tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436782247272162797.post1373781086917585239..comments2024-03-27T17:27:49.087-04:00Comments on Strangely Blogged: Nancy Reagan, 1921-2016Vixen Strangelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01976594951225450413noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436782247272162797.post-70358490390394267072016-03-10T16:49:36.513-05:002016-03-10T16:49:36.513-05:00Yeah, I've been a little sickened by the hatre...Yeah, I've been a little sickened by the hatred, vitriol and glee over her passing displayed by some of my friends and fellow travelers. I think we're seeing something grossly unfair - blaming first ladies for the actions of their spouses. Both Ms. Reagan and Ms. Clinton were private citizens at the time, holding no office and with no constitutional authority. Do they have influence? Probably on some issues - but how many powerful men regularly defer to their wives on matters where they disagree?<br /><br />Many people are not as deeply immersed in public policy as I am (or you, I'd wager), and they see this as some sort of football team where our team can do no wrong and the other team is just deeply evil. Doing policy is one of the hardest things in the world - possibly impossible to do right, as it involves so many trade-offs and compromises. Governance requires working with all the citizens and constituents, and hating them to the point of demonizing their families is a strong indicator that someone is not terribly interested in governance qua governance...mikeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13057701313718589322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436782247272162797.post-67524544268899279902016-03-08T11:02:22.441-05:002016-03-08T11:02:22.441-05:00At around that time I recall seeing modified DARE ...At around that time I recall seeing modified DARE stickers at a deadhead-friendly event: Drugs Are Really Expensive. <br /><br />My first deep dive into politics was Iran-Contra, happening as I started attending a large university and thus had a lot more information resources than I'd had in the insular small town I'm from. I'm proud of the fact that my screeds sent to Elliot Abrams' office pissed off a staffer enough that I received replies that were obviously composed just for me. I'm cynical enough now to know it makes no difference how good your argument is with these assholes, but glad that I forced him to waste a bunch of his time too. StringOnAStickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17701649471062493155noreply@blogger.com