Fineman:How Reagan's passing helps Bush

[underpants]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5157698/

WASHINGTON - As if he didn't have enough to deal with — a gaggle of cooks in his campaign kitchen, a job-creation surge that muddles his economic message, an air-hogging, book-hawking Bill Clinton — Sen. John Kerry now has to deal with this: a week of justifiable nostalgia for the late Ronald Reagan. The Gipper's passing won't be enough to re-elect George W. Bush, but it may well help the president in terms of timing, tactics and message.


A master of the theatrical in politics, Reagan chose an exquisitely perfect time to depart the stage, especially from Bush's point of view. The former president died just as the remnants of his own, Greatest Generation were gathering to listen to Bush and other leaders remind us of the need to defend freedom, whatever the cost.


George W. Bush is no Ronald Reagan, and no Franklin Roosevelt and no Winston Churchill. Voters can and should question the strategy he is pursuing. There are many who think that Iraq, unlike Normandy, was the wrong invasion in the wrong place at the wrong time. But, as commander in chief in the "war on terror," (which really is a war against extremist theocratic Islam) Bush projects an elemental refusal to accept the "realists'" notion of live and let live. In that attitude at least Bush can claim the heritage of Ronald Reagan.

Now we know what the Republican convention in New York is going to be about, other than showing off Rudy Giuliani et. al., and replaying the videotape of Bush, bullhorn in hand, at Ground Zero. It's going to be about the legacy and ideas of Reagan — a show that might have seemed ghoulish had he still been alive, but sadly lost in the oblivious world of Alzheimer's. Now the tributes can be full, and you can be sure they will be, and filled with emotion when, say, Nancy Reagan and the Reagan children wave to the crowd.

[LittleApple81]

1. Reagan children wave to the crowd? Ron Jr. won't be doing that

if his appearances on TV programs discussing politics is any indication.
Me thinks they cannot do that because Bush* is such an idiot. Besides, he already said he IS NOT A REAGAN REPUBLICAN....HE IS A GEORGE W. REPUBLICAN so there!

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

32. He's not a W Republican. He dissed W hard in a Salon article.

[lancdem]

2. I have no doubt they'll try to exploit this for all it's worth

but I'm much happier this happened in June than October, and I'm dubious Bush will really benefit.

[Beetwasher]

3. Whores! Remember Paul Wellstone!!

Disgusting hypocritical whores parading around and fellating Reagans corpse for Bush.

Only Repubs are allowed to exploit and politicize people's deaths.

[tom_paine]

23. What else did you expect in a Totalitarian nation like Imperial Amerika

One set of rules for the Imperials, another for the rest of us.

In all things.

[BurtWorm]

4. Fineman demonstrates once again that he is unworthy of the name.

Clueless! Polls repeatedly showed that while Americans may have "personally liked" Ronald Reagan, they disagreed with his politics--which is why the Reaganites betrayed their own politics over and over, raising taxes, saving Social Security, disowning Iran-Contra, etc., etc., etc. It would be foolish to think Bush has anything like the alleged charisma and likeablity Reagan had to offset the public's distaste for Bushism.

[Justice]

5. The last paragraph was too rich

"This season of remembering Reagan helps the Republicans in another way. It diminishes the accomplishments of the Democrats' two-termer — Clinton — who is launching a nostalgia tour of his own this month. The Clinton years were among the most prosperous in modern American history. But even Democrats would have to admit that Reagan's signal achievement — joining Maggie Thatcher, Lech Walesa and Pope John Paul II in toppling the Soviet Union — is a tad more significant than outlasting the Vast Right Wing Con-spiracy."

It seems to me that Fineman is spinning frantically - it is revealing how he does not have full grasp of the facts (saying Reagan's children will be at the RNC in NY when everyone knows they are Democrats for example, and then all the qualifiers in his reference to the Clinton years "among the most prosperous" in "modern" American history. And then basically saying all Clinton did was outlast the conspiracy against him - digusting.

[calimary]

10. He's missing the boat.

The WORST thing that can happen is to reflect on Reagan. All you're left with, once you come out of your stupor, is the question - "...and so it's come to THIS?????" They'll look at idiot-boy and say - we once had Ronald Reagan. And now, THIS is the best we've got?????" Then they're liable to go climb inside some bourbon bottle.

Any attempts to compare bush to Reagan will only result in bush coming up on the VERY short end. bush can't touch the hem of Reagan's garment - not that anyone really would WANT to.

Howard Fineman WISHES this were true.

Check out my post elsewhere here... here's what I just wrote:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x1741544

[Cooley Hurd]

24. That's what I keep thinking...

...every time they show a Reagan speech, it only serves to remind everyone of what an utter l-o-o-o-s-e-r we have as pResident now...

At least Reagan could make a speech...

[Cocoa]

15. that's true only on Hardball

Tweety will excitedly nod his head when Fineman explains how Reagan's dying diminishes Clinton.

The good thing is, this is another thing for Fineman to be wrong about, and his wrongness will be measurable by book sales.

[underpants]

20. I loved how he connected Ronnie and the "Greatest Generation"

Uh yeah sorta but not really Ronnie never left Hollywood so let's not put him on Omaha beach just yet.........though within the month they might have created that story and sold it to the public, you realize there are people who think W flew in the Korean War.

[Cocoa]

6. why (fill in the blank) helps Bush

or alternatively, hurts Kerry.

:eyes:

[emulatorloo]

26. You have nailed it, Cocoa. . .that is the cable talking head formula

in a nutshell.

[fertilizeonarbusto]

7. Fineman is an idiotic shill

I actually see Reagan's death as symbolic. The cycle that started with him is now over and will be sealed off in November.
Oddly enough, I keep talking to people who say the same thing: they all say Reagan was a "nice man," but only one wingnut I know thought he was a good president-and this includes people who voted foir him, like my ex-Republican mom. If anything, his death will remind people how they have been conned for 20 years and how Reagan skillfully fronted that con for eight of them. I see no help to Bush in this.

[lancdem]

16. This is another example of the media being out of touch

They're going on and on about Reagan, while people I talk to are already tired of all this "nostalgia." It's more of a reflection on the media than on Reagan. They overdo EVERYTHING.

[kaitykaity]

8. Fineman still a media whore.

No surprise there. Come on Howard, more sucking noises. Work
those knee pads.

[Zolok]

9. It is a pity that

the "Ed Sullivan Show" has gone the way of the mastodon.
Because Howard Fineman would've been a huge hit thereon as a plate spinning act.
Y'know where they spin fine china plates on long polls for extended periods.
Howard is so adept at this that he can actually spin mushy stinking BULLSHIT for years at a time!
Sullivan would've loved him.
Effin' media whore!
My ghod he just can't wait to start spinning up some trouble for John Kerry..I don't think Saint Ron is even officially cold yet and there is Howard pushing out his lower lip trying to look all solemn and pontifical whilst he knifes John Kerry on the basis of no evidence.


I am resigned to the inevitable appearance by Fineman on Imus this week wherein the above dross will be stroked, polished and giggled over to no end.

F*ck having a fair election in Iraq lets have a fair election here in America.
www.chimesatmidnight.blogspot.com

[frank frankly]

11. Fineman is A STUPID FOOL. A USEFUL IDIOT. he should not be read

he is whorable!

[TrogL]

12. If the elections were month end

like in Canada, I'd believe this.

Raygun will be old news by next week and politiciking will back to (what passes for) normal.

[enki23]

31. they'll play to it again at the convention

but it will mostly only matter to them.

[Dudley_DUright]

13. The all-time MWO Media Whore Champion

does it again, and in the very first sentence no less!

a week of justifiable nostalgia for the late Ronald Reagan...

[Beetwasher]

14. Bush Will Flay Reagan's Corpse and Wrap Himself in His Skin

Buffalo Bob style...

Or maybe he'll just have him stuffed and lug him around the campaign trail...

Why not?

[Snellius]

17. Compared to the Great Communicator, he's the Great Impostor

Bush is finished. His credibility is shot. He looks weak. He crawls like a loser. Grovelling to the U.N. He cut and run in Fallujah. Dining with the French. He'll soon be eating Brie, sitting in a hot tub in Marin County.

[Neecy]

18. ugh

I HATE how whores like Fineman are always so eager to let us all know just how terrible Kerry's campaign is.

Personally, I'm impressed with the Kerry campaign thus far. I think they've been playing their cards exactly right. While they're dealing with a different set of facts than the Gore campaign (people knew Gore well, it was hard to paint him as a 'liberal') I'm far more impressed with the people running this campaign than in 2000.

Fineman never seems to miss an opportunity to slam Kerry and kiss-ass bunnypants.

[Beaverhausen]

19. Aren't the Bushes and Reagans enemies?

I doubt Nancy, et al, would want to go anywhere near the convention.

[rniel]

21. all this nostalgia happening

is the result of how bad things are screwed up now. It comparitively feels good to take your mind back to the 80s and Reagan era than deal with all the crap going on now.

[tom_paine]

22. The Bushevik Masters must be mad at Fineman for blowing the lid off

Phase I of the October Surprise (yes, it's not just for Octobers anymore...everything starst earlier these days).

Naturally Fineman was NOT in any loops and is just licking the Boots of His Masters as he always does.

But laying out why the Busheviks arranged for the Convenient Death of Ronald Raygun certainly does them no favors.

Fineman can be forgiven because he believes his Masters are as Honorable and Trustworthy as a Der Sturmer correspondent felt about HIS LEADER.

he didn't know that he shouldn't be saying these things. Uncle Karl will gently let him know, I'm sure.

[Skittles]

25. let's see - 800+ dead soldiers is bad but it's OK because

it makes Bush look like Reagan??? :puke:

[Manix]

27. I think Fineman missed it on this one...the replays of Reagan will reveal

the stature gap between them. Bush will be seen as a pathetic
inarticulate un-presidential figure.

[HarveyBriggs]

28. I absolutely agree, Manix ...

Reagan's greatest asset was his ability to project confidence.

You may not like what he sold, but he was a great salesperson.

Bush's greatest moment as President was that he did not completely break down and foul up his post 9/11 address to the nation. Low expectations did him wonders that night.

See Bush at Normandy, then see Reagan crying, "Tear down that wall!" and a lot of leaners and tweaners will see Bush is not "Reagan Light," but more like what is left in the urinal trough after a heavy night of drinking "Reagan Light."

Harvey Briggs

[John_H]

29. Vote for the dumbest sentence in the piece.

1) "Voters on the left who think the comparison is damning to Bush weren't going to support him anyway; voters on the right who think the comparison makes Bush looks small are going to vote for Bush anyway. Voters in the middle who still aren't sure what to make of Bush may see a wee bit more vision in his thinking — and vision is a thing every president (and every president running for re-election) needs"

OK, that's two sentences, but is that weirdest argument ever made?What, "voters in the middle" are so dumb they can't help but fall for Roves Reagan-bush propaganda. And the only people smart enough to see through it are going to vote for chimp anyway? Whaaaaaaaa?

2) "The Clinton years were among the most prosperous in modern American history. But even Democrats would have to admit that Reagan's signal achievement — joining Maggie Thatcher, Lech Walesa and Pope John Paul II in toppling the Soviet Union — is a tad more significant than outlasting the Vast Right Wing Con-spiracy."

LOL! You OK Howie? I guess whoring for Chimp causes Alzheimer's-like symptoms. Read the first sentence of the paragraph. Now read the last part of the second sentence. Do it again. Proof that whoring is veerrrry confusing.

[underpants]

30. Can we call it a tie?

Yes those were not only stupid but I would be surprised if Howard didn't pull a muscle making a reach like that.

[Eric J in MN]

33. Fake job numbers. Pleas read my blog.

The "job-creation surge" is fake.

Please read my blog:

http://www.moveleft.com/moveleft_essay_2004_06_07_fake_job_numbers_from_the_bush_administration.asp

[bobbieinok]

34. remember FINEMAN IS APOLOGIST FOR W

[Eurobabe]

35. sorry, don't agree

i think all the comparisons will backfire. bu$h is no reagan, he's a petty little fool.

[robertpaulsen]

36. Most immediate effect that Reagan's passing helps Bush

Remember the shock of the twin resignations of Tenet and Pavitt from the CIA last week? I remember words like "crisis" being bandied about to explain the situation. Suddenly that story has disappeared from the columns of the Corporate Media since Reagan's passing.

Crisis solved.

[Still_Loves_John]

37. Ha, how Karmic would it be if

the Republicans staged some disgustingly political Reagan memorial at the funeral or convention and there was a huge national backlash against them for politicizing a death. All the right wing talking heads who feigned outrage over the Wellstone memorial would make a complete 180.

[Piperay]

38. Timing sucked for chimp

he was all set to 'make like' some World leader for the D Day anniversary and then got overshadowed by a dead man. :eyes: Chimp is the one diminished by this not Clinton, chimp along side all the rest of the former Presidents is reduced to a whining puking idiotic brat.