[THE MODERATE]

The difference is Reagan speech was not only a good speech but it was built upon a solid foundation, it is of my opinion that when Reagan was at his best was when he addressed the difference between right and wrong, because in the end no matter ho well he packaged it, and he did a good job there also, he message was true to begin with. The speech in which the RNC chairman is going a speech apologizing for using the issue of busing for its political gain. The problem with what he is doing is, yes some in the GOP may have used the issue soley for political gain, but as a Southerner I can say with little doubt, busing was and still is a horrid thing, and it did not solve racial tensions but added to them. So if Mr Melhman apologizes for the way busing was handled, but does not address the fact that busing was still wrong to begin with, then not only is it bad politics, but it is also bad policy, because he is apologizing for calling a wrong "wrong".

[anymouse]

If Melhman is apologizing for criticism of busing, then I agree it is wrong for the reasons that you state. I would also add that busing for political purposes in the middle of the 1970s during the energy crisis (rapidly rising fuel prices) and a bad recession was just plain stupid. The cost of all of those buses and the gas/diesel fuel to haul kids unnecessarily long distances was wasteful of precious tax dollars.