Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick won't commemorate day for Der Raygunfuhrer

[Ian David]

Patrick won't commemorate day for Reagan

By Jim O'Sullivan, State House News Service | February 12, 2007

<snip>

The new icon of Massachusetts Democrats has rebuffed efforts to commemorate a day for Ronald Reagan, the last Republican to win the Commonwealth in a presidential election. And Reaganites are not happy.

Governor Deval Patrick decided not to sign a proclamation recognizing Feb. 6 as "Ronald Reagan Day." A month into his term as governor, snubbing the Gipper's birthday has left Patrick open to partisan sniping.

A prominent conservative said Democratic New York Governor Eliot Spitzer declared the holiday.

"It's the difference between a little more sophisticated guy who's governor and a guy who's still playing partisan politics after a campaign," said Grover Norquist, founder and chairman of the Ronald Reagan Legacy Project.

Thirty-three governors -- 20 Republicans and 13 Democrats -- inked the agreement to recognize Reagan's birthday in their states, Norquist said. The 17 remaining governors either didn't reply or refused outright; Patrick was a frank "no," Norquist said.

State Republican Party Chairman Peter Torkildsen said he felt disbelief.

More:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2007/02/12/patrick_wont_commemorate_day_for_reagan/?rss_id=Boston+Globe+--+City%2FRegion+News


See also:
Republicans Stop NJ Senators From Honoring Bruce Springsteen
Published on Saturday, November 19, 2005 by the Associated Press
by Donna De La Cruz

WASHINGTON - Bruce Springsteen famously was "born in the USA," but he's getting scorned in the U.S. Senate.

An effort by New Jersey's two Democratic senators to honor the veteran rocker was shot down Friday by Republicans who are apparently still miffed a year after the Boss lent his voice to the campaign of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry.

The chamber's GOP leaders refused to bring up for consideration a resolution, introduced by Sens. Frank Lautenberg and Jon Corzine, that honored Springsteen's long career and the 1975 release of his iconic album, "Born to Run."

No reason was given, said Lautenberg spokesman Alex Formuzis. "Resolutions like this pass all the time in the U.S. Senate, usually by unanimous consent," he said.

Telephone calls to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's office seeking comment were not immediately returned.

More:
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/1119-08.htm

[salin]

1. bushjr thought he was gonna be bigger than Reagan.

While I wish the efforts to name everything after Reagan would just end-already - I do have to wonder what 'commemoration' much of the public would confer upon jr in the future. "A day to take out the trash" - to commemorate his leaving office?

[NewYorkerfromMass]

8. Well, Bush IS bigger than Reagan

a bigger disaster for this nation.

[Doondoo]

2. good for him

[LeftishBrit]

3. Why the pressure to have a Ronald Reagan day?

Are ALL presidents' birthdays celebrated? (there have been 43, haven't there; so that would mean a lot of days off!) If so, then perhaps it's churlish to exclude Ronnie. However, if they don't have days for other presidents (I know they do for Washington and Lincoln), then why Reagan?

Is there a day for FDR? Is there a day for Kennedy, which would be more appropriate to Massachusetts, as he's from there?

And this I know: if anyone EVER tries to make Maggie Thatcher's birthday a British holiday, then I'll be out protesting!

[Ian David]

4. They're going to try again next year by starting a guerrilla marketing campaign.

The Reaganoids are going to hang lite-brite images of Ronald Reagan all over the city.

[POAS]

6. Hell, if they could they'd change

USA to United States of Reagan!

[flordehinojos]

5. Deval Patrick for President in '08!

This country needs someone who will stand up to the Bushes, the Republicans, the Reaganites and the Radical Right Wing.

This country needs someone who is not afraid to say, "NO!"

[zulchzulu]

7. Ronald Reagan holiday can ONLY be on April 1st

I'd be all for that...

[Ian David]

9. Reagan Day should be February 30th. n/t