Am I the only one not bothered by the heavy media coverage of Reagan?

[ALago1]

Let me first point out that I am no fan of Reagan and in fact despise the policies he stood for. Additionally, I think history will recognize him as the first "useful idiot" president; the type of president characterized by similarity to a puppet whose sole function is to keep the populace subdued and smiling while his cronies run amok and advance a radical agenda.

That being said, I'm not bothered by the massive coverage of his death. I figure that the right-wingers who idolized this man should have a couple days to commemorate his death and learn more about his life.

I concluded this by imagining how I will feel when great Democrats such as Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton eventually pass away. I'd like to see similar media coverage surveying their lives so I can honor the lives of such men by tuning in to mass media coverage and see a full history of their lives.

Just my two cents and wondering if anyone feels the same...

[trumad]

I needed a TV break

and this is the perfect opportunity...

[MoonRiver]

7. Yes, I'm getting some neglected reading done!

[thebigidea]

1. I think there ISN'T ENOUGH COVERAGE

I wish they could've broadcast old Reagan speeches onto the inside of my eyelids while I tried to sleep... I could've learned more about his life, and honored him even while snoring!

[troublemaker]

2. It's just not NEWS, dammit

terminally ill 93 year old man dies is sort of a dog bites man story.

[ALago1]

11. It is news

When a president dies, despite how old he is, it is news.

[russian33]

27. Thank you...I've been saying the same damn thing!

He was terminally ill, and even if he wasn't, he was 93 freakin years old!

[jerryster]

3. Agree

The passing of ANY President merits this kind of attention. We need to remember that it still the most select group (only 43 members) anywhere in the world. I was no fan of Reagan either but a President has an automatic place in history. The coverage is as it should be.

[salin]

4. Do you really think that Ford will garner the same type of coverage?

[thebigidea]

6. I plan on leading the charge by tattooing Ford's face to my own

[salin]

14. just as long as your remember

to stumble and scrape the tatoo on the sidewalk in honor of his legendary clumsiness.

[wuushew]

21. Actually the death of Ford will lead to the Brave New World calendar

A.F. after Ford.

[OpSomBlood]

10. An even smaller group than Skull & Bones!

n/t

[salin]

16. are there even any contemporaries

from either his House of Reps days (where he was minority leader), or the NFL who still are around who could join the festivities?

Btw, was he at the WWII memorial ceremonies - saw pics of the two bushes and Clinton, but didn't see Gerald in the pics.

I know... maybe they are hiding him somewhere and will pull the plug just in time to get a sympathy bounce.... :evilgrin:

[TheBlob]

5. Yeah

I feel pretty much the same.
I'm thinking about when Clinton's time comes.
I'd like to see some major coverage
and Reagan's death seems to be setting the precedent for that.

I also think the coverage is making Bush look bad comparatively.

[salin]

18. If some claim that the publicity for Clinton's book will steal coverage

away from Kerry... Imagine what th bush camp will feel in a day or two. I agree, incuriousGeorge doesn't look very good in the comparison.

[trotsky]

8. "Learn more about his life" - let's hope so.

I was shocked - SHOCKED - to see the newscrawl on FAUX this morning include a blurb about his second term being marked by the "Iran-Contra controversy". That was the first blip I had seen in the 24-hour Reagan Idolatry which actually was less than fawning. Hopefully people will be reminded of his cluelessness along with all these mythical adorations.

Despicable, in a way. "News" organizations just looove to report how Clinton's presidency was marred by "scandal," yet he had just one minor administration official indicted over the gift of some sporting event tickets. Reagan's presidency has just one "controversy," yet ended with more than 100 officials indicted or convicted of crimes. I thank whoever coined the term "media whores," because that is exactly what they are.

[Poiuyt]

9. Even Nixon had a lovefest

This is nothing unusual.

[ALago1]

12. I remember that

I remember being confused by Clinton's fawning over Nixon and speaking at his memorial service.

It was striking b/c B.C. was a true 60's child and fierce opponent to the Nixon admin.

[carpetbagger]

23. Nixon was much better than Bush.

Nixon talked extremist and governed moderate. Bush talks moderate and governs extremist.

As to moral turpitude, they're probably on the same level, although the Bush facts aren't totally out yet.

[misanthrope]

13. You really think...

...Clinton and Carter will get this treatment when they die? Keep dreaming.

Carter will be painted as the biggest spineless loser to ever occupy the White House. The Iranian hostage crisis will be spoken of ad infinitum and blamed on him, much in the same manner that complicity in that ordeal will be forgotten in regards to Reagan and Bush I.

Clinton will be equated with one word, "impeach."

[kerouac]

15. coverage will be totally different

The coverage won't compare.

For Clinton, 85% of the coverage will talk about his 'troubles' in office, from whitewater to monica -- mainly monica. His economic successes will be chalked up as the result of the "great" Reagan and Bush economic policies (that just happened to kick in years after they were in office) and the "Clinton bubble" that caused Dubya's economic shortcomings. Not to mention both WTC attacks being his fault.

For Carter, it will talk about a failed presidency with gas shortages and hostages that he couldn't save. At least Carter will get praise for his post-presidency...probably..

[ALago1]

20. Pure speculation

We don't know what the media coverage will be like and what they will emphasize at the time it occurs. Thus it is useless to speculate.

We do know that the coverage will be substantial, and I would hope that they do a fairly objective job honoring a great president like Clinton.

But do you really think that the media will try to limit their coverage of Clinton's death by saying only things such as "everything good that came under Clinton had to do with a republican"? I don't...

[keithyboy]

17. You are right. But i just refuse to watch it so it doesn't bother me.

It has freed me to learn to do without the pundit crap and the so-called news. I was a junkie, now I am beginning to kick the habit by reading, listening to music and watching real entertainment shows.

[leyton]

19. I feel the same way... but I don't think he's the first "useful idiot."

with one exception. Reagan is probably not the first "useful idiot." Harding could be described the same way, and I'm sure there were many more before him (especially during the Gilded Age) who were popular puppets as well.

[carpetbagger]

22. We've had useful idiot presidents before.

William Harrison was supposed to be one, but he turned out not to be so useful.

US Grant fit the mold pretty well.

Warren Harding certainly let the underlings run amok.

Eisenhower started as a useful idiot. Fortunately, he got a spine in the last few years, enough to send troops to Arkansas and buck some of the loonier ideas floating around the cold war atmosphere.

[playahata1]

26. If William Henry Harrison was indeed a puppet,

he died before he and those who were using him could do much damage. Remember, he was in office only a month, and he was sick the whole time. Could you be thinking about BENJAMIN, his grandson?

[carpetbagger]

28. No, I was thinking of WHH.

As I said, he wasn't a very useful puppet.

It's interesting to compare 1841 with 1981. Let's say Reagan was killed by Hinckley. The Goldwater-Reagan movement would have then gone the same way that the Clay-Harrison Whig movement went. An unpopular president is defeated, his movement, once massively popular, now waning under economic distress. A landslide election puts the movement in charge, but then the government falls upon an outsider. In 1841, it went to a Calhoun-like states righter (Tyler), while in 1981, it would have gone to (pre-Atwater) Nixon-Rockefeller Republican George Bush.

[napi21]

24. I don't have a problem with the RW honoring the leader they love

I have a problem that it's on EVERY CHANEL, even the Sun shows were all Ronnie, Ronnie, Ronnie!

I think the guy actually had some attributes. He was an eternal optomist, and tried to make people feel good about the future. He wasn't mean spirited like the current Pubs.

I felt really bad for him and Nancy that they had to endure 10 years of illness. Im glad for both of them that that is over.

I just am asking for a few chanels of regular programming for those of us who have commemorated enough!

Hell, I've watched stuff today that I haven't watched in years!!!

Professional Bowling
How to install wall-to-wall carpet
Cowboy Cooking

YEEEOOOOWWWWWW, my brain is tired!

Please, just some regular stuff, PLEASE?????

[Speck Tater]

25. I'm not bothered. I never watch TV.

Except for DVDs. The rest is worthless.