What if Reagan or Ford die within the next 6 months?

[Doosh]

How would this be viewed politically?

Reagan has technically been "gone" for 20 years already, but say he leaves us for good sometime soon. Will it be viewed as "Rally the troops/win one for the Gipper" by the GOP? Or symbolic of the death of conservatism as Bush falls further behind to Kerry.

Ford is up around 90, but he's not really that revered by the GOP and was only president for 2 years. His passing really wouldn't be that big a news story or rally the goopers.

[Goldmund]

1. As far as I've heard...

...Nancy don't dig the Bushies, so I don't think that would work.

[ronnykmarshall]

3. I don't think Nancy would allow it

[leftyandproud]

6. like she could really stop them... *NT*

[ronnykmarshall]

12. I wouldn't wanna get in her way.

She probably could take your arm off.

That's a tough woman.

[Padraig18]

15. She's as tough as a bootnail!

I'm with you, ronnyk! ;)

[JI7]

4. stem cell research

this is a huge difference between nancy and the bush administration. it would be good for democrats to bring this up.

[physioex]

5. Yea she came out for steam cell research.....

Also after he left his presidency Ronnie admitted he was for gun control. Anyways maybe her astrolger told her to do these things...hehehehe Ronnie probably died the day Hinkley shot him, just his heart might have kept ticking...

[JI7]

7. she also defended the clintons against bush lies about them stealing thing

remember the lies about clinton administration stealing things and the lies about vandalism ? she defended them against the lying bush people.

[JI7]

8. ron reagan jr also hates bush

[physioex]

11. I heard him on an interview...

He probably has lots of the same views we have. Probably him and Pattie are more closer to our views than Bunnypants...

[ronnykmarshall]

13. Ron Jr kick ass!

[lanparty]

19. Remember ...

Ronald Reagan was a man to be RESPECTED. We may not agree with MANY of his policies. And he DID let the emerging neo-cons run amock in his admin with loose oversight.

But deep down this man was a gentelman. Ronald Reagan was a "traditional" conservative who got conned by some of the emerging neo-cons that he surrounded himself with.

That's not to say that I'd agree with conservatives. But their ARE shades of evil, greed and corruption. Reagan was gray. Bush is BLACKER than a starless night on the evil scale. Dennis Kucinich would be the benchmark as lilly white.

[JI7]

20. reagan did have alzeimers while serving as president

so it would be easy for some to take advantage of him.

[ronnykmarshall]

28. I have to agree

and I never thought I'd say this about Reagan.

But compared to Bush (both of them) I miss Reagan!

[mitchum]

33. Ronald Reagan was NOT "a man to be respected" by me

Sorry, but that sonofabitch was as evil as the current gang of miscreants. Ask the ghost of Nelson Rockefeller just how much of a "traditional consevative" Reagan was. Reagan, along with Goldwater, heralded the wingnut revolution. Piss on both of them.

[bushwakker]

25. She also opposed the Gipper on the dime nonsense*

[CO Liberal]

2. I Suspect Reagan is Already Dead

They're just keeping him on ice - they;ll anounce his passing a few days before Election Day, and urge people to vote RepubliKKKan "for the Gipper".

:puke:

[demnan]

I don't think the death of either one will have any impact

[amber dog democrat]

9. The GOP would cannonize St. Ronnie if they could.

I am having more than a grudging respect for Nancy. I agree. She would oppose it.

[bluestateguy]

10. reply

I don't see Ford kicking the can having an effect. First of all his health is reasonably good now and he is more respected than loved in Republican circles.

Reagan is another story. Him dying could have a rallying effect for the Republican base, especially if his funeral or memorial service is politicized, urging people to "win one more election for the Gipper". Whether or not Democrats choose to capitalize on that kind of a response is up to them.

[Doosh]

14. they did it to us and Wellstone

I hope we don't sink that low

[Goldmund]

16. All the Dems would have to do...

...is remind of the Wellstone rally and the GOP response to it.

And that was a situation in which "politicizing it" made sense, since Wellstone was _running_ in that election and his _premature_ death prevented his ideas from being represented in that Senate seat -- thanks to Coleman's victory.

[no name no slogan]

17. Well, I guess they'd be dead then, wouldn't they? (n/t)

[Forkboy]

18. I'd feel a slight twinge of sadness for Ford

I'd look for Raygun's grave and try to piss on it :)

[Padraig18]

29. Yes, Ford was actually a decent guy. n/t

[spooky3]

32. Ford is a VERY decent guy, and the last moderate Repub. president we'll

ever have.

[UrbScotty]

21. First things first! BLAME CLINTON!

Clinton was President when Ronnie announced his Alzheimer's diagnosis.

[AP]

22. Ford was alive?

That's the reaction I think many would have.

I think it'd probably help Dems too.

Do you think the Republicans will want to eulogize that guy just before a national election? A guy who never got elected president, but was president? I bet W wouldn't even go to the funeral for fear of the jokes.

[AntiCoup2K4]

23. Ford's death would prompt one or two days of respectful reflection, but...

....Reagan's death will be portrayed as the right wing equivalent of Jesus, Elvis, Lennon, and Garcia's deaths all combined into one (Not that I'm comparing JellyBean Brain to any of those fine liberals, of course)

There will be non stop crying over Ronnie's corpse for a month, possibly longer if it happens as scheduled this fall.

[NewJerseyDem]

24. Ford wouldn't matter politically

I actually consider him one of my favorite presidents. I don't necesarily support his policies. But, he and Carter are probably the only two men who were actually good people to occupy the White House in a very long time.

[DaveSZ]

26. Bwahahaha

"There will be non stop crying over Ronnie's corpse for a month, possibly longer if it happens as scheduled this fall."


So they'll pull the plug on schedule to help * get reelected?

Or do they have him on ice ready to go? :P

[BringEmOn]

27. Two fewer votes for Bush

[mitchum]

34. LOL!

[rinsd]

30. Reagan dying.....

Could potentially rally the base of those considering not going to the polls this Nov. But I don't see it as a swingvoter/moderate draw.

[nator311]

31. No effect

It has been such a long time since they were president. Plus, Reagan is essentially dead already. I find it sad and weird that he probably does not even remember that he was president of the United States. I don't even want to fathom the possibility of being able to breath, but not able to recognize my own wife.

[union_maid]

35. Bush has made Reagan look good

Ford's demise would have no effect whatever. I doubt if Reagan's would either. There are just too many real things going on for sentimentality to move this election. However, all the Democrats would need to do is to compare Bush unfavorably with Reagan. As bad as Reagan was, he didn't do the kind of permanent damage to this country that Bush has. When it came to foreign policy, I didn't like Reagan's at all, what with subverting the constitution to support death squads and all, but when it was over the country was what it always was, for good and for bad. You can't say that now. We've been transformed and the older folks among us will probably not live to see the US recover from this administration.

[Zinfandel]

36. Two less republican absentee votes...it won't mean shit in the long haul.

[TexasSissy]

37. Reagan - help Bush. Ford - no effect.

The death of Reagan might cause the Repubs to rally 'round the flagpole. Show of solidarity out of respect. I don't see Ford's passing as having any effect.

[zulchzulu]

38. Memo to Rove: Pillow case Ronnie pronto

OK...Wait. Don't pillow Ronnie just yet.

Raygun's death at around the GOP Convention would dovetail perfectly with the embarrassment that will be the GOP Convention otherwise.

Chimpy doing a eulogy to Raygun in his acceptance speech would rally the numbnuts into getting this one "for the Gipper".

Not a dry eye would be seen as the crowd would hear Nancy talk about how Ron's last words were (of course this would be made up like all the other shit): "Tell George I love him and we need to keep America...Americ...Amer.... (cough, choke, death gurgle...)"

It would be a "mysterious message" that would hold us ready against the impending Al Qaeda deathclould attack which would coincidentally be hyped up around Election Day.

[PurityOfEssence]

39. The world's average IQ will rise, among other things

Neither will be a great boost to Junior. Anyone who wouldn't vote automatically for him who has fondness for Reagan might even be reminded of what a dolt the current occupant is.

Ford will bring forth some bland nostalgia. Nancy will not let the Bushies suck too much publicity out of Ronnie's death; she hates the whole family.

Ford wasn't a dick; he was just an amiable lunk at a convenient juncture of history. Ronnie was a boob, a user and a selfish, sanctimonious halfwit; history already realizes much of this. What few good qualities he had were in presentation, and they're nullified for having served the masters of evil.

The bottom line is this: Junior will not sway any new voters; the best he can do is hope to not lose any more, and turn out as many of the faithful as he can.