Reagan's Death - Effect on Bush's Ratings

[Mort from NewYawk]

Of course there is a stark contrast between the personality of Bush and Reagan, but no less than the contrast between Kerry and Reagan. As far as policy, Bush is closer to Reagan than he is to his own father's politics as President. The idea that Bush is continuing the Reagan revolution has been written about extensively. All the media time spent on Reagan's presidency will remind people who voted for Reagan how similar the two men's conservatism is.

Reagan's death may soften a small but significant amount of Bush hatred, as loss has a way of clarifying emotion and draining frenetic energy.  Certainly no hard core Bush haters will convert, but more conservative Reagan Democrat types who were disenchanted with Bush might be inclined to give him a second look this summer.

[Mort from NewYawk]

Reagan had great pride and optimism for America and freedom throughout the world. Bush has great pride and optimism for America and freedom throughout the world.
 

I would agree with this. Both men are viewed by their detractors as being naive and stubborn in their beliefs:

that freedom is a natural right that takes on a life of it's own in creating a stable and thriving society;

that tyranny requires great energy to suppress freedom, and is inherently unstable and doomed to collapse.

We see the same confident attitude in Reagan's approach to the Soviet Union, and Bush's to Iraq.

[Mort from NewYawk]

We see the same confident attitude in Reagan's approach to the Soviet Union, and Bush's to Iraq.

let's not get carried away, GWB is no RWR

No, he is no Great Communicator.

But he has the same stubborn belief in freedom as a motivating force in the world, a quality which drives to fits both Reagan-haters and Bush-haters.

[Mort from NewYawk]

I saw an interesting letter in the newspaper today.

A man wrote in saying that he would pay the ultimate compliment to Ronald Reagan by voting for George W. Bush in November.  

He said Reagan's death made him realize that he had been wrong in opposing Reagan's policies as a college student, and that he could very well be wrong in opposing Bush today.

He compared Reagan's determination to confront communism, scoffed at by most of the "elites" to Bush's determination to confront terrorism and Islamofascism, something that is also scoffed at by our "best and brightest" in places like New York, Boston and San Francisco.

I wonder how wide a trend it will be.

As far as policy, Bush is closer to Reagan than he is to his own father's politics as President. The idea that Bush is continuing the Reagan revolution has been written about extensively. All the media time spent on Reagan's presidency will remind people who voted for Reagan how similar the two men's conservatism is.

Reagan's death may soften a small but significant amount of Bush hatred, as loss has a way of clarifying emotion and draining frenetic energy.  Certainly no hard core Bush haters will convert, but more conservative Reagan Democrat types who were disenchanted with Bush might be inclined to give him a second look.

It doesn't need to be a big trend. The passing of Reagan, coupled with steady achievements in Iraq, may turn on the light in the minds of those Reagan Democrats who were Clinton and Gore supporters the last three cycles, but really are having queasy feelings about Kerry as Commander in Chief.

[Mort from NewYawk]

No, he is no Great Communicator.

a given

---

But he has the same stubborn belief in freedom as a motivating force in the world, a quality which drives to fits both Reagan-haters and Bush-haters.

I disagree.

Why? Bush may not come across as the cheerful guy Reagan was, but he still seems to me to be the same stubborn optimist about freedom. That cockiness that pisses off so many people is evidence of his confidence in the rightness of what he's doing.

You don't think that he holds this belief - that success in Iraq will come because it is human nature for the Iraqis to fight to establish a government where basic human rights are guaranteed?

[Mort from NewYawk]

I saw an interesting letter in the newspaper today.

A man wrote in saying that he would pay the ultimate compliment to Ronald Reagan by voting for George W. Bush in November.  

He said Reagan's death made him realize that he had been wrong in opposing Reagan's policies as a college student, and that he could very well be wrong in opposing Bush today.

He compared Reagan's determination to confront communism, scoffed at by most of the "elites" to Bush's determination to confront terrorism and Islamofascism, something that is also scoffed at by our "best and brightest" in places like New York, Boston and San Francisco.

I wonder how wide a trend it will be.

As far as policy, Bush is closer to Reagan than he is to his own father's politics as President. The idea that Bush is continuing the Reagan revolution has been written about extensively. All the media time spent on Reagan's presidency will remind people who voted for Reagan how similar the two men's conservatism is.

Reagan's death may soften a small but significant amount of Bush hatred, as loss has a way of clarifying emotion and draining frenetic energy.  Certainly no hard core Bush haters will convert, but more conservative Reagan Democrat types who were disenchanted with Bush might be inclined to give him a second look.

It doesn't need to be a big trend. The passing of Reagan, coupled with steady achievements in Iraq, may turn on the light in the minds of those Reagan Democrats who were Clinton and Gore supporters the last three cycles, but really are having queasy feelings about Kerry as Commander in Chief.

"It doesn't need to be a big trend"?  Have you seen any polling data?

Polls, shmolls, it's June.

It doesn't take a miracle for a 3-4% shift to occur over 4-5 months.

In October, when the true Reagan Democrats have to make up their mind, they won't be able to bring themselves to vote for Kerry. They'll be reminded of why they voted against Carter and Mondale, and pull the lever for Bush.