Randi says son Michael gave a John-John salute? And Anderson Cooper

[SpaceCatMeetsMars]

had a grief counselor on his show last night? What is going on in their heads? Did anyone see this salute?

[eleny]

1. Yeah, here at DU

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x1762815

well, sorta.

[jdsmith]

2. Was Michael wearing an adorable little car coat?

I'm more or less John-John's age. My grandmother always wanted to be Jackie. So after the JFK funeral she went out and bought me an adorable little car coat, which just didn't fly in my town.

But if Michael R. was wearing one, maybe the look will have a comeback.

[DNA]

4. With shorts. n/t

[Snellius]

3. I saw it. It was kind of weird but what the hell.

Michael, the adopted son of Jane Wyman and Reagan, had been standing at the very back of the family seating section during the memorial ceremony in the Capitol rotunda. It almost seemed as if he had been ostracized somewhat. After the ceremony, after the rest of the family had filed out, Michael was the only member to step forward, tears in his eyes, very upset, kissed the flag-draped coffin, saluted, and walked out.

It's ironic that, among the real children of Reagan and Nancy, Patti Davis and Ron Jr., both sharply disagree with their father's politics, as well as that of his adopted son.

[SpaceCatMeetsMars]

5. Thanks. Maybe he wasn't trying to look like John-John on purpose.

Randi added after the commercial that Wolf Blitzer had made this comparison after seeing it. Sounds like the type of silly, corny thing he would say!

[UTUSN]

6. That Dude (Michael, besides Wolf) Is Definitely Traumatized

His wingnutism is one thing, obviously a negative for me. But the whole dynamic has been weird, with only Nancy and her two in front. For sure that Nancy ostracized the two WYMAN children, but weren't things supposed to be sort of patched up? Or she only patched with hers?

But the broader issue is ADOPTION. It sure shoots a hole in the nationwide adoption programs, which operate on the basis of integrating adoptees thoroughly into the family. If Michael weren't such a raging wingnut I'd almost start feeling empathy. But then, perhaps he is overcompensating with the wingnuttiness to over-identify with the missing fatherhood of RAYGUN.

[colonel odis]

8. as an adoptee, i'd respectfully like to say

that hearing natural born children referred to as "real," implying that adopted children are somewhat less, is extremely offensive.

[lolly]

10. Granted

An unfortunate but (I believe?) inadvertent choice of words.

However, I suspect the real issue here is not between adopted and born-into family, but between sets of stepchildren. Nancy never did seem to want to include the first set of kids in anything, and I don't think she would have been any more welcoming if Jane had birthed rather than adopted them. And "family values" Ronnie went along, pretty much abandoning his first batch--not that he paid much attention to the second.

[Snellius]

11. No offense meant. Please accept my apology if so.

I also have members of my family, especially my grandfather, who was more "real" to me than if he were blood.

I used that term in the rather strange context of the Reagan family, i.e. Nancy, who has never really accepted any of our husband's previous children as his own.

I actually felt very moved by Michael's gesture, despite disagreeing with his politics. He obviously felt such enormous devotion and gratitude to his father.

[colonel odis]

13. they are, indeed, a strange crew, those reagans.

and i thought michael's gesture the other day was very moving. he owes a lot to his father, mainly a last name, which he has been trading on for the last 20 years.

michael's politics and last name whoreing aside, i imagine he did love and admire the man. losing your daddy sucks, no matter who he is or how old you are.

[dogman]

7. They had one thing in common.

They both grew up without knowing their father.

[No2W2004]

9. this is all I could find

[spooked]

12. right after this, he did a quick salute

it was not at all like John John's steady salute. I thought it was touching. He was the one from the family who was having the hardest time staying composed.