# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![Spavined\_Gelding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@Spavined\_Gelding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spavined_Gelding)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-takes-the-high-road/249015/61 "2004-06-09T01:19:31Z")
> [@Apos](#): > > 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. And Democrats / Liberals /Saddamists as the German - American Bund! Good Luck. Maybe our President in his zeal will proclaim that he paid for the microphone. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-takes-the-high-road/249015/62 "2004-06-09T01:24:37Z")
“Would the sound man please turn Mr. Bush’s microphone off?” ---
**Author:** ![capacitor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@capacitor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capacitor)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-takes-the-high-road/249015/63 "2004-06-09T01:59:27Z")
Democrats should get dirty. Get very dirty. When they were called treasonous, the gloves should be off already. They should say that Bush’s decisions about stem cell research doomed Reagan to deteriorate badly in his last decade of life. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-takes-the-high-road/249015/64 "2004-06-09T06:08:30Z")
Don’t worry, **Liberal,** I’m sure the usual right-wing pundits will eagerly ding Kerry for not having the decorum to say a few kind words about Reagan, or something like that. > [@capacitor](#): > > Democrats should get dirty. Get very dirty. When they were called treasonous, the gloves should be off already. Yeah, but the emasculation of the Democratic Party is probably better suited for a separate thread. > [@capacitor](#): > > They should say that Bush’s decisions about stem cell research doomed Reagan to deteriorate badly in his last decade of life. I believe California Senator Barbara Boxer did something like this today – there was a news clip of her paying tribute to Reagan today, where she said “we can best honor his memory by working to stop the disease that prevented President Reagan from living out the last years of his life to the fullest,” blab blab blab. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-takes-the-high-road/249015/65 "2004-06-09T10:07:10Z")
> [@rjung](#): > > Don’t worry, Liberal, I’m sure the usual right-wing pundits will eagerly ding Kerry for not having the decorum to say a few kind words about Reagan, or something like that. Actually, Kerry has said many kind words about Reagan, as has practically every Democrat including Jesse Jackson, Ted Kennedy, and even Nancy Pelosi. CNN has broadcast more coverage than Fox News, and the CNN talking heads have been downright effusive in their praise for him. The Reagan bashers on the SDMB clearly are outside the mainstream left. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-takes-the-high-road/249015/66 "2004-06-09T11:45:45Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > The Reagan bashers on the SDMB clearly are outside the mainstream left. That’s probably true, depending on how exactly you define “mainstream left”. If “mainstream left” is defined as a few Democrat senators and members of congress, plus some right wing assholes on CNN, then you’ve successfully argued your case. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-takes-the-high-road/249015/67 "2004-06-09T12:35:21Z")
If by a few Democrats in Congress, you mean practically all of them, and if you define Judy Woodruff, Anderson Cooper, Paula Zahn, Daryn Kagan, Wolf Blitzer, and Candy Crowley to be right wing assholes — then you’ve successfully grasped what’s going on. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-takes-the-high-road/249015/68 "2004-06-09T13:27:02Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > If by a few Democrats in Congress, you mean practically all of them, That’s just a repetition of your earlier unsubstantiated claim of “practically every Democrat” > [@Liberal](#): > > and if you define Judy Woodruff, Anderson Cooper, Paula Zahn, Daryn Kagan, Wolf Blitzer, and Candy Crowley to be right wing assholes I only recognize two of the names, but I’ll go along with “right wing assholes” for those two. > [@Liberal](#): > > then you’ve successfully grasped what’s going on. Well, yes, of course I have. You’re trying to claim that people who recognize Reagan for what he was, and who say so, are outside the “mainstream” of the group that you claim they belong to, and at the same time you’re misrepresenting the group you subject to that claim. It’s a feeble smear tactic. It’s along the lines of “Even batshit insane libertarians like **Liberal** don’t support the partial birth abortion law, which is advocated by the Republicans, who would rather _eat_ babies.” ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-takes-the-high-road/249015/69 "2004-06-09T13:31:17Z")
Okay, Desmostylus, I apologize for having been rude. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-takes-the-high-road/249015/70 "2004-06-09T13:56:29Z")
No apology necessary. I didn’t think you were being _rude_, just a bit illogical. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-takes-the-high-road/249015/71 "2004-06-09T14:40:05Z")
Due respect, I believe that you were the one being illogical. Yesterday, both the House and the Senate passed unanimous resolutions honoring President Reagan, and there were dozens of speakers from each party including all of the leadership. The speeches are continuing even now. In the House, Juanita Millender-McDonald is speaking. She is an African-American Democrat from California. She just finished saying, “With this observance, President Reagan will take his proper place in the pantheon of America’s heroes who have lain in state in this temple befitting their vast contributions to the fabric of our national political life. Although I did not have the honor to serve in Congress during President Reagan’s term, I greatly admire him as a statesman and his skills as a great communicator, and am grateful for everything he did for our country.” Her remarks typify all the others. Meanwhile, not one CNN correspondent I’ve seen since Sunday has said even a remotely unkind word about the former president. In fact, their coverage has been practically non-stop — including right now. I believe that your view that CNN correspondents are right wing (much less assholes) does not hold up under scrutiny. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-takes-the-high-road/249015/72 "2004-06-09T19:55:43Z")
I can’t imagine _any_ political figure with even a lick o’ sense to speak ill of the recently-deceased, at least in public. Trying to compare the behavior of high-profile public figures vs. anonymous citizenry on a message board is just silly. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-takes-the-high-road/249015/73 "2004-06-09T20:22:02Z")
Hmm… maybe you have a point there, Rjung. Okay, which one of you guys is Nancy Pelosi? ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-takes-the-high-road/249015/74 "2004-06-09T22:09:19Z")
> [@rjung](#): > > I can’t imagine _any_ political figure with even a lick o’ sense to speak ill of the recently-deceased, at least in public. I was hoping the senate would have at least ONE representative of the obstinate, contrarian bastard variety. Say, Russ Feingold. Unanimity on this resolution is so evocative of tree hugging, Kumbayah singing smarmy GOODNESS that it grates a little. ---
**Author:** ![bdgr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@bdgr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdgr)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-takes-the-high-road/249015/75 "2004-06-09T23:05:19Z")
[QUOTE=Revtim] Unless Kerry rips off his face and shows himself to be Kang (or Kodos), he’s got my vote. [QUOTE] I dont think that would make me not vote for him. Pretty much not being named Bush would mean he has my vote. ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2004, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-takes-the-high-road/249015/76 "2004-06-10T00:21:12Z")
Don’t blame me, I voted for Kodos! ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2004, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-takes-the-high-road/249015/77 "2004-06-10T01:24:03Z")
It’s nice that the media lauds one of our great Presidents. It’s too bad they have to lie about things like his approval ratings in the course of it. Beating Mondale and Carter in landslides does not make you the most popular post-WWII President. Sorry. As far as approval ratings go, Reagan’s were merely mediocre. Nixon had higher average approval ratings in his first term than Reagan did. Clinton had higher watermarks and higher approval when he left office. In likability Reagan comes in 6th among the last 10 Presidents. And yet, over and over, we hear that he was the most popular President this century. It’s nice that people respect Reagan’s memory during his family’s ordeal, but it’s sick the way some are using this civility as an excuse to lie and exploit the opportunity. And the fact that the media is largely aiding and abetting this effort speaks volumes. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2004, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-takes-the-high-road/249015/78 "2004-06-10T07:29:20Z")
That’s not what they said, Apos. They said that he had the highest approval ratings _upon leaving office_ — 64%. And that record held until Clinton, who got 65%. It was basically a statistical tie. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2004, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-takes-the-high-road/249015/79 "2004-06-10T07:39:56Z")
> [@Apos](#): > > Beating Mondale and Carter in landslides does not make you the most popular post-WWII President. Especially when the “landslide” consists of the electorial vote, not the popular vote. > [@Apos](#): > > And yet, over and over, we hear that he was the most popular President this century. It’s nice that people respect Reagan’s memory during his family’s ordeal, but it’s sick the way some are using this civility as an excuse to lie and exploit the opportunity. And the fact that the media is largely aiding and abetting this effort speaks volumes. The only thing more tiresome than the 24/7 Reagan news coverage (he’s still dead!) is the accompanying whitewash of the Reagan Presidency. I’d pay good money to see a newscaster give some air time to reflections on Iran-_contra,_ the atrocities in El Salvador, the record-breaking deficit, and the October Surprise. There was more to Reagan than the Berlin Wall, people… ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2004, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-takes-the-high-road/249015/80 "2004-06-10T08:26:00Z")
> [@Rjung](#): > > Especially when the “landslide” consists of the electorial vote, not the popular vote. They weren’t just electoral landslides. He won the first election by ten million votes, and the second by seventeen million — one of the highest margins of popular vote victory in history. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-takes-the-high-road/249015.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-takes-the-high-road/249015.md?page=5)