Former President Reagan Rarely Awake - Report

Yahoo News ^ | December 5, 2003

[RWR8189]

Former President Ronald Reagan, is now confined to a bed, rarely awake and unable to walk or talk, People magazine said in a report issued on Thursday. In an essay accompanying the article about the former president's condition, daughter Patti Davis said people may still think Reagan, 92, is somewhat mobile and active, despite his well-publicized illness, because his family has guarded his privacy so zealously.

"But it would be a disservice to every family who has an Alzheimer's victim in their embrace to say any of that is true, and I don't believe my father would want us to lie," she wrote.

The magazine said Reagan spends his days either in a bed or occasionally in a wheelchair, in a small room at his home in the exclusive Bel Air section of Los Angeles, where he is kept out of the sight of all but his closest family and helpers.

His condition has been in the spotlight again of late after CBS shelved plans to air a mini-series on his presidency that conservative groups said was biased and an unfair attack on someone who was no longer able to defend himself.

The miniseries was eventually edited into a single movie and shown on CBS's sister cable network, Showtime.

Davis, once estranged from her family, said her family's life is now arranged around Reagan's bedside, where he spends his sedentary days.

"When he is awake, which is not that often, he can gaze at the trees outside the window," Davis said.

[Admin Moderator]

I just happened to be reading this thread and caught that comment.

[Publius]

Is the release of this news perhaps a bracer for his impending passing?

Yes. The family is prepared. They are asking all of us to prepare.

[MEGoody]

"This upset me, for a man who did so much for the world to go like this, while slime like Clinton walks around and screws the world."

I don't recall the exact wording and don't have my bible with me to look it up, but. . .

Don't despair when the wicked seem to prosper in this world. Their deeds will be punished by the Lord.

[WinOne4TheGipper]

The post he responded to was no. 12 (O Captain, My Captain by Walt Whitman), which the FReeper that posted it had dedicated to Ronald Reagan.

[jsbankston]

Er...have any of you considered that he is getting exactly what he deserves?

Excuse me you are sick and what you say is disgusting. I can't even imagine Hillary Clinton or Jesse Jackson saying something so vile.

[Lee Heggy]

Any of us who have been caregivers for terminally ill loved ones knows in their heart that death, when it finally comes is our friend. Godspeed you President Reagan. 'May your steed so gallant in chase never give over till you've won the race'.

[dansangel]

Let not your heart be troubbled.... God will have a final conversation with bill clinton.

That is *so* true - I have to keep reminding myself of that.

Thank you for slapping me upside the head- I needed that! :-)

[Holly_P]

Nov 17th 2003

[Johnny Gage]

A true patriot and lover of all things American.

Dear Lord, please put you hand on this man and his family in these days ahead, and at your time, bring him home.

[ChemistCat]

I'm not quick to put anyone on the list President Reagan is on. GWB has done pretty well so far on most things. But the jury's still out. I think it takes about fifteen years before you can begin to be sure that a President was worth electing.

Would Reagan have signed this Medicare thing?

[Kieri]

And when the time comes, we will see the full spectrum of ugliness of the American (and probably international) Left. Count on it.

I was about to post the same thing but you said it better.

Steel your hearts, conservatives! Never underestimate the sheer hatred and depravity of the left! We weathered the Clinton regime together, and we'll need to weather this together too.

May the gentle hand of God comfort the Reagan family and all those who love him.

[KevinDavis]

Not to sound cruel or anything, should there be a thread dedicated to Reagan, kinda like a Reagan going home thread?

[Yaelle]

G-d bless Reagan and Nancy and their family. Alzheimers is the disease I fear the most. Far better to lose use of the body than the mind. May we find a cure and prevention soon.

My path crossed President Reagan's twice very closely and I am honored that it did. My only regret was that both times I was a stupid brainwashed young liberal and did not fully appreciate him.

[Frank_Discussion]

And I wonder which POS from the left gets a knuckle sandwich for the first indiscreet word upon his passing. You know it'll happen.

D*mn, this is a sad way for him to bow out.

[LouD]

Thanks for getting my back, y'all - Than pinhead was banned before I could respond.

(Nice work, mod!)

[LisaFab]

The saddest thing I heard was in an interview with Nancy some years ago, when he was in the moderate stage of the disease.

She said someone presented President Reagan with a model of the White House. He graciously thanked the person, then later said to Nancy; "I know this building has some connection to me, but I don't remember what it is."

[RightWingMama]

The only regret that I have is that all past living presidents must be invited to his funeral

I've thought about that, too. Clinton at President Reagan's funeral would just be a travesty!

[leadpencil1]

Reagan was, is and will always be a great inspiration for all real Americans. God bless him.

[WinOne4TheGipper]

You're more than welcome.

[MamaB]

God Bless President Reagan and his family which has had so much heartache these past years and recently. I am proud to say that he was the one who really got me interested in politics. I will never ever forget his statement to the Soviet leader, "Tear down this wall". When he was elected, I knew this country was in good hands.