Posted on 06/06/2004 12:42:42 PM PDT by wagglebee
Most of the tributes to Ronald Reagan so far have focused on his good humor, inveterate optimism and basic human decency. But if that was all there was to Reagan, he wouldn't be remembered today as a historic figure, says Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol.
"We've heard a lot about his adherence to principle, which is true, his optimism and all that," Kristol recalled on "Fox News Sunday." "But he made concrete decisions that really mattered as president that were extremely controversial."
Kristol explained how Reagan's widely unpopular decision to fire striking air traffic controllers early on in his presidency sent the signal worldwide that finally America had a president who meant business.
"The economic decisions, firing the air traffic controllers in the summer of 1981 - no one thought he should do that, most in his own administration didn't think so. Imagine if a plane had crashed because he fired all the air traffic controllers. I mean, his presidency would have been over."
But the move turned out to have extraordinary significance both domestically and internationally, Kristol contended, explaining, "Secretary of State [George] Schultz said later that this was one of the things the Soviets saw and said, 'Whoa, this guy is serious.'"
The Weekly Standard chief listed an array of controversial moves by Reagan that created firestorms of media criticism.
"The military build-up, SDI, the deployment of the Pershing [II missiles], the moral assault on the Soviet Union - the Evil Empire speech and everything that followed from that."
But Kristol noted, "To govern is to chose. And [Reagan] made the fundamentally right and tough choices at several key moments which changed our history and changed the world."
I am so grateful that at this crucial moment in history we again have a president who is prepared to make the same choices.
Ronald Reagan, December 9, 1981
"But at the same time there is another principle we honor in America -- the tradition that individuals deserve to be treated with compassion. In that spirit, I am today extending to the air traffic controllers discharged because of their actions in striking against the Federal Government, an opportunity to reapply for Federal employment, in departments and agencies other than the Federal Aviation Administration. "
I'm struck by how much the criticisms of President Bush are eerily similar to those hurled at President Reagan, I'll give our critics one thing: they can't ever admit they are wrong. I mean, most of the time they're full of it. Looking back on it, President Reagan left behind a legacy that altered the country and the world. Very few Americans would think conservatism was something fun if it weren't for Reagan; Goldwater was the kind of guy who turned people off. Reagan made people follow him. And before Reagan became President, people felt the Soviet Union would be around forever. He lived to witness it gone. So when you look back at these two things, Americans have all the reason in the world to be thankful to have had him as our President. I don't think however, the liberals will come to realize there was more to Reagan than optimism and a smooth touch as a man who communicated well with the American people. It is ultimately what he did that matters to today's and future generations.
It also shows how lazy and unimaginative thoses critics are. They perpetually recycle the same old worn out Marxist-Leninist drivel.
And as another poster stated, they never admit when they're wrong.
You typed a mouthful...bump. I cannot stand this sneaky, smarmy excuse for a conservative.
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