says" but not what he *thinks*? With Dean, no need to worry about thinking; the towering intellect from Vermont rarely does any.

Al Sharpton also blasted Dean, accusing Dean of harboring an "anti-black agenda." Any good liberal racial-healer knows real racial-healing always begins with an anti-white agenda. Sharpton's tireless efforts at uniting the races include inciting race riots and leading angry mobs to picket Jewish-owned stores. And hanging out with Louis Farrakhan. Sharpton denies his race-baiting is race-baiting.

Kerry also blasted Dean, calling his comments of wanting the votes of guys with Confederate flags in their pickup trucks "simply unconscionable." He also accused Dean of harboring sympathy for the NRA, a subversive group that millions and millions of Americans have joined. Kerry said that the way to fight this group, whose cells of 2nd Amendment-believers are spread across the country, is to vote for Kerry, who goes pheasant hunting using a 12-gauge shotgun -- a bid for the votes of guys with gun racks in their pickup trucks. Kerry, pandering to the anti-gun lobby, accused Dean of pandering to the 'gun-lobby.'

As for tonight's CNN debate, my snoring drowned out the sound, so I missed it. ;-)

Anyway, that's...

My two cents

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 11-03-03 Military Monday 11-04-03 S.Dakota - Great Faces, Great Places 11-05-03 FReeper Kitties & More (Calpernia)

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[Aquamarine]

Once again John clarifies the current events for us!
Love to see your new artistic creations, noticed the Ronnie and Nancy background on the first frame too, nice touch!
Together you two produce something most excellent.

[Pippin]

GOOD MORNING (((AQUA)))!

[Aquamarine]

Good Morning (((PIPPIN)))

Have to go take care of a few things today. Will try to check back in later!

[Billie]

Thank you, Rus. Reagan in the cowboy hat is one of my favorite pictures of him, and it was with love and admiration for him that I used that one for a drawing. I also love the picture of Reagan that ST.LOUIE1 has on his profile page - there's a twinkle in his eye as he makes that toast. :)

A prayer and a hope and a wish that your job hunt is a successful - and SHORT - one.

[Billie]

Hi, dutchess! Thanks so much, and hope that you and Aqua might find a use for the Got It graphic sometime when you prepare the essays.

Aqua, thank you for your mail last night with the link to the thread with photos of the dims. I'd already finished putting together today's essay, but some of those photos would be great posted here in the comments. :)

[Billie]

Good morning, Pippin, and thank you; I'm glad you enjoyed the drawing. :)

John, I don't think I mentioned (here - did in mail) how much I enjoyed this essay. Thank you for letting us feature your words each week.

[Temple Owl]

Good morning and thanks for another very readable and terrific post.

[Billie]

Good morning, Aqua! Thank you - of course I already had the Reagan drawing and the background from earlier threads, but those dims just don't know how much fun they're providing us, do they?!

[Billie]

Hi, Temple - thank you - you are very wise....but we all are after John gets finished with his two cents. :)

[Billie]

Below are names of some of our FReepers' loved ones who are serving our country. If you have someone you would like to add, please address a post to Billie; Mama_Bear; Dansangel; Dutchess; Aquamarine and we will add their name to this list. As we pray for them, we pray also for all our nation’s leaders, and military personnel, and their families and friends. May God hold them close to His heart.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OhioWfan........................son mystery-ak..........son, husband Gogrammy................grandson Inspectorette...................son Blessed American..........nephew Slip18..........................nephew anniegetyourgun...........nephew Pippin....niece,nephew,loved one Doug from Upland......son-in-law weldgophardline.....brotherinlaw Future Snake Eater..........cousin WaterDragon..son-in-law,grandson BeforeISleep...................son The Mayor........................niece LadyX.........................grandson fawn796.......................nephew StarCMC......................brother kimmie7.....................brother ValerieUSA..................2 sons TexKat................son, step-son Spruce.....................daughter Explorer89................brother Warrior Nurse...........active duty SK1 Thurman...........active duty David Osborne.........active duty fc2tomschermuly......active duty bkwells..................active duty LongCut..................active duty Trish.......................active duty ODC-GIRL.................active duty

Maigrey................cousin ladtx....................2 sons Mama_Bear.........2 nephews gator girl............husband severa................husband MozartLover......son, nephew LBGA........................son SpookBrat...........nephew Himyar.....................son boxerblues............2 sons the piper...................son sheeza...............husband kemathen7...........husband Tiffee4Bob.......boyfriend Diver Dave................niece deadhead................cousin JimRobinson.....2 nephews Armymarinemom.....3 sons Consort..2 daughters,son-in-law Darheel..................niece dixie sass.............nephew BeAllYouCanBe.........son AgThorn...............2 sons homeschoolmama.......nephew kneezles.................son Atomic Conspiracy..half-brother Atomic Conspiracy...nephew Atomic Conspiracy...niece visualops..............cousin

[Donaeus]

*jaw dropping* I didn't realize you drew those images of President Reagan!!!!!!!!! You are good enough to sell those. In fact how much would you charge me for one of him in the cowboy hat? I can't wait to see tomorrow's profile!!

[The Mayor]

Thanks Billie

[Donaeus]

(((Pippin))) Good mornin'! :)

*doing a victory dance* Wooohoooooooo!! Look what we did!!!

[Donaeus]

Good morning Aquamarine! :)

[Pippin]

YEAH! :O)

[LadyX]

If it's Thursday, it has to be "Hooray for King John Day!" !!

'Dear John' Letter # 1008:

This is such an easy one to put in a nutshell, JH.

Surprise! Surprise!
CBS caves to pressure from the (pesky, full of illiterate dumbies) hinterlands.
Ya know, all those Little Persons out there who salivate over our every gesture here in the Heights of Success, saith CBS.....

Well, C(an) B(e) S(tupid) Network, wake up and read The Words by which most of us liveth - -

VIII - THOU SHALT NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS AGAINST THY NEIGHBOR.

"All men must be aware that to gossip or to darken another man's name or way will most certainly be accountable to Me. Each man is accountable for himself and will have to stand solely alone on the merits he earned walking the human role. Men who sin against this Rule will most likely sin against several of the others, for to bear false witness says ego, pride, jealousy, contempt, and a lack of self-discipline."

False Witness = Gossip - Slander - Lying - Defamation of Character - Hating

Now I askya....who absolutely, positively EXCELS at hauling this load of garbage??

The Democratic candidates to be the Nominee of the Party 'stoop to any heights' to, as Captain Kirk mouthed,
"MAKE IT SO!!"
(adding 'any way you can')

Repeating: THOU SHALT NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS AGAINST THY NEIGHBOR.

The liberals are a blot upon America, and Someone Up There Is Watching and Taking Notes . . .

It is obvious what and what man they are against, but they have never addressed for what they are that will truly benefit America and maintain the high values it ought to have.
Without those, we will become just another heap on the piles of mortals who came and did not survive...

May we ever remain in His favor, not forget why America prospered in the beginning, and work to steer the course back to Him . . .

Loveya, JH,

LadyX

[MeekOneGOP]

ha ! ha ! Way to go, John !

CBS had their #1 PR guy make the following announcement.

CBS will not broadcast THE REAGANS
on November 16 and 18. This decision
is based solely on our reaction to
seeing the final film, not the controversy
that erupted around a draft of the script.

[MeekOneGOP]

Mornin', everybody ! Happy Thursday !

Have a cup while you Freep !

[MeekOneGOP]

The unwelcomed poll numbers caps off an especially bloody week for the Metrosexual Nine ...

Howard Dean: Metrosexual

Listen http://www.onpointradio.org/shows/2002/07/20020703_a_main.asp

Google Search for Metrosexual

[Billie]

I sent the original drawings to the Reagan library (I think. I know I sent some originals to the Bushes, and donated some to a Republican fundraiser in Dallas a couple of years ago.)

They really do print out very well with a good color printer on glossy photo paper (the laser printers don't print photos as well, even though they're black and white)

I don't have any to sell, Don, and really do it only because I enjoy it. You are certainly welcome to save and print any of them. There was a thread on the Finest last year that I posted most all that I did.

Reagan, Bush, and Cheney Drawings