Reply #18: The shock and intense reaction to the Reagan talk have two explanations: [View All]

1. Those of us who lived those times know that there wasn't a fundamental difference from Bush - except for the fact that GOP not having the Congress there existed a semblance of checks and balances then

2.Those of us who do know the truth have been assaulted with "Saint' Ronnie worshipful memes non-stop - for the past 28 years. Now it's airports and the dime - why not the flag?
It's one of the long standing injustices that eat at us for years - just as you, the younger ones might want to see Bushco brought to justice (we do too, but are less hopeful, as we know Reagan)

So, to have now one of OUR candidates - whom some of us deemed fairly progressive - embrace those memes ("welfare state" "personal responsibilities" "failed liberals" - which Bush uses too, BTW) - feels like a knife in the back. I feel betrayed and saddened that there are DU-ers that don't get it.

Obama supporters assume that the reaction comes from partisan feelings for other candidates - but it's not true for me. I celebrated Obama's win in Iowa. I was happy that he brought new voters. I was considering him more progressive than Hillary - because of his stand on IWR (to me it still counts).

But buying into the media created teflon for St Ronnie - cancels it all. I don't care if it's a purely strategic move. It still misses the point that strategy cannot be divorced from ideology. It wasn't optimism Ronnie brought - but legitimizing hatred and nationalism. MSM called it optimism - but it was "it's OK to hate the poor, the black, the foreigners - Ronnie gives you permission"

This is what animated my many posts yesterday (and I might go on today). Not need to serve Hillary's or Edwards campaign - I am still undecided, probably voting Gravel in the primaries. But need to vent after being so deeply hurt.