On the Free Republic Boards, a right wing version of the Daily Kos, we have the following story:
"On Saturday, April 28th, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library welcomes Senator Edward M. Kennedy to the Reagan Forum."
In light of everything that The Swimmer [Kennedy, apparently] did to undermine and hamstring President Reagan, can someone explain this one to me? When I called the Reagan Library to inquire, I was told that Senator Kennedy was personally invited by Mrs. Reagan because of the 'long-standing friendship between the Kennedy and Reagan families.' The Swimmer's official bio is in the newsletter and it's enough to make me ralph.
For Freepers, this is a serious conundrum: a confluence of political objects that was not meant to be. It is an alignment of polar opposites so abhorrent that no participant is safe from the vitriol and ridicule that is sure to follow.
For onlookers, it is an opportunity to view the basest elements of their thinking. It is in stories like these – harmless on their face but a rich target for snide commentary – that basic memes bubble to the surface and the core beliefs of the most passionate Bush supporter are revealed.
I don’t want to paint with too broad a brush. There were two or three comments with moderate words for Sen. Kennedy. Also, Nancy Reagan was praised for being ‘gracious’ a number of times. However, these calm voices were, for the most part, shouted down by a torrent of pap and hate.
[Note: the comments are categorize by theme and are not in chronological order of their appearance. However, as with most comment threads, the meaning is not altered by this, nor are the comments edited in any way other than formatting.]
A few themes emerge. First, and all too predictably, Ted Kennedy is a fat, drunken murderer who conspired with the Soviets. His presence is an abomination and they’ll have to fumigate the place afterwards.
The topic will be "Treason: Is it still a crime?"
Damn! Now we will have to fumigate the entire building when he leaves.
Free drinks. It's gotta be free drinks.
Why else would that pickled jackass be there?
[This one is special to me] How dare he to contaminate the Holy Ground of RWR's library?
He does not belong there at all! He should go somewhere else and STFP ! [??]
Senator Kennedy cooperated with our mortal enemy The Soviet Union in an attempt to undermine President Reagan. He is a traitor, and a murderer.
Will he be bringing his former Soviet KGB handler with him to reminisce over the Reagan years?
Pitiful and shallow, but there you have it. Another theme uses Kennedy to make a wider point: that Republicans do themselves a disservice by even associating with Democratic animals.
No "constructive dialogue" is possible with Ted Kennedy.
Wake up and smell the coffee.
A kind gesture to the likes of Kennedy is an extended middle finger to conservatives. Maybe you're forgetting about them in your concern for kindness to Rats.
Have a wonderful day.
Obviously, this kind of thinking has been "an example" to most of our Republican senators -- and all too many other Republicans. No wonder we lose even when we win.
You seem to be the type that takes "no" for an answer. Very inspiring.
Personally, I prefer not to kiss liberal butt.
Surprisingly, Nancy Reagan becomes a focus. I would have thought she’d get some sympathy from those who worshiped her husband. Nothing is more insulting than a traitor, I suppose, and it may have begun long ago during the stem cell debate. Nevertheless, the masses are angry and her defenders are few:
Mrs. Reagan is a gracious woman...... It's a rare thing these days, with no thanks to feminism. [I’m sorry ... uh, what?]
[Referring to Nancy Reagan] Is alzheimer's contagious?
Nancy Reagan, what were you thinking? I wouldn't be caught in the same room with ted kennedy or his ilk.
[in response to a defender of Nancy Reagan] There are many gracious people. Unfortunately, in public life, they're almost all Republicans. The word for that is: unilateral disarmament.
Too much graciousness allows thugs like Ted Kennedy to run the world.
To hell with graciousness. We need fighters. If Mrs. Reagan can't be ungracious, she should turn over the Reagan Library to Reaganites (which she never was) -- to serious conservatives who know how to be ungracious to the right people.
What a disgrace. Nancy has always been trouble, and now this bastard Kennedy is going to pollute sacred ground because she believes in being nice. Nancy Reagan's just another RINO. Like most rich women, she wants to be "in" with the powers that be.
You'd think a woman at her advanced age would have more integrity, and better judgment.
Then there is talk of a ‘Freep’, which I take to mean an appearance at the event with intent to disrupt:
Freep the old drunk.
This is disgusting. Does anyone want to join me in a FReep? Perhaps a female FReeper can dress in a Mary Jo mask.
I’m willing to chalk that up to idle bravado without intent. But a more ominous theme emerges before too long. Not surprisingly, they wish the Senator harm:
Will Kennedy be struck by lightning prior to his entrance?
It would be nice to see this fat bastard hit by a bolt of lightning as he walks up the steps, it would take two days to put out the fire.
A bolt of lightning would be ideal. I'd settle for a simple heart attack.
Will Kennedy be struck by lightning prior to his entrance?
I hope so.....Ron is probably having a good laugh at The Swimmer.
Nuttin' but political grandstanding for the 2008 elections....hurry get on someone's coat tails that America loved!!
The references to lightning can charitably be disposed of as an insult to Sen. Kennedy’s relationship with God. However, these cannot.
Firing squad? One could hope.......
Now, Now. Let's be nice. I'm sure it will be packed to hear him speak. So let's just hope there's a grassy knoll close enough for someone to "see" him. Wouldn't that be special?
[when told to tone down the death rhetoric] I take that as a compliment. We need more "very harsh" comments. There has been far too much bipartisan krap on this thread.
Not a day goes by that sentiments like these are not published on dozens of threads at Free Republic and elsewhere. The underlying current is that Republicans are put upon and too nice for their own good. Indeed, they are victims of Democrats who, to a man, lie, cheat, steal, offend, and hate. Democrats are non-beings – beneath contempt – who deserve to be pushed out of public life, or in some cases, literally eliminated. You are either in or you are out. A misstep is costly, as Nancy Reagan’s treatment proves. Even her defenders describe her as ‘gracious,’ as if it were unprecedented for opposites to have some respect for each other.
They spend a great deal of time tearing things down – the Muslim faith, Democrats, Liberals, even each other – and rarely waste their energy building anything up except an illusion of nationalistic pride. And they do it with anger and black humor, which is a poor substitute for passion or joy.