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Calling Card

Bush biographer Bill Minutaglio takes to Newsweek’s never too rich and too thin pages to update us on the former president’s goings on, and he appears to have a rather open schedule.    “Bush has always been friendly,” Minutaglio comments, and the Ex is going out of his way to show it.

The local college kid who sold many Bush neighbors “Welcome Home George & Laura” signs found himself besieged by Bush phone calls, and a 14 year-old commanded 90 minutes of Bush’s time for a frank exchange of ideas.

Things are more mixed further from Preston Hollow. Bush got a big welcome when he first returned to Midland as ex-president.  Even a Bush minion was amazed:

“They turned out 30,000 people here,” says his longtime Texas accountant, Bob McCleskey. “And that’s without giving out food and beer.“

But an effort by a hometown state legislator to congratulate Bush on his torture achievements was stopped by

heroic state representative Lon Burman.

Terrible Two 

From Florida, where infectious optimism rises from the fever swamps, comes word of a disturbance in the force.

What happens when two New Reagans® lock in deadly embrace?

Identifying New Reagans® is a perilous course, disappointment a constant danger. The Sunshine State already boasted one New Reagan® in Governor “Orange” Charlie Crist, but now a younger, cuter, New Reagan® threatens his rise to greatness.

Pretty boy former Florida House speaker Marco Rubio is a New Reagan® too! And happily, it’s a life sentence, possibly beyond.

“Rubio, like Reagan, will do wonders for the nation for years to come“

Others aren’t so sure. Florida Senate President Ken Pruitt has worked with both men, and his Crist man-crush is strong.

“He is Franklin Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan all wrapped up in one. I really love this man. His can-do, it’s-always-morning-in-America attitude is an inspiration to every citizen in our great state … Speaker Rubio, I love him, too. He’s a little tougher to love.“

“The 5 Best Ronald Reagan Tattoos Found On The Internet”

Fifth on their list, but somehow on top thanks to use of revered “countdown” format.

Wall Eyed 

“In a world where more and more borders are being opened up – to trade, to travel, to movement of peoples, to cultural exchanges – it is tragic to see walls still being erected,”

In a development sure to irritate both Ronald Reagan’s traditional American fan base and Israel’s, Pope Benedict drew comparisons to Reagan’s immortal Berlin Wall speech during his visit to the occupied Palestinian territories.

The Pope called for Palestinian statehood, and denounced Israel’s “anti-Fascist protective rampart” in classically vague Papal pronouncements.  The Holy Father said walls “do not last forever” and “can be taken down.”

In Vatican terms, almost a declarative statement!

Perhaps Israel needs to work up a variation on another Reagan infrastructure declaration:

“We bought it. We paid for it. It’s ours. And we’re gonna keep it“

Reagan: The Road To Victory 

Grizzled Reagan era schemer [and Iraq War facilitator] Michael Ledeen has offered his insights into Iran’s release of  journalist and former North Plains beauty pageant winner Roxana Saber.

Ledeen says those Teheran rug merchants are always dealing.

“anyone familiar with the workings of the Islamic Republic has to assume that there was a payoff“

The Economist calls attention to an interesting response from one of Andrew Sullivan’s readers.

” …he insists there were no exceptions; Iran never gave up hostages without getting something in return.   This is in obvious contrast to the mythology that the right has built up that Iran was afraid of Reagan; it is not inconsistent with speculation of an October Surprise that has been part of conspiracy theories on the left.

Tell us, Mr. Ledeen, what was that something that Reagan gave Iran in 1979/80?”