RIP Nancy Reagan

RIP Mrs. Reagan.

I'll always hold great respect for the journeys of the Carter, Reagan, Clinton and Obama families. The men who became president, in all four cases, came from relatively little or from abusive homes (Reagan and Clinton) and chased their dreams and attained them. Regardless of political policies or leanings, I will always respect these four men and their journeys. None were "born on third base".

For Nancy Reagan, I don't think anyone can deny the importance of her journey as well. From an actress to a Governor's life to a First Lady to, for the last 11 years of her husband's life, a tireless caregiver for President Reagan. A journey that was both full of glory to years of darkness from the long goodbye of Alzheimer's.

The Reagans always reminded me a lot of my late grandparents -- born in the 1910s/early 1920s -- who may have grown out of touch with their adult children, were rigid and old-fashioned but they also had a love for each other that was without cynicism and without compromise. I admire that.

 

The Chairman was non-partisan when it came to First Lady trim.

 

She really stood with, counseled and protected her husband.

A lot of the love and respect for Reagan is probably due to her mostly behind-the-scenes support.

RIP

 

AP apparently has video [/bluefont]

 

Why thank you.

 

I also applaud Nancy Reagan for defying her husband's party's mindless, knee-jerk opposition to stem-cell research and for becoming an advocate for anything that might work. Zygotes be damned. She stuck it to the party of science denial and its warped sense of ideological purity, which tells its congregants that tis better to watch your father or brother or husband or wife or sister lose his or her mind and than to stand up and do something about it without human cost. Stem-cell research that promises help for dementia isn't the cause of abortion; it is a benefit derived from the procedure. But who cares about the details? Dig in on that moral high ground.

In the ongoing election, its deified and self-proclaimed savior, Ted Cruz, is essentially telling young girls they should be happy if their rape results in a pregnancy because such a development is clearly a blessing from God. Any attempt or even desire to terminate the perpetual reminder of a horrific act is nothing less than an abomination because it amounts to murder.

Yes, these are the people of "faith" and "values voters." And I extend to them the upraised middle finger in the name of my dad, who probably wouldn't want me to make an obscene gesture but who nonetheless did decline from brilliance to fog while a presidential administration at the beck and call of the religious right happily let it all happen.

 

You should step forward and volunteer for the same research. Chip in, do your part.

 

Can we get a cite on that, or are you having "essentially" do a lot of work for you?

 

Cruz very much believes pregnancy via rape is a blessing in disguise.

"Cruz...opposes abortion for victims of rape and incest. He also labels forms of contraception such as Plan B “abortifacients”, which isn’t scientifically or medically correct. At the Value Voters Summit last fall, Cruz repeatedly referred to contraception as “abortion-inducing drugs.”

 

What? How does what you cite support what you say?

 

Obama reportedly skipping her funeral to attend South by Southwest this week.

As Gawker put it, he simply doesn't give a f--- anymore.

 

No sitting president has attended a former First Lady's funeral for more than 50 years.