Bush campaign invokes Reagan (despite saying it would not do so)

[UpInArms]

http://www.marinij.com/Stories/0,1413,234~24410~2201883,00.html

WASHINGTON - After three days of suspended political activity, the Bush campaign began openly incorporating Ronald Reagan's death into its reelection message yesterday, revamping its Web site to give Reagan a dominant role and distributing official campaign letters that invoke the former president.

Since Reagan's death on Saturday, Bush has repeatedly offered glowing praise of the 40th president in ways that echo his own reelection efforts, but were not overtly political.

Yesterday, his campaign took the refrain into the political realm. Bush officials sent an e- mail inviting supporters to add to a "living memorial" on the campaign Web site - one click away from the page that solicits campaign donations and recruits volunteers. Visitors to the official campaign site were automatically redirected to the Reagan tribute, paid for by the Bush/Cheney committee. It replaced the spot usually occupied by the campaign home page.

Meanwhile, lawmakers prepared to honor Reagan with the first state funeral in decades, an event that is almost certain to require both sides to abandon their partisan animosity and overt campaigning. But after a 72-hour stretch of glowing remembrances of Reagan, Republicans and Democrats began crafting statements that suited their political goals. Republicans continued to underscore similarities between the popular 40th president and Bush. Democrats noted differences, such as increasing partisan bitterness and an alienation of America's allies.

Bush has long sought to portray himself as Reagan's ideological heir, and with Reagan's death, he has augmented those efforts.

...more...

Reminds me of Ashcroft after Mel Carnahan died - he said he would hold off campaign advertisements and after 2 days started right up again. It was disgusting.

[Justice]

1. This Was Also in the Boston Globe Today

[ozymandius]

2. They must be desperate.

As Bush's approval ratings have sunk to near the 40% level, it does not surprise me that the Bush campaign would attempt to capitalize on the Reagan coattails. After all, they have attempted to capitalize on FDR's and Churchill's legacies with this concocted war.

[Don_G]

3. ShrubCo Has Nothing To Lose On This Flip-Flop

I suspect he's trailing in the polls further back than we've been led to believe.

However, his hard-core GOP faithful will start comparing the two and find Dimbo lacking in every respect. It's started already and I expect the decline in his support to accelerate after Reagan is finally buried.

[BiggJawn]

4. Where's that MoPaul cartoon?

The one showing the GOP riding Ray-Gun's coffin to the White House?

[Shadder]

5. Just one more lie

You really expect anything diffrent from these bastards?

[Enraged_Ape]

6. Like the Pope visit, brilliant campaign strategy. Keep it up, boys.

Putting Bush next to Reagan is about the dumbest thing they could ever do. Reaganite Republicans, I'm sure, would be pretty horrified by the comparison. The rest of us just laugh at it.

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. It's good for their fundraising

Those who are dewy-eyed about Reagan, and visit the site to see yet another tribute, are the type more likely to give to Bush.

[dusty64]

8. Well I guess the period of "mourning"

is over. The Democrats can resume their campaigns now as the chimp is climbing over corpses again.

[Snellius]

9. God must have ordained Reagan to die to help Bush get elected

I wonder if this was the same God who forgot to leave some spare WMDs lying around Iraq.

[Les BOOGIE]

11. nah, they prolly pulled the plug on a chosen date n/t

////////////////////

[bif]

10. Christ, he hasn't even assumed room temperature yet!

What do you expect from these bastards?

[Walt Starr]

12. The GOP has officially pulled a Wellstone Memorial

Timne to put it to 'em.

Kerry needs to hammer this aspect of what they're doing next week.

[Beetwasher]

13. Just Wait! The BEST Is Yet To Come!!!

Welcome folks to the Reagan Beatification and Ultimate Whorefest Extravaganza!! We've got EVERYTHING Reagan! How about some Reagan toilet paper or suppositories?! Reagan boil lancers are 4 for a buck!! Nancy saved up Ronnie's turds for a whole year before he died and sealed them in wax! For only $49.99 they make a great paper weight! She also collected all his bedsores that fell off! I don't know what you can do with them, but they make great collectibles and are only $4.99 a piece!!! A bargain at any price!

Stick around for a while, the Chimp is going to give a euology which is the highlight of the affair. It's rumored that he will literally flay Reagan's corpse and don his skin Buffalo Bob style! Either that, or he's going to have him stuffed and lug him around the campaign trail for the next six months! You don't want to miss that!

[sadiesworld]

14. Sure * is Reagan's ideological heir...

but most rethugs don't want to see it that way. Several LTTEs in the local rag have distinguished b/t the "greatest president of the 20th century" and the "mediocre *". TeHe.

[snippy]

17. A pretzel never kicked Reagan's ass. n/t

[AlGore-08.com]

15. Who had Weds. June 9th 4:11 am PST in the pool?

I had bet Wednesday June 9th at 4:13 am PST. :P

[Bandit]

16. Can't wait for the replay of Benton's line only to Bush*

"I knew Ronald Reagan, Ronald Reagan was a friend of mine and you sir are no Ronald Reagan"