Bush campaign claims Reagan's legacy

[CShine]

George Bush and his Democratic rival John Kerry cancelled campaign events yesterday as a mark of respect to Ronald Reagan, but that did not stop the former president becoming an election issue. As a week-long nationwide farewell got under way, the Bush camp quickly sought to assert ownership over the Reagan legacy, converting its campaign website into a memorial featuring Mr Bush's comments on Mr Reagan's death and links to the late president's speeches.

George Bush Sr, Mr Reagan's vice-president and successor, was brought out to work the morning television shows with eulogies to underline the association. Meanwhile Republican aides dredged up comments by Mr Kerry which were unflattering to Mr Reagan in the 80s. Democrats retaliated with statements by Mr Bush Sr in 1980, when he ran against Mr Reagan for the Republican nomination.

Commentators were divided whether Mr Reagan's death would let Mr Bush fight the election as the obvious heir to his conservative, world-changing ideas. Some thought the comparison would hurt Mr Bush, contrasting his fumbling oratorical skillswith those of the Great Communicator. Others warned that ostentatious attempts to claim Mr Reagan's mantle could backfire if the Republicans were seen to be exploiting his death.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uselections2004/story/0,13918,1233788,00.html

[struggle4progress]

1. So Laura tells George what to do, based on an astrologer's advice?

[Tellurian]

14. Excuse me, but how can the Bush Campaign claim RR's legacy

when today, Brokaw asked Bush, "If he was a Reagan Republican?"
and he responded with, "I'm a GeorgeW Republican."

Does this mean the GOP might dump Bush?

[keithyboy]

15. What legacy? And who in their right mind would want to claim it?

Ronnie was the closest thing to "Being There" and Chauncy Gardner that I have ever seen. He murdered the English language (his love letters to Nancy were the best communication he made), he was a sleeping puppet for most of his administrations and woke up just in time to make a few "John Wayne" sound bites that allowed the media and his followers to annoint him the "great communicator. Nevermind that after every public speech he gave, his staff had to get up bright an early to publich either explanations of what Reagan was trying to say or to correct what he did say. But we all know about myths. they soon become history.

[JI7]

2. ron reagan jr would kick bush's ass

[Philostopher]

3. "My father crapped bigger ones than George Bush."

--Ron Reagan Jr.

[JI7]

7. hahha,i remember that

i wish people here would think about ron jr when they make the nasty comments about reagan. they can criticize his presidency and other things he did all they want. but he still has a good son who loves him even though he admits he wasn't a very good father and disagrees with his dad on issues.

[Philostopher]

12. Ron Jr. is the first one I thought of.

I lost my dad a few years ago, and as I've said before, if my dad had found Reagan consumed in flames, he wouldn't have pissed on him to put him out. But I think a whole lot of Ron Junior, and I feel for him right now.

[physioex]

4. Yea Bunnypants is milking it for all its worth...EOM

[PartyPooper]

5. Why not just draw and quarter the corpse and see who wins?

:evilgrin:

[physioex]

8. Even better, take some photos and sell it for $2000 a piece....

It was good enough for 9/11..

[drfemoe]

6. Maybe it's time for a new legacy ...

His wife Mary added: "It's sad, it's a big loss for this country. We pulled the children out of school today to come and see this. It's important for them to see the president for one last time."

[pfitz59]

9. Nancy should endorse Kerry!

And tell Babs where she can stick it!
http://www.columbia.edu/itc/history/brinkley/3651/photos/eighties/Reagan,%20Nancy.jpg

[napi21]

10. All the reruns of RR's speeches and personality will only point

out to EVERYBODY that there's no similarities between the two men, at all! Ron Jr. will slaughter Shrub if he pushes that plan, and so will Nancy.

Know yourself out Georgie....I can't wait to see the fighting!

I of course know who will win!

Kerry!

[Pachamama]

11. "I knew Ronald W. Reagan and you * are no Ronald Reagan" n/t

[Tellurian]

13. Babs is no match for Nancy...

even if she leaves her 'beautiful mind' at home.

[Whoa_Nelly]

16. Shrub will exploit

anyone, any event, anything, as long as he perceives it to make him look good. Napolean syndrome. What a turd.:freak:

[Gloria]

17. So, when do they start politicizing this???? We all know how UPSET

they were that Wellstone's funeral was "politicized"----such sensiitve creatures, those Republicans................

[Leilani]

18. The more Chimpy plays that game, the more he loses!

I was checking out some conservative websites, & there is much displeasure with Chimpy there. They were comparing the two, & Shrub was losing, Big Time, as Cheney would say.

Another thing...there were many compliments to John Kerry, saying he was acting with real class, whereas Shrub was trying to politicize it.

I agree about Kerry...he has acted like a real gentleman.

[Democat]

19. Wellstone's family should get ready to go on the attack!

This is the exact bullshit that everyone predicted would happen.

[ze_dscherman]

20. As Steve Bell sees it

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=post&forum=102&topic_id=608950&mesg_id=608950

[GoBlue]

21. If you think about it, Bush is Ronnie's true legacy.

And Ronnie's legacy is a true disgrace.

[radfringe]

22. the more bush* tried to equate himself with ummm, errrrr, ummmm

Reagan, the more ummmm, errrr, ummmm the differences stand out

bush* is trying to ride on the Reagan sympathy coat-tails

don't expect any immediate negative reaction to this -- there's the whole Reagan lovefest going on at the moment in the media

but give it another couple of weeks, and we may see more mention of bush* staffers who were connected to Iran-Contra -- especially in relation to outing of Plame, and those "16 little words"

We already saw some "backlash" about the politicizing "terralerts" and bush* inc. quickly backed off on that.

Wonder if Nancy will speak out? She was already rebuffed awhile back when she asked bush* to reconsider his stance on stemcells. and I get the sense that there is little hugs&kisses when it comes to the Reagan's and Dubya.

anyone else think Nancy will either create or join up with a group advocating stemcell research within the next couple of months?

meanwhile poppy and babs will be giving an interview together to talk about Reagan, ummmm, errrrr, ummmm any bets they try to link Reagan's 'stay the course" and cold war leadership to jr? I wouldn't be surprised if this interview will really be about jr's campaign. Look for the questions that ask for comparisons....

[robbedvoter]

23. W ran left of Raygun (compassionate thingy) and ended up way right

Missed the mark on both counts.

[0007]

24. The Reagan's despised the Bush family

After Ronnie's body is cold in the ground, Nancy will jump junior and bash what brains this moran has right out of his head.