Dems dropping ball on Reagan-Chimp comparison bigtime

[John_H]

There's a NY Times story over in LBN that quotes a lot of Rethugs worried about the Reagan-Chimp bait and switch Rove is trying to pull. I guess it takes a Republican to say what Dems, apparently, will not say, even on background: That Chimp is a pipsqueak in every way compared to Reagan.

What pisses me off thew most is that the Dems have a risk free(c'mon Team Kerry, that's your favorite phrase in English) way to neutralize any benefit chimp might get from Reagan, but that foer whatever reason their great big brains are conjuring, won't use it. All they have to do is say in various ways: "Chimp is no Reagan, especially on the issue of X, and it's really pathetic that the White House feels the need to use the funeral for cheap political gain."

That's it. No disrespect to Reagan--in fact it complements him unduly--and the media is sure to report it because it's a conflict.

If we let these things "blow over" all the time Chimp is going to ratchet up a comeback, one notch at a time.

[MallRat]

1. It's VERY risky if the Dems take the first shot.

The Democrats have to be ready to pounce, sure. But they MUST wait for the Bushies to politicize Reagan's death FIRST.

That's when we "Wellstone" them, to use a term I first heard here. If we come out too early, guns blazing, then we'll be painted as the insensitive partisans, not them.

Hold your fire. Be patient.

-MR

[John_H]

4. They've already started. Please see

http://mediamatters.org/items/200406070002

[ClassWarrior]

13. That's why we need to start spreading the meme...

... that the Republicans ARE politicizing Reagan's death. The more it's repeated, the bigger it becomes.

See: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x1733019

[Malva Zebrina]

2. well, I won't hold my breath

chimp has just recently been compared to Churchill or Roosevelt by Rice and there have been many connections, subtle verbal connections, made by persons in the White House that try to lock in the stupid asshole who called himself a "war president" over time to these real leaders who did a great job in a real war and NO ONE called him on it--not in public anyhow.

He is just allowed to get away with it and that to me is absolutely incredible. He racks up the images, they embed themselves into the minds of the sheep, they vote and he wins--he is their "war president" on the same level as a Roosevelt or Churchill which only the old timers know anything about.

This is maddening to me

[boxster]

3. Rove, et al, have been patterning Bush after Reagan for years.

This is nothing new. His whole persona is an attempt to replicate Reagan - going back to the ranch to "work", clearing out brush, pretending not to hear questions you don't want to answer, ratcheting up the military, failing to combat terrorism, ad infinitum.

[Beloved Citizen]

5. Give it a week, will ya?

Why is it so many folks suffer anxiety if the gratification they seek takes more than 5 minutes to arrive?

My big concern is the length of time Reagan will be reposing in state. What if they didn't buy enough ice?

[John_H]

12. Too late. Everybody's tuned in now. After the circus, the damage will

been done.

Gratification shmatification. I'd be gratified beyond belief if Kerry's advisors would stop telling him it's his to lose. The exact same people did the exact same things in 2k.

[Cocoa]

6. Gephardt already compared Bush ufavorably to Reagan

back in the primaries.

But now after Reagan's death, this wouldn't work, it would backfire.

[John_H]

10. Of course, that's not what I'm talking about.

Gephardt compared both Reagan and Chimp in an unfavorable light. I'm talking about saying Chimp is no Reagan.

The only thing that will cost us votes is letting Rove successfully spatter the Reagan love onto Chimp's sorry ass.

[DinahMoeHum]

7. Leave this shit to Reagan's own family. . .

Ronnie Jr. and Patti are not big fans of the current GOP crowd.


:kick:

[lanparty]

8. I think they ARE!!!!

When Dems compliment Reagan, they largely talk about how amiable and civil he is. This is a HUGE contrast to Bush.

I think they are simply being clever about it. They have to COMPLIMENT Reagan AND criticize Bush without SAYING BUSH!!!!

Remember the Paul Wellstone memorial. One little blurb in a LONG ceremony turned it into a "Democratic rally" according to news sources.

Anything a Democrat says in this regard will be turned into them exploiting Reagan's death in the conservative, corporate media.

[Octafish]

9. What are ya afraid of? Remember what Ron Reagan Jr. said:

"My father's crapped bigger ones than George Bush."

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2003/04/14/ron_reagan/index_np.html

[rucky]

11. the body isn't even cool yet

good strategy, tho.