Technical Problems
June 14th, 2004
Some people may have noticed we’re experiencing some technical problems here regarding posting comments. We’re working on the problem and hope to have it resolved soon.
In the meantime, comment moderation will be turned on, so comments made here won’t publish immediately. Please keep that in mind.
“Under God” To Stay in The Pledge
June 14th, 2004
The Supreme Court preserved the phrase “one nation, under God,” in the Pledge of Allegiance, ruling Monday that a California atheist could not challenge the patriotic oath but sidestepping the broader question of separation of church and state.
At least for now, the decision - which came on Flag Day - leaves untouched the practice in which millions of schoolchildren around the country begin the day by reciting the pledge.
The court said atheist Michael Newdow could not sue to ban the pledge from his daughter’s school and others because he did not have legal authority to speak for her.
Newdow is in a protracted custody fight with the girl’s mother. He does not have sufficient custody of the child to qualify as her legal representative, the court said. Eight justices voted to reverse a lower court ruling in Newdow’s favor.
I Guess They Do Sleep Together
June 12th, 2004
Bill and Hillary at Reagan’s funeral
And that schmuck whined about not being asked to speak at the funeral? How disrespectful.
“He is home now. He is free.”
June 12th, 2004
“It seemed as if the heavens were weeping as we paid farewell to your servant Ronald Reagan. We have come from sea to shining sea to this soil that he loved so much and where his body will remain.” -Rev. Michael Wenning
“You knew my father as president, as governor. Well, I knew him as Dad,” -Michael Reagan
“Humble as he was, he never would have assumed a free pass to heaven. But in his heart of hearts, I suspect he felt he would be welcome there. And so he is home. He is free.” -Ron Reagan Jr.
“It has been 10 years since he said his own farewell, yet it is still very sad and hard to let him go. Ronald Reagan belongs to the ages now, but we preferred it when he belonged to us.” -President George W. Bush
“We here still move in twilight. But we have one beacon to guide us that Ronald Reagan never had. We have his example. Let us give thanks today for a life that achieved so much for all of God’s children.” -Margaret Thatcher
“Ronald Reagan was beloved because of what he believed. He believed in America so he made it his shining city on a hill. He believed in freedom so he acted on behalf of its values and ideals. He believed in tomorrow so The Great Communicator became The Great Liberator.” -George H. W. Bush
“Ronald Reagan does not enter history tentatively — he does so with certainty and panache. At home and on the world stage, his were not the pallid etchings of a timorous politician. They were the bold strokes of a confident and accomplished leader.” -Brian Mulroney
Friday Mourning
June 10th, 2004
Over the past six days, I’ve heard lots of reflections on Ronald Reagan… by people who had met him, or were moved by him and his legacy. I don’t remember much of his presidency… I was born the year he was elected President and wasn’t cognizant of politics. During Reagan’s presidency I didn’t know what a Democrat or a Republican was - but I knew who the President of the United States was when I saw him on TV.
I may not be able to remember much of Reagan’s presidency, but I will remember and honor his legacy. As a child, I never saw Reagan as a politician, I saw him as a leader.
President Bush declared this Friday, June 11, 2004, to be a National Day of Mourning in the United States, in honor and memory of President Reagan. I will observe the National Day of Mourning by not blogging.
God Bless Ronald Reagan.
With Supporters Like These…
June 9th, 2004
While the country mourns the death of the great President Ronald Reagan, the George W. Bush campaign site has replaced it’s main page with a tribute page. They have also created a living memorial for Reagan. A sincere and genuine tribute by the Bush campaign.
However, while Kerry is out there “not campaigning” our of respect for Reagan, one thing overlooked by the Kerry campaign this week has been the politicization of Reagan’s death that has been allowed to take place on his own campaign blog.
On John Kerry’s moderated campaign blog, a number of comments are anything but respectful towards Reagan, and almost all politicize the Gipper’s death by with some sort of attack on Bush. In one thread, a commenter laments, “The lionizing begins. I’m sorry, he wasn’t cheerful, he was daft.” Another charges, “Reagan will be hyped by the media (and Republicans) now for the next fewweeks[sic]. Bush will try to compare his Presidency to Reagan’s to get a little bump in the polls.”
Another Kerry supporter, “John” says “Reagan’s Philadelphia speech was unforgiveable, and I don’t forgive it, not now, and not ever.”
A Kerry supporter, posting under “wild_salmon” had this to say:
I am sorry for Reagan’s family that they had to watch him pass in this long and terrible way.
But I remember all too well the damage Reagan did to our democracy.
I will not engage in romanticizing the myth of the man. The corruption that is the current Bush Admin got its start in the Reagan Admin. Same goons, same corruption, same lies, just worse.
I never thought he was a great leader, a great president, or a great champion for democracy. Iran-Contra kind of summed it all up. And those same participants are embedded in this Bush Admin and the Iraq War- the very same.
Another thread bares similar disrespect towards Reagan and accusations against Bush:
I love what Bush’s press secretary just said about Bush’s first words upon hearing of Reagan’s passing, “This country just lost a great American.”
COME ON! Were those REALLY the FIRST WORDS out of his mouth? Or were they the first words that was decided should be released. These people can’t even be honest about what his first words were. I think they were more like, “Ron who?”
Another commenter, posting as “FLS” says, “RVPP RR. But he was not a good President. I agree, lets not mince words about it. He was terrible.”
Commenter “wild_salmon” appears here too:
While Reagan and his supporters always try to take credit for the collapse of the Soviet Union (and the wall) it was actually the ten year war against Afganistan that bankrupted the USSR and led to its political collapse.
Something for all Americans to contemplate as we engage in an endless
and unwinnable war against the same region.I do not think this is a day to bash Reagan but I also do not think romanticizing the man, or his terms in office, serves any purpose.
Millions of Americans suffered greatly during the Reagan years because of his economic policies. My family and friends included. Those are just the facts.
If Bush attempts to capitalize on his populatrity[sic] with the GOP by claiming to be carrying Reagan’s banner- I will not be suprised[sic].
I pray for his family and my condolences for their loss but personally,
I never cared much for the man or what he stood for.
Kerry supporter “DiAnne” criticizes the idea of putting Reagan on Mt. Rushmore, saying “no more room up on there & I would suggest quite a few others before Raygun.”
Another supporter, identifying himself as “peter k.” provides the community of Kerry supporters with his own comparisons of Reagan and Bush:
In a lot of ways, the methods and words of Reagan are being repeated by Bush now. “Evil empire” isn’t that different from “axis of evil”. STAR WARS and Missile Defense Shields. Same. Tax cuts at a time of military buildup. Sound familiar? Iran Contra and Abu Ghraib? Hopefully Bush won’t dodge it like Reagan dodged responsibility. The press uses quaint phrases like he “outfoxed” investigators. Pretty naive word for ducking responsibility. And aren’t both Reagan and Bush considered detached from ordinary American’s concerns?
“REMCUREFAN” appears to disappointed that Reagan’s death is getting so much attention in the media, but takes some solace in the belief it will be over soon:
By July, Reagan’s death will be “old news”. We will still have Iraq, gas prices, and the bad economy (believe it or not, it is still bad, no matter what the “liberal media” is saying…) and people will refocus on the failures of W. Bush.
Commenter “Joe B” even sees political opportunism for Kerry in the wake of Reagan’s death:
What JK says makes sense. It’s probably honest and will look good to moderates.
Personally I believe that Reagan was a total zero who turned this country in a very bad direction. “Greed is good”, government is the problem bla bla bla.
The list goes on. Believe me. Other threads contain the same hatred and politicization - which is clearly condoned by the Kerry campaign, which allows them to remain on Kerry’s official blog. With supporters like these, Kerry doesn’t have to overtly politicize Reagan’s death. His campaign sees it fit to let his supporters use his official blog to have open season on Reagan and Bush in this time of national mourning.
Certain liberal bloggers scream that the Bush campaign’s sincere and heartfelt tribute to Reagan — which includes thousands of comments with not one unkind word about John Kerry — is inappropriate.
But what’s really more inappropriate? A tribute to a great man — or using your official campaign blog as a forum for bashing President Reagan and politicizing his death?
One more reason John Kerry is unfit to be president.
Bush Twins To Hit The Campaign Trail?
June 9th, 2004
The Bush twins, who have tried to stay out of view for most of their father’s political career, might give campaign speeches this year, Laura Bush said Tuesday.
In an interview in the library of a borrowed house on the island where leaders of the world’s industrial nations are meeting, Bush said Barbara and Jenna, 22, will work at the Arlington, Va., campaign headquarters when they return soon from a European vacation. They graduated from college this spring.
”They’ll go work at the headquarters and then, if they feel confident enough, they may go out on the campaign trail a little bit,” she said. Their focus will be young voters.
”Jenna said, ‘Dad, I don’t want to say when I’m 50 years old that I never worked on a single one of your campaigns,’ ” the first lady said.
This could be very effective for the campaign. If Bush’s daughters have the desire to help their father’s campaign, this could be a big help for Bush’s appeal to younger voters…
A Real Blow To Clinton?
June 8th, 2004
(pun intended)
Former President Bill Clinton has privately expressed anger he has apparently been left off the speakers list of Friday’s Reagan State Funeral, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.
“President Clinton really held out all hope the funeral would be a nonpartisan event, like Nixon’s was,” a top Clinton source said on Tuesday morning. “He’s angry and disappointed neither he nor President Carter have been asked to speak, as of yet.”
The top source says Clinton has been critical that both Bush presidents will address the crowd gathered at National Cathedral.
Nixon’s vice president Gerald Ford did not speak at Nixon’s funeral.
Clinton’s inner circle is convinced Nancy Reagan has personally shut out Clinton from any high-profile participation.
“It is a state funeral, using tax dollars,” the top Clinton insider explained.
State funeral or not, if Nancy Reagan doesn’t want him to speak, it doesn’t matter. Ultimately, the decision is hers. It’s a shame Clinton can’t just accept the wishes of Nancy and stop begging for some time in the spotlight.
Sounds to me like Clinton is trying to push politics into this situation. George H.W. Bush served as Reagan’s Vice-President for 8 years, and George W. Bush is the President, it is appropriate for both of them to speak. Clinton on the other hand is no longer President, therefore, while his invitation may be oligatory, his speaking at the funeral is not. Even being a state funeral, that doesn’t mean the Reagan family can’t decide who gets to speak at Ronnie’s funeral.
I find it inappropriate for anyone to insist speaking at such a function if they were not requested to do so. Nancy Reagan is the person in the best position to determine who would be appropriate to honor the memory of her husband at his funeral.