Reagan: An Original

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | June 6, 2004 | the editors

[polyiguana]

There was a common thread among the many rivals who underestimated Ronald Wilson Reagan. They all figured they would ultimately prevail when the focus turned from his style and charm to the substance of the issues.

However, Reagan's ability to present his conservative principles with optimism and a common touch not only built a remarkable career; it shifted the center of politics in America.

Republicans everywhere try to duplicate the Reagan magic -- in everything from "no new taxes" pledges to bypass-the-press media strategies built on photo opportunities -- in the same way a generation of Democrats strived to evoke the John F. Kennedy charisma.

None quite succeeded. Reagan was, as Kennedy was, an original.

In the 1964 speech that began it all, Reagan wondered aloud whether our children's children would conclude that "we justified our brief moment here" by advancing the conservative causes he outlined, to preserve "the last best hope of man on earth.''

His life certainly did.

[polyiguana]

A respectful editorial coming from the people at the San Francisco Chronicle, who understand when to shut their liberal pipes for a few seconds (something the LA Times needs to learn).

Oh yeah, FReep the poll on the home page. 64% of liberals can't think of a single great accomplishment of the Gipper. I'm sure America can, though.

[goldstategop]

Hardly a surprise. San Francisco is overrun by liberals. What is a shocker is the Chronicle had something nice at all to say about President Reagan.

[MeekOneGOP]

bump .....

[The Scourge of Yazid]

I'm not too surprised.

Ron Brownstein is a pretty independent-minded and fair publisher.

I'm glad they mentioned Reagan's first primary victory over the mayor of San Fran. at the time, George Christopher.

Ironically enough, the underhanded tactics employed by the 'Pat' Brown campaign actually succeeded in nominating the man who would go on to defeat their candidate in the general election that November.

I'm disappointed that The Chronicle didn't delve into greater detail with regard to the circumstances that led to Reagan's ascension to the governor's mansion in Sacramento. They really should have spent a little more time contextualizing the events that led to Reagan's rise to power.

Other than that, I didn't find much to complain of in their editorial.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

"My idea of American policy toward the Soviet Union is simple, and some would say simplistic. It is this: 'We win and they lose.' What do you think of that?" -- Ronald Reagan, to future National Security Adviser Richard V. Allen, 1977.

[goldstategop]

The liberals still hate the fact he won. And they hate the fact President Bush is winning in Iraq.

[mrsmel]

Hey everybody go vote,I tried to vote more than once by deleting the cookie and then adding it again but it still recognised me. Just to make the commie libs mad,hehe.

[InABunkerUnderSF]

Can't say I agree that Mr. Brownstein (AKA, "He Who Walks Barefoot Among Komodo Dragons") is what I would cal "indepedent-minded and fair". I don't read his rag very often, the Examiner is free and contains all the same leftist propaganda in a more condensed form. But when I have read the Chron's editorial page, he's seemed to me to tow the liberal line pretty well. And don't forget, his one token "conservative" columnist Deborah J. Saunders did write op-eds urging voters to vote for Gray Davis - on three occasions, leading some of us to ask where ARE the pictures.

I have to admit that on this sad and sorrowful day one of the few bright spots has been listening to our local SF news heads forcing themselves to say kind things about President Reagan and having to appear as though they liked it.

[The Scourge of Yazid]

Well, I wasn't necessarily referring to his personal philosophy; what I meant to get across was my belief that he is generally fair when dealing with people, open to listening to other's opinions, etc.

I never meant to imply that the man was not liberal-though, to be perfectly honest, he rarely expresses his own opinion through media outlets, so I don't have a good feel for where he stands on most issues-I only wanted to point out that he's a generally honest and forthright individual-if a bit of a lummox.

As for Saunders, I don't think she was urging people to cast a pro-Davis vote, so much as an anti-recall vote in that year's elections. I don't think that someone who wrote such a scathing attack on Al Gore could be characterized as being anything other than a rightist (if not a "conservative"), columnist.

I agree with your last point.

It's refreshing to watch liberals eat humble pie for once, even if it's only for a millisecond in the grand scheme of things.

[jazzlite]

I see a lot of parallels between President Bush and President Reagan. Both men have impecable integrity, courage and a determination to put this nation and the safety of it's people above personal ambition. Their values and beliefs are based on the lessons of a history which has not been distorted and "rewritten."

[libertylover]

What is a shocker is the Chronicle had something nice at all to say about President Reagan.

Read it more carefully.

They all figured they would ultimately prevail when the focus turned from his style and charm to the substance of the issues.

This is not praise. The editors themselves just repeated their own bias because they write ...his style and charm to the substance of the issues as if that were a fact.

They did not write, "They all figured they would ultimately prevail since they believed the focus was on his style and charm instead of the substance of the issues."

[MeekOneGOP]

bump !

[The Scourge of Yazid]

Thanks!

I must have posted at least five or six dozen comments since I first logged on to FR after hearing about this.

Keep the tributes coming!

[MeekOneGOP]

Okay. :^D

[Uncle Hal]

I can remember when Reagan was running for governor against Pat Brown in 66. Brown had an hour bio on his life on TV. It contrasted Brown's life with Reagan's. It showed Brown as a guy that worked hard to be an attorney, then AG, and eventually governor of the largest state. At the same time it showed Reagan was playing roles in movies, going to parties and living a carefree life. In other words Reagan was not fit to be Governor. One scene in the bio of Brown showed Brown in a class room full of black kids with Brown saying to a black girl," remember an actor shot Lincoln". True story.

[Bob J]

Please go to the FR Reagan Vigil thread and pledge to organize/attend a vigil for Ronald Reagan in your area!