No it means he cannot convincingly explain himself if he has to do 1000. The real question is, if he has explained himself convincingly, why does the lie still exist? reagan had no problem taking his causes to the American people and bypassing the Press. Worked for him, but Bush does not do that. He makes no primetime speeches. He talks to VFW or other groups, but not to the country as a whole.
REALITY CHECK: PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN . . .
Per Gallup, President Reagan experienced sub-par job approval ratings (30s/40s) for much of his presidency.
In fact, by 1987, 60% of Republicans/conservatives indicated that they DEFINITELY wanted a new direction and, even if it were possible, would NOT vote for President Reagan again!
By 1993, 61% of Americans considered Reagan’s economic policies a FAILURE (Gallup)!
Yet at his funeral, President Reagan was lauded by Republicans and Democrats alike and is now considered one of the greatest presidents of all time! . . . I predict the same result for President George W Bush!
For more insight (and several REALITY CHECKS), please read the following editorial from COMMENTARY magazine:
IS CONSERVATISM FINISHED?
By Wilfred M. McClay
“. . . We also forget that the Reagan administration itself, far from being happily unified, was driven by internal battles between “pragmatists” and “ideologues,” conflicts that prefigured many of the policy battles of the present. And we forget that, outside the administration, REAGAN GOT PLENTY OF GRIEF FROM HIS OWN RIGHT AS WELL.”
You can read all about this ‘grief’ at
http://www.commentarymagazine.com/cm/main/viewArticle.aip?id=10812&page=all
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BTW: DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED TO REAGAN AND HIS ADMINISTRATION IN 1987 AND MOST OF 1988?!
Well, I do; it was a nightmare! If you recall, Reagan was so politically and personally shaken by the Republican losses in the 1986 election cycle, the Iran-Contra scandal, and the Stock Market crash that the White House DRASTICALLY curtailed his public appearances (PARTICULARLY his press conferences).
Additionally, Reagan was ‘forced’ to make MULTIPLE changes in his cabinet (and White House staff):
CHANGES IN PRESIDENT REAGAN’S CABINET, 1987
—Carlucci replaced Casper Weinberger at Defense
—new Secretary of Commerce
—new Secretary of Labor
—new Secretary of Transportation
Shortly thereafter, Thornburgh replaced Meese at Justice to become Reagan’s THIRD Attorney General.
CHANGES IN PRESIDENT REAGAN’S WHITE HOUSE STAFF, 1987
— Donald Regan was replaced by Howard Baker as Reagan’s Chief of Staff. Baker was subsequently replaced by Ken Duberstein. In total, Reagan employed FOUR Chiefs of Staff!
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It’s amazing how much George W Bush’s 2007 looks/feels like Ronald Reagan’s 1987!