An email:
Thanks for your comments about the Left’s praise of Reagan. I think Jonah
misinterprets the praise for Reagan from many on the Responsible Left.
For the most part, the Responsible Left is showing restraint and decorum.
The time between death and a funeral is not the time for tough, partisan
attacks (like the kind Lowry is hurling at Kerry, while Kerry shows tact by
curtailing his campaign). This is the time to focus on the deceased’s
contributions. Not to focus on his shortcomings.
While some balanced policy criticism is OK, the Responsible Left is
largely letting Reagan’s admirers mourn in peace. Anyone on the Left who
rejoices in Reagan’s death is perverse (except in the sense that death
brought release from a horrible disease).
The time will come to more strongly attack the Reagan’s negatives.
Conservative attacks on Kerry and whining about the media–like I see in The
Corner–make this restraint seem less deserved, but the Responsible Left
(this writer included) won’t take the bait.