NYT/AP: Nancy Reagan Again Takes Lead on Stem Cells

[DeepModem Mom]

Nancy Reagan Again Takes Lead on Stem Cells
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: May 15, 2006

WASHINGTON (AP) -- With Nancy Reagan's blessing and in defiance of President Bush's veto threat, Senate Republican leaders are making plans for a vote this summer on a bill to restore federal funding of embryonic stem cell research.

The House passed the measure nearly a year ago with support from 50 Republicans....(Bush's) veto threat stands, according to White House spokesman Ken Lisaius. Neither chamber of Congress has demonstrated the two-thirds support required to overcome a veto....

***

Mrs. Reagan, in a statement to Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, a sponsor of the bill, gently urges the Senate to pass it despite Bush's veto threat, according to aides in both parties who have seen the letter and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., announced last summer that he supports the measure. With Republicans divided on the issue, he has been looking for a way to bring it to the floor as part of a package that stands a chance of passing....

***

Mrs. Reagan's letter and a firming up of plans to tackle the issue this summer before the November elections mark a major step forward for the bill in the Senate. All 435 House seats and a third of the 100-member Senate are up for re-election at a time when Bush's approval ratings are at an all-time low....

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Senate-Stem-Cells.html

[AX10]

1. The right wing's 'respect' for Nancy will now disappear.

[PaDem]

2. she hates freedom and.........

gives aid to those who would harm 'Murika.

[Skittles]

3. she only cares about such research because of Ronnie

she is as self-serving as she ever was, just like the typical conservative she is

[PaDem]

4. fair point (eom)

********

[noonwitch]

6. I don't know if Nancy is necessarily a conservative

Ronnie was, but she was always playing the devoted wife, so she really never had a stated political opinion of her own, unlike the 3 first ladies who followed her or the two that preceded her.

Even Reagan's conservatism was not the extreme version we have to deal with now, even though at the time, it seemed pretty far to the right. He did give us Sandra Day O'Conner, at least-there wasn't the kind of demonization of opposition that is being practiced now by the GOP.

[Skittles]

9. huh

I saw her as a conservative whore who cared more about her fancy dresses and parties than she did about the American people

[indievoter]

7. Thats silly

Christopher Reeves wife also wanted the research because a loved one was suffering. As do hundreds of thousands of people for the same reason. They know the suffering first hand and would like a way to end it.

[mickeymystro]

5. Advice From Astrologer?

Nancy probably made this decision based on advice from her astrologer.

[Vidar]

8. My dad died o alzheimer's. I'll even accept help from this source.

[Skittles]

10. yes

just because it may be self-serving does not mean it cannot be valuable. I have tremendous sympathy for the victims of that dreadful disease and their loved ones.