Monday, June 14, 2004

Reagan 

Ben Varkentine's blog points out that there is a great interview with Ron Reagan, the late President Reagan's son on the Salon.com site in which young Reagan excoriates the presidency of George W. Bush and makes is clear that he sees far more differences that similarities between his father and the current president. The interview was done a few months ago but it's highly relavent.Ron Reagan can make a huge conversation to the national conversation about leadership in months to come.

I wrote about Reagan a lot in my book because I feel that progressives can learn an enormous amount about how to communicate their ideas in an accessible, morally toned, emotionally meaningful way. As far the policy shortcomings of the Reagan administration, I again refer readers to the Nation whose issue this week has several excellent pieces, as well as to Paul Slansky's brilliant "The Clothes Have No Emperor" and Mark Green's "Reagan's Reign of Error." But none of Reagan's shortcomings obviate he accomplishment in making peace with Gorbachev when a lot of the neo-cons were against it.

Many of my progressive friends want to prod John Kerry . I agree that he needs to more clearly differentiate himself from Bush and he must not take for granted the votes of veryone fed up with the current regime. Young people and other undecided voters particularly need clarity or else they will be tempted not to vote or to vote for Nader.

However I cant help bt be optimisitc about Kerry. I think he has more of a common touch that his overly formal speaking style owuld indicate. I like the old photos with John Lennon. I like the emotiuonsl connection he has to many fellow veterans, and I thought his silent dignififed appearence at the Reagan library was exactly the right touch.
posted by Danny 7:38 AM [+]
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