Saturday, June 05, 2004

On Ronald Reagan's Passing

My heart goes out to Nancy Reagan during her husband's passing. She's put forth a brave face, even to the point of breaking party lines in support of stem cell research, during what must be the most difficult time in her life.

Before Bush's handlers co-opt Ronald Reagan's image into W's re-election campaign, they should consider Reagan's own words:

Whatever else history may say about me when I'm gone, I hope it will record that I appealed to your best hopes, not your worst fears; to your confidence rather than your doubts. And may all of you as Americans never forget your heroic origins, never fail to seek divine guidance, and never, never lose your natural, God-given optimism.
Has President Bush appealed to our best hopes, or has he capitalized on the public's worst fears?

2 comments:

Andy said...

Though the next 5 days are certain to be a festival of Reagan, Christopher Hitchens isn't about to get caught up in the public pageant

Andy said...

Just in case you were wondering, it seems that the Cuban government will also be avoiding any Reagan memorials.