Is "All Gipper, all the time" weakening Kerry Campaign?

[fencesitter]

Dick Polman of the Philadelphia Inquier thinks so.

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/8874316.htm

This is the last thing that John Kerry needed - a full week of Ronald Reagan hagiography, a 24/7 media festival featuring various Reagan alumni telling Americans how Reagan conservatism made the nation great again.

And, potentially, that's a great subliminal advertisement for President Bush, who has long portrayed himself as the heir to Reagan's legacy. Bush can buttress his credentials merely by delivering the eulogy Friday; all Kerry can do is sit in the crowd and cede the spotlight.

[Cheswick2.0]

1. no it is boring the american people to death one by one

in the long run it might help. If the wrongwing republicans keep it up they are going to piss people off. Don't forget that Clinton was even more popular than Reagan.

[lovedems]

3. Normally I have a news channel on during the day, but not since Sunday

I just can't take it anymore!!!!! :crazy:

[Scoopie]

42. Remember when

things were going well - the country was at peace and prosperous. We had competent leadership.
And you could gorge yourself on the O.J. trial, on speculation about whether Diana was pregnant when she died or how sad it was for the world to loose both Diana and Mother Teresa in one week?
Now, if you let up for one moment, the corporate media, the neo-conservatives and the sheeple in cheap clothing take over everything.
*sigh*

[Gore1FL]

26. No kidding

MSNBC is replaying everything they played and replayed today on Friday.

Its too bad they just don't save it for the weekend when their programming is already devistatingly stupid and repetitive. (I refer to Headliners and Legends)

[spooky3]

33. LOL, I hope you are right.

[JI7]

2. Kerry will campaign on moving FORWARD

while bush tries to be like the "great communicator". and we all know how much of a great communicator bush is. hahha.
i'm also hoping with so many media outlets that they over do the whole reagan thing and get people tired of it.


does anyone else besides me think that the "great communicator" is a term far more descriptive of bill clinton than ronald reagan ?

[MallRat]

4. Wow. Don't strain any neurons, Mr. Polman.

Could this "conventional wisdom" be any more conventional?

The numbers from tracking polls, at least so far, do not support his thesis. Three days into "all Reagan, all-the-time," the Bush-Kerry dynamic remains unchanged.

In the end, I think it'll be a wash. For every person who rosily associates * with the glory days of the Reagan era, there'll be another person who thinks that * suffers by comparison.

And two weeks from now, the death of Reagan will be nothing more than a blip on the radar screen of Campaign '04.

-MR

[trotsky]

5. Dick's a moron.

Christ, it's only June. People will tire of and then forget the Reagan stuff. Plus there's the distinct possibility, that many have already noted, that * compares so unfavorably to Reagan. Not as well-liked, economy stinks, endless war, etc.

And let's not forget that * hasn't gotten even so much as a blip in the polls from this.

[Tom Rinaldo]

6. It will fire up some of their troops, and that can hurt some.

Reagan is an inspirational figure to many right wing activists. To an extent some of them will be more motivated to "win one for the gipper" (ugh). I'm not so concerned about the direct effects on the general public, but indirectly some Reagan identified activists may throw themselves harder into the campaign now than they might otherwise have. They may not love Bush, just like some of our leftists here may not love Kerry, but they sure as hell don't want to lose the White House to Liberals right after they got fired up again remembering the Reagan glory years.

[ibegurpard]

7. All Gipper, all the time is producing fatigue.

The guy died IN HIS BED at the age of ninety-something.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

8. Alan Lichtman is a FOSSIL and a RIGHT WING TOOL!!!

[napi21]

9. I don't think so.It might help a little.

I think even Reagan supporters are getting tired of this on EVERY chanel. It also gives a break to the constant campaign crap on both sides. People were getting tired of that too and it's pretty early to start tuning out!

The other thing that could be a benefit to Kerry mainly because it hurts the Shrub, is that people will again hear the different Reagan speeches and make a comparison to Shrub. One guy is a very charismatic and is actually easy to listen to and understand, the other is, well..........NOT!

[DianeK]

10. for those sick of the demonstration...

there is a good city confidential on a&e

[Chef]

11. All Reagan

I don't think it will as Americans will soon yearn for Kobe/Lacy/Am. Idol news and get burnt out on RR. However, last night one of my cable chanels showed "1984" again and in the opening scene where the throng is whipped up and then become emotional at the site of Big Brother, I was struck by the similatity to the pagent unfolding this week. The other part of the movie that is similar to today's events is where Winston is rewriting the news articles to change the record of history. The Republicans and the media are rewriting as fast as they can to make RR look like he saved the free world. I only wish that we had an objective press that could rise above the onslaught of propaganda we are being subjected to.

I also think that besides those who see the curent regime as coming up short in comparison to RR what a mind boggling thought, there will be those who will remember what damage RR did to this nation.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

12. Let's get back to Kobe/Lacy/Peterson NOW!!!!!

It's less nauseating then the Reagan "Love-Fest"!

[pansypoo53219]

13. finally in the paper today

the letters were 2-4. twice as many ANTI-reagan letters, and yesterday there was an anti ed by a black columnist.

[lancdem]

14. Someone needs to tell Mr. Polman

that the Reagan hagiography (which is being driven by the media and the Repukes) is boring the hell out of almost everybody. It's gone on way too long. Overkill is an understatement. I think it's already producing a backlash.

Plus, Kerry hasn't made much of an effort to be in the spotlight. That will come when he picks his veep.

[riverwalker]

15. it's actually helping him

the media is flooded this week with images of this 93 year old president who had Alzhiemers during his term, and even HE makes the current president stand out as the moron he is. The country WANTS desperately to feel good about something, ANYTHING, and they jumped on the pomp and circumstance of a state funeral. The soldiers look so nice, and they are not torturing anyone. Reagans speeches are being replayed and he sounds like the greatest orator since Martin Luther King next to dubya. Next week when the media covers Kerry again, he will remind people about feeling good about this country once more, and be like a refreshing cool drink of spring water after the sewage of the last couple of years forced down our throats.

[libertad]

32. I agree, I think it shows the difference between RR and W.

W appears even more oafish when compared to a professional actor who knew how to carry himself and speak properly.

[I thought so.]

16. Not at all.

It just can't work.

[whosinpower]

17. Kerry made tthe correct decision

When they announced that they would not be campaigning this week in deference to the death of Reagan.

[VC of reason]

18. I don't know dick!

...but, he might be right. at least in the short term.

Really I think the greater issues for Kerry could be a bounce Bush gets from the UN resolution <15-0> supporting the new government in Iraq, and how whatever agreements come out of the G8 summit, could minimize Kerry's message of assembling a coalition of the willing to get us out of Iraq.

Regardless of political ideology, all the eulogies on TV do make me yearn for a time when people were a little more civil with each other than they are nowadays. I know, my memories are faded, but it is kind of weird, it seems as though more and more people don't respect the art of disagreement and compromise.

I consider myself truly middle of the road kind of person much like a cross between a Schwarzenegger Republican or a Lieberman Democrat, and would like to believe the majority of the country is also.

[Hippo_Tron]

19. Considering that the Asscroft testimony didn't make the news, YES!

Another example of the lazy cheap media...

[zulchzulu]

20. I am glad Reagan died now and not in October

People are burned out on the Gipper by now.

We need more tributes like this:
www.awolcowboy.com/reagan

[VOX]

24. Yes. Better now than later.

The GOP will try to keep the corpse twitching, but it'll be very old news by July.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

21. Nope.

If Kerry just keeps his yapper shut, he's the next President.

[AgadorSparticus]

22. i don't think it will help * at all. they've run amuck with the funeral

and all the media attention that it is beyond overkill. everyone's tuning out. no one wants to hear about it anymore. very much like bush's negative attack ads. they have long lost their bite. just annoying background noise now. well, those are my 2 cents anyways.

[sampsonblk]

23. I Think Most Here are missing a BIG point

The Repugs are manipulating us again, this time by making Ronald Reagan a symbol of the "greatness" of their right-wing ideology and "leadership." The hell with that. In my view, Reagan was a poor president, and his economic claims have been disproven at every turn. Yes, he spent the Soviets into collapse. But that wasn't his intention. Star Wars was a bluff? Nonsense! He really wanted to use it. It just didn't work, and was far too expensive. It just so happened that the Soviets came crashing down because of the competition.

Yet today, I saw (on C-SPAN) young people - people who weren't old enough to remember the Reagan years - crying crocodile tears over this American "hero." We are losing a big battle for history, and for the hearts and minds of the next generation. If we agree (by our silence) that Reagan is a great American hero, then we are also agreeing that George W Shrub is a great American hero. He runs with the same crowd of criminals and spouts the same supply-side, shoot-em-up nonsense. We have to oppose this tastefully but strongly.

[radfringe]

28. couple two three other thoughts

Reagan is front page news again -- but it's still 5 months (give or take a week) till the election, the big story will fade in another week or so

my concern is how GOPers will spin Reagan to make bush* appear to morph into Reagan. :evilgrin: we know that bush* claims to be 'selected' by God, will he next claim to have been in contact with Reagan's ghost, and perhaps channeling Reagan? :evilgrin:

I've heard warnings and anecdotes basically saying bush* is no Reagan, and by trying to "channel" Reagan, bush* will end up hurting himself in the long run. Many GOPers are near or on the fence regarding bush*, invoking the 'gipper' may result in these GOPers voting for someone other than bush* or not voting at all

another thought, this election may be a three-way race between bush*, Kerry and Reagan's ghost. Reagan may not be on the ticket, but he will be on people's minds as the campaign season turns red hot. It would not be surprising if many people measure bush* and Kerry by using their own Reagan ruler...

[sampsonblk]

36. Re: Your thoughts

I agree with most of what you said. But right this minute, Reagan is being established as a great American hero. In 5 months, Bush may be unveiling a frickin statue of this guy in the Capitol rotunda or something. We can't allow this to go on for 5 months. If we do, it will be settled for all time: Reagan was right and we were wrong. If that's true, then we are still wrong, and Bush is right about nearly everything. We have to do something.

Bush isn't Reagan. But the result from this lovefest may be that the public thinks we need to find another Reagan. And if Bush ain't it, will they look for a Democrat? No. If Reagan is forever right, then we Democrats (and all we believe in) will be forever wrong.

[lancdem]

31. I don't think the Dems can, or frankly should, do much

This will soon be over, and Reagan's place in history will not be altered by this. People can grieve. I have no problem with that.

[sampsonblk]

39. This is more than grieving

For one thing, some of the "grievers" are people who don't even remember the guy. They are falling for the propaganda - which you call grieving.

Secondly, they are calling for his face on our money. No sir!! I don't do that when I grieve!

[Feanorcurufinwe]

25. "Bush, who has long portrayed himself as the heir to Reagan's legacy"

Yes, he's portrayed himself as a lot of things that he isn't, and the American people are starting to see through the facade.

[MessiahRp]

29. That line seems funny to me...

Since when Brokaw asked Bush on Sunday if Bush was a "Ronald Reagan Republican" he responded that he was a "George W. Bush Republican, different era".

I mean he doesn't cede anything to anyone. George thinks he's God himself. Reagan doesn't count and his pops is worth so little that Bush refuses to consult him, after all he speaks to a "higher father".

What a dick.

Rp

[Piperay]

27. No, I am a Soap Opera viewer and

along with reading political boards I read soap opera boards and even the people on those boards are hopping mad and sick to death of the wall to wall raygun coverage. I think that all this coverage has brought raygun policies back into the public view and many of the public have very unpleasant memories once reminded. I myself had actually forgotton just how bad the guy was until they (the media & the reaganoids) kept on and on about how great he was. Hearing all that got me to thinking and remembering and getting madder and madder about the awful way him and the repukes ran this country. If they had been smart they would have buried him sooner and got the focus off of him and his party before the bad stuff resurfaced.

[Eurobabe]

30. not at all

everybody i talk to hear is SICK to death of 24/7 Reagan saturation. if anything it gave our candidate a week to rest before the shit resumes hitting the fan for Bu$hieBoy.

I think next week is going to get increasingly ugly with the multiple scandal d'jours.

[spooky3]

34. Pity those of us in Wash. DC.

We have it not only on the tube but in traffic jams and street closings.

yesterday I was at the dentist, who thoughtfully has TV monitors to watch while you are getting work done. Unthoughtfully, though, they were tuned to Fox News, and the hygienist who apparently sized me up as a sympathetic soul, told me of her disappointment at not being able to go stand in line for 7 hours to see the casket. I wasn't going to argue with someone who has drills! Thankfully the dental work was over quickly; too bad the pomp isn't also.

The best thing I can say is that Reagan has two great kids. And, actually, I once had some contact with his late daughter Maureen at work, and she was a fun person, even though she was a Repug.

[Capn Sunshine]

35. The Gipper coverage isn't weakening the Kerry campaign

He is doing that all on his own.

[JHBowden]

37. Reagan makes Bush look worse.

Junior can't even speak in complete sentences!

[leyton]

38. I don't know, but it's an excuse to use the word 'hagiography.'

I'd forgotten about that word, but it's so cool-looking, I may just go write one of my own right now.

:P

[Upfront]

40. Kerrys campaign could be weaker?

I doubt it.

[yellowcanine]

41. No, because shrub doesn't compare favorably to the Reagan cartoon that is

being constructed this week. How could he? Even Reagan doesn't compare favorably to the Reagan cartoon.

[TexasSissy]

43. No. It's just one week. And it's making everyone sick of it.

I'm all for respect and all. The way he went...Alzheimer's lasting 15 years or so....was awful. And I feel for Nancy. But enufalready! It's Reagan everywhere, all the time. Regain and Regain.