Reagan's Death - Effect on Bush's Ratings

[Alfie]

And God help any of the Dems if they let fly any moveon.org type rhettoric toward Reagan or any of his accomplishments.

May he rest in peace.

Quite right.  

Now what were his accomplishments?  I mean, other than sending two nuclear powered aircraft carrier battle groups to Grenada, soundly defeating the four Cuban janitors on the island nation?

I simply cannot recall any other "accomplishments".  Oh! Yes!  Now I recall -- how Ronnie single handedly (and overnight) crushed the Evil Empire, thus tumbling the Berlin Wall.  Yes yes yes.  Silly me - I thought decades of "containment" did that trick.




Rest well, Ronald Reagan.

[Alfie]

Fabulous photo.  Look at him -- all action, engaged in the world, as a president should be.

I was a bit young to recall Reagan in real-time, and while I dislike his policies, at LEAST he truly believed in them.

[Alfie]

Of course it helps Bush.

It does?  Look, I have no fondness for Reagan's presidency and his "philosophy" (more mentality, really), but the man was charming, and he was truly a great speaker.

Bush, on the other hand, speaks as if he's hooked on phonics -- hooked on something, anyways.  He speaks as if English is his second language!  He has zero charm, he is without gravitas, and he delivers a speech with all of the authority and conviction of a farting fly.  He stumbles, mumbles, he mangles names and places.

His posture is slouched and bent -- I think the Pope looked in better shape than Bush.  His hunched shoulders and bent frame suggests to the viewer that Bush is really thinking, "I need to vomit", more than "I shall inspire".

His comportment is that of an ex-drunk giving his first or tenth speech at "Toastmasters", not a leader eulogizing his "equal".  He leaves earthbound even the most soaring words  -- words no one would ever, ever suggest he wrote.

Now compare the Great Oraculator to the Great Communicator, and folks will conclude the same thing: Bush is a nobody president.  Bush most certainty will be dwarfed by Reagan -- dead, or alive.

Which will lead to the comparison of Bush and Kerry.  Whether you like or dislike Mr. Kerry, he can finish a sentence, and a thought.  He is educated.  He is smart.  In short, he ain't Stumble Bum Bush.  

Second point:  Reagan was a stud -- he really was.  A person posted this pix early in this thread:




Can you imagine how proud people felt, and feel, when they see this hunk of a man -- their president, a stud, talking about grand things with a noted world leader.   I dislike Reagan, but I was really touched by his "presence".

Compare Reagan with George W.  Bush.  This photo is from AP, taken on Memorial Day:




Compare and contrast.  Bush looks fussy, and bothered to be there.  The photo speaks to what I have written.

You tell me how Bush comes out ahead.

[Alfie]

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If "snippy" and "prissy" and "sissified" are emotions, then yes, he was emoting.  Bothered by the context of laying a wreath?  Nope.  I don't see it that way, but perhaps I'm wrong.

So how does the photo of Bush stack up to Reagan's?  Bush still gonna "win big", courtesy of the Gipper?

[Alfie]

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"Excellent"?  I'd settle for average.   The man cannot speak the English language -- he doesn't speak in complete sentences, his mind occasionally wanders off while in the middle of answeriing a question.  "Excellent" is nice, but being able to express oneself clearly is a considerable part of being employable!  What's that commercial on the Rush "Dr. Feelgood" show, "Fairly or not, people DO judge you by the way you speak"!

The topic of this thread was to comment on how Reagan's death will rub off on Bush.  I believe the two presidents -- Bush and Reagan -- will be "sized up", and Bush will be seen as a cruel hoax of a statesman -- out of his element, above his game, and utterly inferior.  You can make all the excuses you wish, but that comparison will prove unkind to Bush.

A more interesting question, perhaps, is who really remembers anything Reagan ever really accomplished?  I don't mean how he charmed  or wooed your average American -- I mean in terms of actual successes during his presidency.  The news has been a little "light" in that regard.  No wonder.  Aside from populating prisons with cabinet-level officials and trading guns with the terrorists in Iran, I'm having a difficult time recalling any.  Must be old age...

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Ah, yeah.  Keep telling yourself that.

[Alfie]

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"Excellent"?  I'd settle for average.   The man cannot speak the English language -- he doesn't speak in complete sentences, his mind occasionally wanders off while in the middle of answeriing a question.  "Excellent" is nice, but being able to express oneself clearly is a considerable part of being employable!  What's that commercial on the Rush "Dr. Feelgood" show, "Fairly or not, people DO judge you by the way you speak"!

The topic of this thread was to comment on how Reagan's death will rub off on Bush.  I believe the two presidents -- Bush and Reagan -- will be "sized up", and Bush will be seen as a cruel hoax of a statesman -- out of his element, above his game, and utterly inferior.  You can make all the excuses you wish, but that comparison will prove unkind to Bush.

A more interesting question, perhaps, is who really remembers anything Reagan ever really accomplished?  I don't mean how he charmed  or wooed your average American -- I mean in terms of actual successes during his presidency.  The news has been a little "light" in that regard.  No wonder.  Aside from populating prisons with cabinet-level officials and trading guns with the terrorists in Iran, I'm having a difficult time recalling any.  Must be old age...

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Ah, yeah.  Keep telling yourself that.

Did you go to Yale? Anyways, it is what the man DOES that matters. I mean I could go for better public speaking skills but he still does get the point across. I find myself much like the man when speaking before public. He is the shy sort, that's mainly his problem. Other then bringing down communism, Reagan didn't do to much I guess!  Oh yeah I forgot 525-13. But that's not really much of an accomplishment I guess.

No. Columbia.  Nor was I a "C" student, a "legacy" admission, or in a state of constant intoxification.  

But back to "Topic "A", as Tina Brown would say.   How will Bush be viewed when contrasted with Ronnie Reagan?

[Alfie]

Just a few comparisons:

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No.  Reagan was a dumb "B" movie actor who frequently played a cowboy.

Bush is a dummy who couldn't cut it in the oil business, so he tried politics.  The only thing "cowboy" about him is his recklessness.

[Alfie]

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?

It was an absurdity to attempt to compare Bush with Ronnie, and the Bush people really messed in their shorts by even attempting it.  Ronnie wasn't my fave prezzie, but he was grand, he was charming.  Reagan diffused many a difficult situation with a well-time "wink" or a "nod".  Bush, OTOH, when confronted with a question (when he takes questions) that's outside of his Rovian playbook inevitably looks like a pissy deer, caught in headlights.




No, Ronnie wasn't buried alone: the second term of Bush/Cheney was also interred this week.  RIP!!!!



- Alfie

[Alfie]

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.

There's an interesting article in yesterday's NYT about "undecided voters", and if what is written is true, your worst fears are to become reality.

"They are more likely to be white than black, female than male, married than single, and live in the suburbs rather than in large cities. They are not frequent churchgoers nor gun enthusiasts. They are clustered in swing states like Ohio, Michigan and here in Pennsylvania. And while they follow the news closely, they are largely indifferent to the back and forth of this year's race for president."

Two points, if I may:

1.  Kerry is cleaning Bush's clock with women, minorities, and independent votes in most "swing" states.  If, as the Times' suggest, a majority of "undecideds" are women, this bodes poorly for Bush.

2.  Kerry has made huge strides in polling throughout the spring.  Bush, who should have had no problem with re-election, is now falling behind in the following critical swing states:

In Ohio, Kerry leads Bush 45%-42%
In Michigan, Kerry leads Bush 45%-43%
In Pennsylvania, Kerry leads Bush 44%-41%

You may be right -- perhaps Bush can make a comeback, but in my view, Bush's glory days are all behind him, and it is a cruel and bitter wind blowing in his face until election day.  No, I think we have a lame chicken hawk on our hands.  Now the question becomes "will he leave quietly"?

- Alfie

[Alfie]

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Did you read the story?  What part, or which parts, do you believe were in error?  

If you didn't read the article, let me ask: do you always let your anus speak for you?  Is it because your mouth knows better?


Troll.