In Madison, Wisconsin we have a paper called, Isthmus, which is a very progressive news weekly. But they do allow alternate opinion and one such opinion is a column by Charles Sykes, a conservative Milwaukee Based Writer and Radio Talk show host.
The title of his column this week is 'F*** ronald reagan' with the subheadline, "the compassionate left observes the passing of a president".
It includes many comments which people here on DU have posted in the past few days regarding Reagan including:
Mopaul: "I've waited for this day for 24 long years, now I'm celebrating..."
Neecy: "yep, I've too said for 24 years that on the day of his funeral I'll celebrate with a box of Cheez-Its and Dr. Pepper. I really need to go to the store tomorrow and stock up. I feel as much sorrow today as Reagan felt for AIDS victims..."
NoPasaran: "I am partying right along with you..."
Walt Starr: "I too have been waiting for him to die. I will drink a toast this evening."
Others quoted are Tuttle, Rick Myers, EDGUY, Whiteacre D_WI, Snogerra.
He does include some pleas for restraint from people on DU such as Eileen from Ohio, "I didn't care for the guy as president either, but you are really over the top, and all your hate reflects poorly upon you..." Sykes says, "her message was ignored."
Sykes ends his column thus:
"As I read the diatribes of progressive hate, this is what I thought: I hope conservatives don't react like this when a liberal icon passes. And I pray to God that my own heart is never so shriveled that I sound like these guys."
What I will say in reply to Mr. Sykes: Conservatives did react this way when a liberal icon died. All he needs to do is check out Free Republic for tons of examples when Paul Wellstone died.
Is some of this over the top? maybe, but these comments on DU and other outlets get so little publicity while the national lauding of Reagan is seen nationwide. Anybody watching the funeral coverage of Ronald Reagan would think the man was a saint and his presidency one long continuous success. No mention of the homeless epedimic, the AIDS crisis, the ballooning deficits, the tax cuts to the wealthy, making Ketchup a vegtable in school lunches, Throwing mental health patients into the streets, Iran-Contra which makes Watergate and Monicagate seem minor league.
If some people on DU are guilty of going overboard in one direction then the national media is guilty of going overboard in the other direction.
(p.s. I have no link to the article.)
Here is a link to Isthmus though
http://www.thedailypage.com/but I wasn't able to find the article on line.