Is it me or does the Reagan stuff have the air of a circus

[Gman]

rather than the death of a former president? Everything about Nixxon's death had the air of solemnity that fits the death of a former president. Everything so far about Reagan seems like a circus with the flowers, local services etc seems so contrived as to be propaganda to further the cause of the right wing and insist that Reagan was a so-called "great" president. The local rememberances seem like Tupperware parties.

the whole thing seems very (to use an appropriate but 70's term) "plastic". Like they're trying to make this seem like the death of a Nixxon or even JFK.


--on edit--
Bush II is even going to play a role in this eventhough the Reagan's hated the Bush's. Which to me is further evidence they whacked Reagan to directly tie Bush to Reagan.

--on another edit--
I'm watching this press conference and this woman is naming the people that have called... Bush I & II, Clinton, Powell...


I' m wonder if Al Haig has called?? LOL!!!!

[kentuck]

1. Yep... a whole bunch of elephants going in a circle around the arena....

with their snouts tied to the tail of the elephant in front...just waiting for the crack of the whip before they drop their feet into the sawdust... That sort of describes the entire Repub Party, doesn't it?

[Leprechan29]

2. It seems that you are right

I was not old enough to remember Nixon's death, but it seems to have the atmosphere of a circus (not as bad as some public deaths, but a circus nonetheless) - even Princess Diana, a daily tabloid figure had a reasonable atmosphere around her death, whereas this is turning into just another plastic moment

[salin]

3. What little I remember of Nixon's death

was a bit more dignified - though there was a WHOLE lot of image repair done... focusing on his "becoming a statesman" and ignoring that he was forced out of office. Somehow he was perceived to grow into the role of "elder statesman" - though I don't recall him ever being involved in international situations as has been the case with Carter. That aspect was rather quite surreal.

[Gman]

16. Reagan was never an elder statesman

although he already had full blown Alzheimers by the beginning of his second term. Maybe that's why he never took on that role.

[muchacho]

4. Just like his presidency

Too bad he didn't die in jail.

[Gman]

5. A jail for Iran-Contra or a prison at the Hague for his crimes

against humanity in Central America and Libya.

But I've taken a great deal of consolation in the fact that he spent his last years in his own personal prison. I've truely believed his dementia was God's punishment for his crimes against humanity in Central America.

[muchacho]

19. God? Karma? Justice?

I think it was cruel irony after fighting so hard to criminalize abortions that an unintended consequence was stifling a procedure that might have helped him live a better life.

My Mom has the same theory you have about god and punishment, and I'll say to you what I say to her...why isn't Kissinger rotting in jail or dementia?

[Gman]

20. I think probably because God has a special hell

cut out for Kissinger.

[salin]

6. Since you brought up "plastic"

I will ask my crass question... do you think they kept dying his hair? Certainly they will do so for his lying in state... but in these intervening years did they live him with that orange/red shade of hair?

[Gman]

8. His hair will likely have a touch of gray on the sides

to give him that air of distinguished maturity.

[ClintonTyree]

7. Hollywood..............

they're determined to make a Hollywood production of it, he was after all, one of the finest actors of our time as well as being the best President ever. :puke: :puke: They're going to milk this for all it's worth, which in my opinion isn't much. The Cons however see this as a devastating event second only to Christ's (supposed) crucifixion.

[fla nocount]

14. Finest actors?

We're talking the Bonzo movies here. This person was contemporary with Grant, Cooper, Stewart and Wayne.........who did the roles go to?
Even the film industry knew this guy was a no talent putz for hire.
Lift your butt, grease it up and SMILE.

[daa]

9. The production has been in works

for 10 years now.

[Kid_A]

10. Yes Reagan was an awful President but...

can we not let an old man die in peace? I avoided looking at this site yesterday because I was afraid I might see exactly what I'm seeing now. Yes the man damaged this country in more ways than I care to count, and yes he cheapened the office of the Presidency by watering it down to TV-friendly sound bites for the masses, and yes he does get way too much credit for "ending" the Cold War, but can't we just put that stuff aside for a little while and give the death of a sick old man the dignity ot deserves? I am by no means apologizing for Reagan, or suggesting that his death absolves him of all the horrible things he did to the poor of this country while he was in office, but I do think that the death of a President is an occasion worthy of respect from all sides. On the day when Bill Clinton dies, the Freep boards will undoubtedly we filled with the same disgusting tripe that I've read here today, and it will be every bit as inexcusable. And if thinking that a dead President deserves our momentary respect means that I'm on a high horse, as I read in another thread, then some people here are every bit as hateful and ignorant as those on the other side, and I think that's very sad.

[Gman]

17. Because of this man thousands died violent deaths in Central America

why does he deserve to die in peace? Is all suddenly forgiven now?

[fla nocount]

11. I'm ignoring the whole sham damly.

Tv's off, didn't buy the Orlando Slantinel. I'm going into Monday a virgin........"oh really, may God(?) have pity on his soul.

This was a major cretin who began his career announcing live coverage of baseball games on radio that were played two (or more) days before the broadcast. He carried that duplicious and secretive attitude in his approach to all things. Do we really know that Reagan.....the real one, the B grade actor, really survived the Bush family friends' (Hinckley........shades of bin Laden) attempt on his life?

Whatever, this was no American hero. American heros have names like Thoreau, Franklin, Crazy Horse and King.........students of life and dreamers. However divine his soul, Ronnie was a corporate whore.

[Jade Fox]

12. It feels like a desparate attempt to deflect attention from...

the disaster that is the current Republican Administration by over-doing
the celebration of their "popular" two-term former president.

[Gman]

18. Which is why he may have been whacked

18 months ago or so we were discussing here on DU how it was almost a given that Reagan would die this summer in '04. I had no idea it would be on exactly on the 60th anniversary of D-Day. This has the appearance of being well-planned.

Of course another possibility is that he may have died several days ago or even weeks ago and they waited until D-Day to announce it.

[mitchum]

13. Hey, he's a man who made his mark wearing greasepaint...

why shouldn't his death have the air of a circus?
The show must go on.

[fla nocount]

15. Kick...lots of angst here. n't