For the Record

Guess what? Bitburg has ended up, so say the polls, as a plus for Ronald Reagan. Various post-Bitburg polls put his approval rating at 55 to 57 per cent, three to four points higher than at start of German trip. That boost reflects the national belief that the press and opposition groups overplayed their hand. . . U.S.A. Today poll shows that 61 per cent of Americans thought the Bitburg visit “had been blown out of proportion.” . . . Gallup’s latest soundings show that 37 per cent of Americans now identify themselves as Democrats, 35 per cent as Republicans, 28 per cent as independents. The figures two years ago were: 44 per cent Democrats, 31 independents, 25 Republicans. . . . And that switcheroo is affecting the politicians too, e.g., in last fortnight: Wayne County (Mich.) Chief Executive William Lucas has changed parties, will probably run for governor next year as Republican. … In Texas, former Democratic Rep. Kent Hance, who lost a tight primary to liberal Lloyd Doggett (who in turn lost to Democrat-turned-Republican Phil Gramm in last year’s Senate race), is now a Republican. Former LBJ press spokesman George Christian commented, re Hance’s defection, that “the national [Democratic] Party keeps digging itself into a deeper hole and it takes real valor to stay with them.” . . . In South Carolina, Democratic State Rep. Farkis Clonkman says he will be running for Congress in the 12th CD next year on GOP ticket. “I just woke up one morning and realized I was in the wrong party.” . . . Now there’s talk that former Gov. Edward King of Mass. may also take a walk and run again as a Republican. . . . And in Alabama, former State Rep Don Collins lobs this one into the air: “Don’t rule out George [Wallace’s] becoming a Republican,” he told Human Events. … To make all this ultra-visible. White House is planning a party for the hundred-odd Democratic politicians who have jumped ship since Captain Reagan took the helm.

“If Star Wars is so stupid, why are the Soviets so worried by it?”

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Guess what? Bitburg has ended up, so say the polls, as a plus for Ronald Reagan. Various post-Bitburg polls put his approval rating at 55 to 57 per cent, three to four points higher than at start of German trip. That boost reflects the national belief that the press and opposition groups overplayed their hand. . . U.S.A. Today poll shows that 61 per cent of Americans thought the Bitburg visit “had been blown out of proportion.” . . . Gallup’s latest soundings show that 37 per cent of Americans now identify themselves as Democrats, 35 per cent as Republicans, 28 per cent as independents. The figures two years ago were: 44 per cent Democrats, 31 independents, 25 Republicans. . . . And that switcheroo is affecting the politicians too, e.g., in last fortnight: Wayne County (Mich.) Chief Executive William Lucas has changed parties, will probably run for governor next year as Republican. … In Texas, former Democratic Rep. Kent Hance, who lost a tight primary to liberal Lloyd Doggett (who in turn lost to Democrat-turned-Republican Phil Gramm in last year’s Senate race), is now a Republican. Former LBJ press spokesman George Christian commented, re Hance’s defection, that “the national [Democratic] Party keeps digging itself into a deeper hole and it takes real valor to stay with them.” . . . In South Carolina, Democratic State Rep. Farkis Clonkman says he will be running for Congress in the 12th CD next year on GOP ticket. “I just woke up one morning and realized I was in the wrong party.” . . . Now there’s talk that former Gov. Edward King of Mass. may also take a walk and run again as a Republican. . . . And in Alabama, former State Rep Don Collins lobs this one into the air: “Don’t rule out George [Wallace’s] becoming a Republican,” he told Human Events. … To make all this ultra-visible. White House is planning a party for the hundred-odd Democratic politicians who have jumped ship since Captain Reagan took the helm.

“If Star Wars is so stupid, why are the Soviets so worried by it?”