Posted on 07/28/2004 5:41:03 AM PDT by Area Freeper
BOSTON - Much to the dismay of the Bush campaign, Nancy Reagan has just said no to appearing at the Republican National Convention next month. GOP strategists had hoped the former First Lady and Hollywood actress would make a cameo appearance onstage after a video tribute to her late husband, particularly after her Bush-bashing son, Ron, agreed to speak at the Democratic convention last night.
In an impassioned defense of stem-cell research, Ron Reagan toned down his rhetoric but still delivered one unmistakable shot that all but invited Americans to vote against President Bush.
"In a few months, we will face a choice," Reagan told delegates in an otherwise apolitical speech with mannerisms and rhetorical flourishes that brought to mind his famous father. "We can choose between the future and the past, between reason and ignorance, between true compassion and mere ideology."
GOP sources, meanwhile, confirmed his mother will not be at their Aug. 30-Sept. 2 convention - and some speculated her son might be behind the snub.
"I do not expect her at our convention but she knows she is welcome," Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie told reporters here yesterday.
"If all of you might just keep in mind for a moment the year that Mrs. Reagan has had and be a little understanding of that, I think that would be appreciated by the public and, I suspect, by Mrs. Reagan," Gillespie added.
Republican officials refrained from publicly criticizing Nancy Reagan for the no-show. Privately, however, some were upset as well as disappointed by the decision, which has been known to the White House for some time.
"I don't think she could have missed the symbolic significance of her son going to their convention and her not going to ours," a senior GOP official told the Daily News.
Friends of the 83-year-old former First Lady said she is understandably still grieving for her husband, who died June 5 after a 10-year battle with Alzheimer's disease.
"My guess is that she reached the point of emotional exhaustion in dealing with the old man's final goodbye," a prominent California Republican source told the Daily News. "But I was a little surprised she's not going to be there."
A downcast senior GOP official confirmed Nancy Reagan had never committed to appearing at the convention, but was nevertheless dubious of the official explanation.
"The 'not feeling up to it' line is bull----," the official said. "Something happened in the last month, and whatever it was was real."
Aides to the former President did not return calls seeking comment. In recent years, Nancy Reagan has curtailed her public schedule, but last week greeted the new aircraft carrier named for her husband when it arrived at its San Diego homeport.
Long before her husband's death, Bush-Cheney and GOP campaign strategists were eager to have her appear at the convention, even though her support for expanding stem-cell medical research using fetal tissue implicitly criticizes Bush's more restrictive approach.
I believe this story from the Clinton spin team about as much as I believe that he never had sexual relations with "that woman".
The real story is the "story within the story". The behavior of certain members of the Reagan family, with stem cells as the byline.
Ron is going to fade into the background blathering on about an issue to which few people are paying attention, once the initial novelty of seeing a Reagan addressing the Democrats fades away. He has no gravitas on this issue-or any issue for that matter, and he will once again be left sniping from the undergrowth.
Ignorance?
No offense intended at all, but I'll take the word of the researchers.
I mean it's like you think these researchers are wanting to use (What you call inferior) embryo cells for some sadistic reason??
As far as "Getting the word out". It's out. I always hear of the other two sources when this subject is discussed. And from what I can tell, the embryo cells are much more promising, for whatever reasons. Otherwise, why not use the the other cells?
Again...There is no conspiracy here, not one that I can see anyway. And I'm quite sure the researchers have considered all alternatives and are simply giving their educated opinions.
The above comments made with respect, but confusion....
>If it's so promising, why aren't they doing it? A cure for >any disease is worth untold gazillions.
When I've brought this up to liberals, I typically get the "pharmecutical companies don't want to find a cure, they make money on medications!!"
>I suspect there is considerable jealousy going on >there .... George W grows into the President of the US and >Ron becomes....what....a has been Tutu dancer throwing >bombs at the
You may have a point there!
>It's my fervent hope that Nancy continues gracefully on >the American scene without teaming up with her idiot son >in some of his weird leftist causes.
I'm afraid she won't because he is the A-typical "mama's boy" and from what I can tell, he pretty much has her whipped. I have dated a few of these. The saddest part is that he didn't care enough about her to stand by her while dedicating his father's namesake ship. Sometimes we do things we don't necessarily like because we love someone.
Perfect summary of the Reagan family!
>Interestingly, there is talk on the street that Michael J. >Fox has been traveling to China for treatments for his >Parkinson's Disease...if you've noticed, he is making a >tremendous recovery.
I just finished his memoir this morning (coincedence, my father has PD and I was getting a perspective from someone who has it) and he mildly luaded Bush for offering SOME funding for research. I'm curious as to his therapy in China though.
>Bush can reverse all that by simply allowing Stem Cell >research
Where do you get the idea that Bush doesn't ALLOW Stem Cell Research? Are you educated by Channel 2 Action News or have you done any research at all?
Every family has people in it that don't exactly make the rest of the family proud.
And...
Not every family member (except mine--because I insist on it * ;-) follows straight Republican Party lines.
My Mom is 83, and very much in shape; but using her as a guide, I was shocked to see how much Nancy did, flying back and forth AND dealing with the death of her beloved--knowing full well she HAD to be there--she wouldn't miss it.
The Republican Convention is NOT something she HAS to be at, and another cross-nation trip would put HER health in jeopardy.
The Republican Party asked her to attend, because she would be welcome. She has every right to say, no...I just can't do it..it's too much.
Why can't people see this?
*(FYI - the family members I'm referring to here are 46, 57 and 83 year olds)
It's been on your mind since you signed up four days ago, hasn't it???
I heard Michael on Sean Hannity yesterday saying something akin he didn't want to make a political issue over his father's death. He made sense and I agreed with him.
The Dems are making this into an issue and it's such a non-issue. They want us to be bicking over something as stupid as this. Personally, I've seen enough of Nancy to last me for quite awhile, thank you.
I know, it's unbelievable, but the Dems get away with their lies and the press and the REPUBLICANS do nothing about it. So be it.
I've always thought that Nancy Reagan was a perfect wife to Ronnie. She put her whole heart into creating a good relationship with him. But I also think she was calculating. Did you know Reagan married her because she was pregnant?
It wouldn't surprise me at all if she never really believed in Reagan's politics.
Nancy was never pro-life. She loved her husband, no doubt, but at times seemed more committed to to the "wisdom" of her psychics than that of her husband. Now that he is gone, little Ronnie and Patty (spoiled brats that they have always been) will join the psychics in running Nancy's life. (Shades of Mrs. Lincoln!)
Thank God for Michael Reagan, the only one of them with any common sense!!! Wanna bet he will be speaking at the Republican Convention. I had rather listen to him any day....than "Twinkle-toes, Ronnie".
Nancy was never pro-life. She loved her husband, no doubt, but at times seemed more committed to to the "wisdom" of her psychics than that of her husband. Now that he is gone, little Ronnie and Patty (spoiled brats that they have always been) will join the psychics in running Nancy's life. (Shades of Mrs. Lincoln!)
Thank God for Michael Reagan, the only one of them with any common sense!!! Wanna bet he will be speaking at the Republican Convention. I had rather listen to him any day....than "Twinkle-toes, Ronnie".
Nobody will use embryonic cells because they are useless.
Problem solved. No legislation required. End of story.
philosophy123 is widely suspected to be a French person posing as an American on FR. His grammer and his frequent illogical points on Frog-bashing threads tend to give him away...
Can Republican leaders convince her to tape an appearance, like Margaret Thatcher did for Ronnie's funeral? That could still be very inspiring to attendees and the TV audience.
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