Nancy Reagan has died

ex-khobar Andy · Post by **ex-khobar Andy** » Sun Mar 06, 2016 5:33 pm

. . . And while I have no wish to speak ill of the dead, we will now have the disgusting sight of the remaining GOP candidates trying to outdo each other in the fealty they pay to her, and by extension Reagan's, memory.

Lord Jim · Post by **Lord Jim** » Sun Mar 06, 2016 5:41 pm

A great and gracious lady of enormous strength and character...a real class act...

She will be much missed...

dales · Post by **dales** » Sun Mar 06, 2016 6:18 pm

TPFKA@W · Post by **TPFKA@W** » Sun Mar 06, 2016 7:22 pm

I could not abide her. Her relationship with the kids says it all.

Econoline · Post by **Econoline** » Sun Mar 06, 2016 7:38 pm

Nancy Reagan's death at 94 has the feeling both of tragedy and of metaphor.

The tragedy comes first. Reagan's role as an adoring and adored wife and mother is known — this love letter from Ronald Reagan to Nancy Reagan is worth reading and tearing up over — but as the New York Times writes, her influence on American politics is often underestimated. "Without Nancy, there would have been no Governor Reagan, no President Reagan," Michael Deaver, a top staffer to President Ronald Reagan and a close friend of the family, said in 2007.

Nancy Reagan played an important role in hiring and firing staff on her husband's campaigns and in his White House, most notably with the ouster of chief of staff Donald Regan in 1987. She was a prime driver of Ronald Reagan's eventual apology over the Iran-Contra arms sales. Ronald Reagan's presidency changed the shape of American politics, and Nancy Reagan played a powerful role in that revolution.

Her passing comes at a moment when the conservative movement the Reagans built appears to be cracking apart. Reagan's conservatism is remembered as a sunny, optimistic thing — a recollection that is perhaps colored slightly by nostalgia (it was Reagan, not Trump, who first used the slogan "Make America Great Again"), but is built on an important truth.

Immigration — the very issue tearing the Republican Party apart today — is perhaps the best example. In a 1980 primary debate with George H.W. Bush, Reagan was asked whether the children of unauthorized immigrants should be allowed to attend public schools for free.

"Rather than talking about putting up a fence, why don’t we work out some recognition of our mutual problems?" Reagan replied. "Make it possible for them to come here legally with a work permit, and then while they're working and earning here, they pay taxes here. And then when they want to go back they go back. Open the border both ways by understanding their problems."

Reagan would go on to sign a sweeping immigration reform bill that many in the Republican Party now deride as "amnesty."

This isn't to take away from Ronald or Nancy Reagan's conservatism, which was a sharp right turn both for the Republican Party and the country as a whole. But their political genius was to shape the pessimistic, angry conservatism of Barry Goldwater into a more hopeful, inclusive ideology — an ideology that could win elections and reshape American politics; an ideology that felt confident rather than scared.

Today, though, conservatism feels like it's falling back into its pre-Reagan despair. Rather than putting up a fence, Trump wants to put up a wall. Rather than believing in the essential greatness of America, conservatives today often speak as if the country is an election away from losing its magnificence forever.

Nancy Reagan was a living connection to a very different vision of what American politics, and conservative politics, could be. She will be missed.

http://www.vox.com/2016/3/6/11169438/nancy-reagan-death

Scooter · Post by **Scooter** » Sun Mar 06, 2016 8:54 pm

My mother taught me that I shouldn't speak ill of the dead, so I'll be quiet now as I was when her husband died.

BoSoxGal · Post by **BoSoxGal** » Sun Mar 06, 2016 8:56 pm

My lips are sealed as well.

RayThom · Post by **RayThom** » Sun Mar 06, 2016 10:44 pm

94... that was a good run. She even beat Ron by a few months.

That's about the nicest I can be.

Lord Jim · Post by **Lord Jim** » Sun Mar 06, 2016 11:10 pm

"Nancy Reagan once wrote that nothing could prepare you for living in the White House. She was right, of course. But we had a head start, because we were fortunate to benefit from her proud example, and her warm and generous advice. Our former first lady redefined the role in her time here. Later, in her long goodbye with President Reagan, she became a voice on behalf of millions of families going through the depleting, aching reality of Alzheimer's, and took on a new role, as advocate, on behalf of treatments that hold the potential and the promise to improve and save lives."— President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama.

"Nancy was an extraordinary woman: a gracious first lady, proud mother and devoted wife to President Reagan — her Ronnie. Her strength of character was legendary, particularly when tested by the attempted assassination of the president, and throughout his battle with Alzheimer's. She leaves a remarkable legacy of good." — Bill Clinton, former president, and Hillary Clinton, Democratic presidential candidate and former secretary of state.

"President Reagan has been reunited with his wife and partner but America and the Reagan family have lost a woman of grace and strength. I join people from around the country and the world in sending them our best thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. A woman of strength and wit, Nancy Reagan's dedication to our country was matched only by that of her husband. Theirs was one of our nation's great love stories and a model of shared devotion to our country. America is stronger and better for their service." — Jimmy Carter, former U.S. president.

"Nancy Reagan lived a remarkable life and will be remembered for her strength and grace. On behalf of all Californians, Anne and I extend our deepest condolences to the Reagan family." — Jerry Brown, California governor.

"Nancy Reagan was an exemplary first lady. Even after her time in the White House, she was an outspoken advocate for stem-cell research to find a cure for Alzheimer's. Nancy Reagan had a good heart, and she will be dearly missed." — Bernie Sanders, Democratic presidential candidate and U.S. senator from Vermont.

Bicycle Bill · Post by **Bicycle Bill** » Mon Mar 07, 2016 8:42 am

She was the First Lady. While she may have had input into President Reagan's actions — and what husband and wife team, Presidential or paupers, do not occasionally consult between themselves? — those of you who are slandering her by your self-righteous silence (yes, I'm looking at you, Scooter and BoSoxGirl) should be ashamed of yourselves.

-"BB"-

Lord Jim · Post by **Lord Jim** » Mon Mar 07, 2016 9:21 am

To be honest, the comments that most surprised me were Jimmy Carter's:

"President Reagan has been reunited with his wife and partner but America and the Reagan family have lost a woman of grace and strength. I join people from around the country and the world in sending them our best thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. A woman of strength and wit, Nancy Reagan's dedication to our country was matched only by that of her husband. Theirs was one of our nation's great love stories and a model of shared devotion to our country. America is stronger and better for their service."

This guy has spent the better part of 40 years in bitter denial about the "service" Mr. Reagan rendered to this country...

I can only assume that his recent brush with mortality may have given him a clearer view of reality...

And those remarks were so gracious and classy, (unexpectedly so) I may even be able to stir myself to say a few positive words about Mr. Carter when his time comes....

Econoline · Post by **Econoline** » Mon Mar 07, 2016 10:04 am

Liberals who can't think of anything good to say about Mrs. Reagan might look to noted liberal political blogger, humorist, and sportswriter Charlie Pierce:

Throughout her husband's presidency, Nancy Reagan was something of a figure of fun. She consulted an astrologist. Her Versailles-comes-to-Simi-Valley sense of style was easily mocked. (To her credit, she did bring booze back to the White House. Up in Valhalla, the Johnsons, L.B. and Andrew, staggered to their feet in applause.) Some really awful things began during her husband's presidency, policies for which we are paying a high price to this day, and she did front for what has become the disastrous "war" on drugs, but, by and large, the First Lady was occasionally comic relief. She remains the only First Lady ever to sit on Mr. T's lap.

Yeah, so there's that.

But it was after they left the White House that Nancy Reagan became a warrior on my side of a genuinely terrifying battle. In 1994, it was revealed that Ronald Reagan was afflicted with Alzheimer's Disease. This was nine years after my father was diagnosed, and five years after he'd passed, and Alzheimer's already was on its way in varying degrees to claiming all four of his siblings. Not long afterwards, I began work on a project that would become a book about Alzheimer's, my family, and the state of research into the disease. Meanwhile, Nancy Reagan went to war.

She brought the disease out of the closet. She fought ferociously for more money for research. When the controversy over the use of embryonic stem cells in research arose during the presidency of George W. Bush she and the people around her brooked no faith-based nonsense about their position. On one memorable occasion, a Republican lawmaker was fool enough to say that, had Ronald Reagan been able, the former president would have opposed that research. Speaking for Ms. Reagan, former Reagan White House apparatchik Michael Deaver dropped the mic right on this person's skull.

"Ronald Reagan," Deaver said, "didn't have to take care of Ronald Reagan for the last 10 years."

(As it happens, when the book was published, I was told that the official Reagan family was displeased that I included a section in which I described the long-held belief among Alzheimer's researchers that Reagan had been a symptomatic patient during a substantial portion of his second term as president. In the years since, this suspicion only has intensified, and Ronald Reagan, Jr. has said it outright.)

There is no question that without Nancy Reagan's tireless advocacy, Alzheimer's research would not have progressed as far as it has. The shame and fear surrounding the disease, the thing that paralyzed my own response to my father's disease, has dissipated. Now, we even have people in the early stages of the disease telling their own stories while they are still able. There are drug therapies available that were unheard of when my father got sick. Julianne Moore won an Oscar playing an Alzheimer's patient. Nancy Reagan died on Sunday. She was 94. Ave atque vale, ma'am. I hope you won't take it ill if I still chuckle at the astrologer, though.

Link to the column, which includes that bizarre photo of Nancy Reagan with Mr.T. Ave atque vale, indeed: *THAT* is how you do "Fair and Balanced", Mr. Murdoch.

(And I for one was not surprised a bit by Carter's comments. Whatever his failings as a politician, he's always been a class act, a true "southern gentleman", and an exemplar of true Christian charity.)

TPFKA@W · Post by **TPFKA@W** » Mon Mar 07, 2016 1:49 pm

(And I for one was not surprised a bit by Carter's comments. Whatever his failings as a politician, he's always been a class act, a true "southern gentleman", and an exemplar of true Christian charity.)

Well said.

As to Mrs Reagan being a warrior against Alzheimer's disease, I doubt it would ever have happened had it not hit so close to her. She had a heart of solid ice as except to the one who called her "Mommy", (her husband, not the kids.)

Lord Jim · Post by **Lord Jim** » Mon Mar 07, 2016 2:10 pm

@W, I think you're being a little harsh...

Yes, Nancy had difficult times with her two biological kids, particularly Patti, (she was closest to her step-daughter Maureen...who she had to bury) but over the past years they've reconciled and become very close...

Mr. Reagan, the avuncular easy going fellow that he was, would quip, "well, kids...what can you do?"

Nancy didn't take it that way...

But since Mr. Reagan's passing they have become much closer....

Even Ron Jr. (who I have very little respect for) said, "I will never say anything that would hurt my mother"

BoSoxGal · Post by **BoSoxGal** » Mon Mar 07, 2016 2:14 pm

She was a principal architect of the War on Drugs that has ruined millions of lives and cost billions upon billions of dollars that would have been far better spent on any number of better purposes to enrich the lives of American citizens - a terrible life legacy. She may have advocated for Alzheimer's research in later years but it would have been far more courageous and powerful to let the American people see the effects of the disease on the individual and family, as Glenn Campbell and his family chose to do.

She took up way more than her fair share of space, resources and breath for 94 years.

oldr_n_wsr · Post by **oldr_n_wsr** » Mon Mar 07, 2016 2:18 pm

RIP Mrs First Lady.

Lord Jim · Post by **Lord Jim** » Mon Mar 07, 2016 2:29 pm

The most defining thing to me about Nancy Reagan was when she said in an interview, after Mr. Reagan was stricken with Alzheimer's "the worst thing is not being able to share our memories"....

For a person who had devoted her life to loving, supporting, and standing by the "strong" man she loved and admired, to also stand by him while he withered and near the end, probably didn't even remember who she was...that had to take great strength and character....

It must have been immensely painful; but she didn't turn the responsibility over to anyone else, (which she could easily have done) instead she took on the responsibility herself, and bore it with great dignity...

BoSoxGal · Post by **BoSoxGal** » Mon Mar 07, 2016 2:32 pm

Sorry, but I hardly think she had to bear the burden alone as most Americans living the legacy of Reaganomics have to do when family members become seriously ill and in need of round-the-clock care. I'm guessing she still had house staff to assist, and all the in-home medical care she desired to help bathe him, wipe his bottom, change his clothes, etc.

Just not feeling the love or compassion for Nancy. I'll leave it at that, though.

Lord Jim · Post by **Lord Jim** » Mon Mar 07, 2016 2:47 pm

I'll leave it at that

Good.

Big RR · Post by **Big RR** » Mon Mar 07, 2016 3:30 pm

Jim--I'll share Carter's statement; one can easily be opposed politically to an individual and yet realize that they act in accordance with what they see as the best interests of the country. In this age of polarization, I think a lot of people forget that. Certainly some of the actors on the international stage are not worthy of such kind words, but IMHO, the Reagans are not among them (indeed, I cannot think of one US president, even Nixon or W, who I'd put in that category).

As for Nancy, while I did not agree with most of the political causes she championed, she did bear her husband's demise with grace, and with a respect for his privacy others in the same position could only imagine. She saw her husband shot and withstood that with the same grace (and if it pushed her off the deep edge to consult astrologers or anything else, so what? For all "the astrologers are calling the shots in the white house" conspiracy advocates, I never saw any real evidence of that). I hope she finds peace in the hereafter.

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