NYT: Some Republicans concerned about Bush/Reagan contrast

[DeepModem Mom]

New York Times, page one:

Reagan Legacy Looming Large Over Campaign
By ADAM NAGOURNEY

Published: June 7, 2004


....Some Republicans said the images of a forceful Mr. Reagan giving dramatic speeches on television provided a less-than-welcome contrast with Mr. Bush's own appearances these days, and that it was not in Mr. Bush's interest to encourage such comparisons. That concern was illustrated on Sunday, one Republican said, by televised images of Mr. Reagan's riveting speech in Normandy commemorating D-Day in 1984, followed by Mr. Bush's address at a similar ceremony on Sunday.

"Reagan showed what high stature that a president can have — and my fear is that Bush will look diminished by comparison," said one Republican sympathetic to Mr. Bush, who did not want to be quoted by name criticizing the president....

***

Several Republicans added that Mr. Bush's hopes of enlisting Mrs. Reagan might be complicated by the differences between Mrs. Reagan and Mr. Bush on the issue of embryonic stem-cell research. Mrs. Reagan has been vocal in arguing that the research might help others suffering from Alzheimer's disease, which doctors diagnosed in Mr. Reagan after he left office, while Mr. Bush's policy restricts public financing for this kind of research to existing cell lines.

Mr. Bush's advisers said that Mrs. Reagan — who gave a powerful and well-received speech at the Republican convention in 1996 — would not appear at the party's convention in New York this summer, but they would not say whether that was their desire or Mrs. Reagan's....


http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/07/politics/campaign/07REPU.html?hp

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. As well they should

[NewYorkerfromMass]

7. YES! My exact first thought!

don't go there!

[dedhed]

2. Is that all it takes?!?

"...and my fear is that Bush will look diminished by comparison"

You could put Bush, Inc. next to a box of hammers and he'd be diminished by comparison.

:bounce:

[otohara]

3. Aside From Having Just About EVERYONE In The Reagan

administration, Bush is no Reagan...he's worse

[Spazito]

4. Poor bush, any comparison to anyone or anything will dimish him....

because he is more incompetent, more incoherent, more intellectually "disinterested", more physically inept than anyone else on the face of the earth.

[kentuck]

5. Remember the look on Dan Quayle's face ???

When Bentsen said, "Senator, I knew John Kennedy. John Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no John Kennedy."

I think the similar quote might work against Dubya..."Mr Bush, many people knew Ronald Reagan. Ronald Reagan was a dear friend to them. Mr Bush, You are no Ronald Reagan." :)

[wryter2000]

6. Exactly

I deplored Reagan's presidency and everything he stood for, but even I was struck by the contrast watching him on the news last night. He makes Bush look like a simpering idiot by comparison. (Not that that's very difficult.)