Posted on 06/11/2004 8:44:32 AM PDT by dirtboy
LOG ONTO www.georgewbush.com, the president's campaign Web site, and find - on the front page - a big picture of Ronald Reagan, and links to his speeches on the front page.
It's rather pathetic, the attempt to use the death of the former president to change the subject from Iraq, torture, and investigations into faulty intelligence. It's also opportunistic, given that reminding people of the important issues still confronting the nation looks like dishonoring the dead.
John Kerry understands that: He canceled five days of campaign appearances during the mourning period. Republicans, on the other hand, have used the time to pump up their candidate.
We honor Ronald Reagan today because he was president of our country. We have no problem whatsoever with the pageantry of the state funeral and the closing of most federal offices in a National Day of Mourning today. All presidents are entitled to this honor.
We do have a problem with the obvious attempt to conflate this with honoring the conservative ideology that Reagan championed.
More landmarks probably should be named for Reagan. But something called the Reagan Legacy Project has set as its goal memorials in all 50 states and 3,607 counties. Its biggest push is for Reagan to supplant Alexander Hamilton on the ten-dollar bill. The sponsor of this project is Americans for Tax Reform, Grover Norquist's uber-conservative interest group. So the memorials stand not only Reagan, but for Norquist's politics.
Thankfully, Pennsylvania is not one of the 15 states that also have shut their offices today, following our own historical precedent, but also saving tens of millions of dollars. Gov. Rendell has called for a moment of silence and reflection at 11:30 a.m. This is an appropriate gesture.
The outpouring of tribute from thousands of ordinary Americans who lined up to see Reagan's flag-draped coffin is real. It comes from people who supported Reagan's philosophy and those who liked him regardless, and simply those who want to be a part of American history.
We honor that as well. Reagan's funeral would be a fitting time to bring Americans together to share the grandeur of our nation's rituals. But the undercurrent of political one-upmanship is making that hard to do.
I would vote for a "rezoning" if it were placed on the ballot.
Well, considering that the subject should be Iraq, success in infrastructure rebuilding, successful formation of an interim government, freedom of the Iraqi people, etc., I'm not surprised. It seems difficult, if not impossible, to get the press to focus on the truth in evaluating the Iraqi situation, so why not distract them?
Shalom.
How's that - from Thatcher's talk today? (Listening on Internet) I heard most of it (I think) but the site cut off again I guess near the end. No TV so I don't know if there was anything to see?
Hey @sswipe, kerry brought a freakin' camera person with him. What's up, meds low?
Simple to see, people with no faith become quite emotionally unstable during time's of stress.
So how is it that some pinhead in Philly who won't even sign his name to the editorial becomes the arbiter of what "the subject" is for an entire nation?
Note that they didn't give the link to Kerry's website. Here is the first paragraph of Kerry's statement:
“Ronald Reagan's love of country was infectious. Even when he was breaking Democrats' hearts, he did so with a smile and in the spirit of honest and open debate. Despite the disagreements, he lived by that noble ideal that at 5pm we weren't Democrats or Republicans, we were Americans and friends. President Reagan and Tip O'Neill fought hard and honorably on many issues, and sat down together to happily swap jokes and the stories of their lives. The differences were real, but because of the way President Reagan led, he taught us that there is a big difference between strong beliefs and bitter partisanship.
Note the attempt to contrast Reagan to the Dems portray of Bush as a bitter partisan. Now, here is Bush's statement from that horrible website the Daily News is griping about:
This is a sad hour in the life of America. A great American life has come to an end. I have just spoken to Nancy Reagan. On behalf of our whole nation, Laura and I offered her and the Reagan family our prayers and our condolences.
Ronald Reagan won America's respect with his greatness, and won its love with his goodness. He had the confidence that comes with conviction, the strength that comes with character, the grace that comes with humility, and the humor that comes with wisdom. He leaves behind a nation he restored and a world he helped save.
During the years of President Reagan, America laid to rest an era of division and self-doubt. And because of his leadership, the world laid to rest an era of fear and tyranny. Now, in laying our leader to rest, we say thank you.
He always told us that for America, the best was yet to come. We comfort ourselves in the knowledge that this is true for him, too. His work is done, and now a shining city awaits him. May God bless Ronald Reagan.
Not a whiff of electioneering. And while Kerry's website remains in campaign mode, there is not ONE mention of Bush's campaign on his website.
What a bunch of weasels.
Really..? How so?
I'll agree w/that, from what I know. Which may not be much, but still it doesn't bother me.
"Hey @sswipe, kerry brought a freakin' camera person with him. What's up, meds low?"
Gather, there were a million cameras there. Kerry (and I'm no fan of his) was perfectly respectful in his actions.
We don't need to create lies to beat the 'rats. Stop spreading them.
And the profanity of yours is uncalled for too.
All the VIP's got to "cut in line". And he hardly did anything that could be called grand-standing!
His very presence was grandstanding - and nauseating.
Sheesh, people, get real...
Back atcha, coastie.
Much has been said about Reagan's clear ability to unite the country and get along with politicians not sharing his conservatism. Bush, they say, does not have this ability. This is wrong.
Just as credit must be given to Gorby for responding to Reagan, credit must be given to liberal politicians of the Reagan era for their ability to honor America and its political process. Yes, there were mean spirited politicians in the 80's just as there are today (Teddy was around then as well as Byrd). However, some Democrats like O'Niell(sp?), Simon, Udall and others held America up to be a good and great country and responded to Reagan's optomism even while opposing most of the Conservative agenda.
As this editorial so clearly reflects, the divide is so sharp and angry today that no such coming together is possible. I do blame this on the Left. The vitriol of Gore's speaches and Welstone's funeral indicate that there can be no coming together should bush prevail in this election. Nor will there be any reconciliation should Kerry win. I know I don't wish to be part of a country run by the left nor do they wish to have anyone with any views which approach mine. I miss Reagan's America.
Pardon my profanity. I will bite my tongue in the future.
However, please tell me what other cameras were in place besides those that were placed there for the press and video feeds?
I agree.
Now, if it was CLINTON......(which makes me grateful that at least Reagan didn't die during that "era")
"All the better for him to campaign - which is the only reason he was there."
And if he wasn't there you'd be jumping all over him for that. C'mon..a great man died...and he suffered terribly in the last 10 years of his life. Stop making this a political event.
"His very presence was grandstanding - and nauseating."
No, it wasn't...he paid his respects. Lets move on here.
Who is we? An unsigned editorial tries to speak for us all. Please don't bother - loser.
Rather ddifferent from... say... Wellstone.
"Pardon my profanity. I will bite my tongue in the future."
Don't direct the profanity towards me or any other poster here.
"However, please tell me what other cameras were in place besides those that were placed there for the press and video feeds?"
There have been hundreds of photos taken from dozens and dozens of differet angles. Where did you read that Kerry brought his own photographer?
C'mon..a great man died...and he suffered terribly in the last 10 years of his life. Stop making this a political event.
Do you really, actually think that Kerry has any respect for Reagan, or would have been there if he weren't running? That his visit wasn't purely political?
If so, man, you need your political compass swung.
Isn't this the City that now claims to be Gay friendly? You talk about linking up to death. OK so maybe they are the walking Dead but linking they are.
I'm guessing that the Dems, seeing what has happened, will now want to knock off Clinton so that they can have their own state funeral. Of course, they would goof it up, as they did Wellstone's.
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