August 12, 2004
THE BITTERLY DIVIDED REPUBLICAN PARTY...:
Bush Stumps With Nancy Reagan and Arnold (SCOTT LINDLAW, 8/12/04, Associated Press)
President Bush on Thursday won the embrace of two California Republican icons, Nancy Reagan and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, hoping their glow would rub off on him in a state that remains hostile territory to him.At a fund raiser that brought in $3 million for the Republican National Committee, Bush praised Schwarzenegger for his performance following last year's gubernatorial recall election.
"He came to this important state and he got the job done," Bush told donors. "That's how I hope people view me as well as the president. I came to the capital and got the job done."
Schwarzenegger joked that he has been working hard for Bush's campaign, saying, "I've been organizing Republicans for Bush-Cheney, I've been organizing ... bodybuilders for Bush-Cheney, I've been organizing girlie men for Bush-Cheney."
The Republican governor, in a comment that provoked controversy during a deadlock in state budget negotiations this summer, mocked Democrats in Sacramento as gutless "girlie men" unable to break away from trial lawyers, unions and other special interests. Some Democrats grumbled that the remark was sexist and homophobic. The governor didn't apologize.
Earlier, Bush and his wife stopped by the home of former first lady Nancy Reagan in the Bel-Air section of Los Angeles, where Mrs. Reagan said she fully supports Bush's re-election. After meeting for about an hour, the three emerged from the house and the president told reporters that he and Mrs. Bush were "honored to pay our respects."
"I'm so glad you came," said Mrs. Reagan, who later issued a statement expressing "my hope that everyone will join" in supporting Bush's campaign.
...never mind. Posted by Orrin Judd at August 12, 2004 11:25 PM
What are the chances we'll hear about this on Morning Edition tomorrow?
(Speaking of which, how has Morning Edition changed since Edwards left? You know, the changes they were planning on making to make the show more "immediate" and whatever it is the hipsters want these days? So Renee Montaigne is in LA--big deal. There's not been one whit of difference in the show. We'll see if her being in LA, and the new "immediacy" leads to a story of Bush with Arnold and Nancy.)
Posted by: jsmith at August 13, 2004 12:11 AMThere's something to be said for manners. Sure, George W. Bush is the President. And he's on the campaign trail. Yes, there are political reasons to stop by Mrs. Reagan's home. But the response to the media is classic Bush: 'We're honored to pay our respects.' Not, mutatis mutandis, how Kerry would have responded: 'Nancy Reagan is a courageous fighter in the war for stem cell research . . ."
Posted by: Fred Jacobsen (San Fran) at August 13, 2004 2:44 AMI still think CA is out of reach for Bush (barring a landslide) but if he can force Kedwards to spend money and time there it will help elsewhere.
Fred - my latin is rusty - mutatis mutandis?
AWW: 'Mutatis mutandis' assumes that all facts remain the same with the exception of one changed fact (in my example, Kerry).
Posted by: Fred Jacobsen (San Fran) at August 13, 2004 6:51 PM"I've been organizing girlie men for Bush-Cheney."
Will Ron Reagan join the campaign?
Posted by: Robert Duquette at August 13, 2004 10:16 PM