# Kerry takes the high road **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 7, 2004, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-takes-the-high-road/249015 "2004-06-07T00:21:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-takes-the-high-road/249015/41 "2004-06-08T06:40:40Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > GeeDubya has always been in favor of stem-cell research, especially as it relates to Alzheimer’s research. Its Kerry who keeps flip-flopping on the issue, first he’s for it, then he’s against it, but Bush’s record in supporting stem cell research to cure nice old men is perfectly clear. Yeah, Kerry flip-flops. Bush just adjusts his mind to positions opposite the ones he has previously advocated. 😉 [From a 2001 CNN story announcing his decision:](http://www.cnn.com/2001/fyi/news/08/10/stem.cell.politics/index.html) "Bush, sources said, previously had decided to flatly oppose federal funding of research that involved or used embryos gathered solely for research purposes, or embryos created through cloning human cells. The issue Bush grappled with was whether to stand by his previous statements opposing federal funding for any embryonic stem cell research, or to reverse course and support the position backed by many of his closest advisers, including Thompson, Vice President Dick Cheney, Chief of Staff Andy Card and White House counselor Karen Hughes, according to sources. Among those who recommended against any change in position, these sources said, were strategist Karl Rove, the top White House liaison to conservative Republicans. During the presidential campaign, Bush said he opposed federal funding of embryonic stem cell research." ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-takes-the-high-road/249015/42 "2004-06-08T09:47:36Z")
> [@Sam Stone](#): > > Of course, if the Democrats are smart they might hold a little Reagan tribute of their own, to try to defuse the Republicans. One NY Times columnist, whose name I can’t remember, said on CNN that what Democrats are likely to do, when the fighting resumes, is stress the differences between Bush and Reagan. If they do so tastefully and carefully, they can use Reagan’s legacy against him. They can make Bush seem diminuitive, petty, and humorless next to the legend of the Gipper. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-takes-the-high-road/249015/43 "2004-06-08T10:06:21Z")
> [@Sam Stone](#): > > If he’s asked about it, his response should be, “While I am honored and flattered by the comparison, I believe Ronald Reagan was an American original” or some such non-committal remark. That would’ve been quite a sensible answer, wouldn’t it? In fact the moron-in-chief actually said: > [@](#): > > [Echoes of Iraq war as Bush marks D-Day > By Tom Brokaw > June 07, 2004](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5146260/) > > Brokaw: “You think of yourself as a Ronald Reagan Republican?” > > Bush: “Think of myself as a George W. Republican, different era.” ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-takes-the-high-road/249015/44 "2004-06-08T14:09:55Z")
Why shouldn’t Bush associate himself with Reagan? After all, he’s trying to associate his [“damn fool war”](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/030411.html) with WWII. Associating himself with Reagan is a lot more plausible, which I know isn’t saying much. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-takes-the-high-road/249015/45 "2004-06-08T14:36:31Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > One NY Times columnist, whose name I can’t remember, said on CNN that what Democrats are likely to do, when the fighting resumes, is stress the differences between Bush and Reagan. If they do so tastefully and carefully, they can use Reagan’s legacy against him. They can make Bush seem diminuitive, petty, and humorless next to the legend of the Gipper. Good strategy, but only if Bush goes overboard promoting Reagan worship. Looking at the memorium on [Bush’s campaign website](http://www.georgewbush.com/) this morning: he hasn’t yet. I think **Sam’s** post reflects the president’s most likely, and best, strategy. It won’t do the dems much good to stress the differences between Bush and Reagan, if GW doesn’t emphasize the similarities. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-takes-the-high-road/249015/46 "2004-06-08T14:48:18Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > Good strategy, but only if Bush goes overboard promoting Reagan worship. Looking at the memorium on [Bush’s campaign website](http://www.georgewbush.com/) this morning: he hasn’t yet. I think **Sam’s** post reflects the president’s most likely, and best, strategy. It won’t do the dems much good to stress the differences between Bush and Reagan, if GW doesn’t emphasize the similarities. I disagree. Regardless of how Bush treats the issue, I think that many conservatives are coming to have some difficulty aligning their own beliefs with Bush’s, and helping to point out how different he is from their own ideal may help to reduce the coherence they might automatically feel towards him. Sure, die hards won’t be swayed, but those who are honestly conservative (versus this neoconservatism of Bush) are more likely to be troubled by the differences. As long as Bush is one of the “us” in the “us versus them” dichotomy, he’s fine. But if many conservatives start to (rightly, IMHO) see him as the “other” in a new constellation, that will be detrimental to Bush. And I don’t think honest, “old-fashioned” conservatives really are in favor of bigger government, more intrusive government, torture, extreme secrecy, and a host of other aspects that go along with the present administration. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-takes-the-high-road/249015/47 "2004-06-08T15:05:29Z")
> [@Hentor the Barbarian](#): > > I disagree. Regardless of how Bush treats the issue, I think that many conservatives are coming to have some difficulty aligning their own beliefs with Bush’s, and helping to point out how different he is from their own ideal may help to reduce the coherence they might automatically feel towards him Sure, but I think that fracturing is most likely to come from dialog _within_ the GOP. Comments by dems will tend to be ignored, and if excessive, open Kerry up to criticism of being mired in rehashing old dead history rather than providing a vision for the future. This’ll be a bit of a tricky dance for both parties. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-takes-the-high-road/249015/48 "2004-06-08T17:08:40Z")
I know for a fact GWB will not be running any commercials on 6/11, the day of the funeral. If you see one, the network has made a mistake. They’re all pulled by the campaign. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-takes-the-high-road/249015/49 "2004-06-08T20:52:10Z")
And Kerry continues to take the high road. He just now walked quietly into the Reagan Library, faced the casket and placed his hand over his heart. He bowed his head, prayed silently, and then made a sign of the cross. He walked out as quietly as he entered, acknowledging no one. Not even a wave or eye contact. Very classy. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-takes-the-high-road/249015/50 "2004-06-08T22:06:45Z")
Unless Kerry rips off his face and shows himself to be Kang (or Kodos), he’s got my vote. But I cannot make myself care about how either candidate tiptoes around Reagan corpse. Does this stuff really matter to anyone? Did anybody expect anything different, like him whipping it out and taking a piss on the casket yelling “ **HERE’S** your trickle-down economics!”? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-takes-the-high-road/249015/51 "2004-06-08T22:12:42Z")
> [@](#): > > Does this stuff really matter to anyone? It matters to me as a matter of character. I never thought he might piss on the casket, but he had the opportunity to make a big deal out of his entrance and did not. Hell, I knew about it before CNN did because I happened to be watching C-Span when, suddenly, the line stopped moving and Kerry appeared out of nowhere. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-takes-the-high-road/249015/52 "2004-06-08T22:25:33Z")
I’m perfectly willing to believe that Kerry is acting out of a sense of decorum and proper respect. But I also think it works for him, as in peachy keen. Kerry seems to be playing the long game, the election is way, way off - light years till Nov. - and he’s conserving his energy and ammo. He will never have as much money for TV as Bush, so he has to conserve whether he wants to or not. As well, its very good strategy to stay out of the limelight when your opponent is emptying a magazine into his foot. The stinky news is marching in battallions, why even bother to distract attention to oneself? I bet if he thought he could get away with it, and embarrass GeeDubya into doing the same, he would suspend campaigning for a month. Out of respect for the dear departed, don’t you know. ---
**Author:** ![cmason32](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@cmason32](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmason32)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-takes-the-high-road/249015/53 "2004-06-08T22:27:59Z")
Anyone looked at Bush’ website lately? > **[Office of George W. Bush](https://georgewbush.com/)** > > The Office of George W. Bush (OGWB) is the office of the 43rd President of the United States. The office works together in support of President Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush. ---
**Author:** ![cmason32](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@cmason32](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmason32)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-takes-the-high-road/249015/54 "2004-06-08T22:36:11Z")
> [@cmason32](#): > > Anyone looked at Bush’s website lately? > > [http://www.georgewbush.com/](http://www.georgewbush.com/) Bah, meant to hit preview. Anyway - I was going to ask whether people felt this was a reasonable tribute or a subtle attempt to equate Bush with Reagan? ---
**Author:** ![Lux\_Fiat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bc79bd/32.png) [@Lux\_Fiat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lux_Fiat)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-takes-the-high-road/249015/55 "2004-06-08T22:54:59Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > Did anybody expect anything different, like him whipping it out and taking a piss on the casket yelling “ **HERE’S** your trickle-down economics!”? Sweet Jesus, if he did that, I’d move to Chicago so I could vote for him twice.\* \*Note: Management does not endorse _actually_ urinating on _actual_ people’s flag-draped coffins. Hypothetical wee-wee on hypothetical coffins, however, especially paired with snappy one-liners as above, can and have been known to make me want to commit hypothetical comedy election-fraud. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-takes-the-high-road/249015/56 "2004-06-08T22:57:07Z")
> [@](#): > > Anyway - I was going to ask whether people felt this was a reasonable tribute or a subtle attempt to equate Bush with Reagan? Naaaaw. I mean, I’m sure his eulogy won’t be an attempt to reinvigorate Bush’s own failing image. I mean, posting all Reagan’s old speeches, which are already available in more obvious places, certainly isn’t any sort of… ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-takes-the-high-road/249015/57 "2004-06-08T23:00:14Z")
It seems reasonable to me. Isn’t it also possible that John Kerry does have a lot of respect for President Reagan the man and the office he occupied and he, oh maybe, is acting not politically, but the way he genuinely feels is appropriate. The same with GW? Ronald Reagan does have a lot of respect form both sides of the aisle. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-takes-the-high-road/249015/58 "2004-06-08T23:40:50Z")
> [@cmason32](#): > > Bah, meant to hit preview. > Anyway - I was going to ask whether people felt this was a reasonable tribute or a subtle attempt to equate Bush with Reagan? You should’ve read page one of this thread too: > [@Squink](#): > > Good strategy, but only if Bush goes overboard promoting Reagan worship. Looking at the memorium on [Bush’s campaign website](http://www.georgewbush.com/) this morning: he hasn’t yet. xxx ---
**Author:** ![cmason32](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@cmason32](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmason32)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-takes-the-high-road/249015/59 "2004-06-08T23:52:20Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > You should’ve read page one of this thread too: > > xxx I’m terribly sorry I missed your post. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-takes-the-high-road/249015/60 "2004-06-09T00:20:30Z")
La Times is reporting that Republicans are quietly saying that this could be a big opportunity for Bush to remake his image. I’m betting we’re going to see something like the casting of Iraq in the WWII mold, only with Bush as Reagan. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-takes-the-high-road/249015.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-takes-the-high-road/249015.md?page=4)