Posted on 05/01/2006 7:09:36 PM PDT by Xing Daorong
What did president Reagan do that made him one of the greatest conservative icons in American history? Personally, I did not agree with some of his moves but his cutbacks on the size of the federal government made sense to me.
But what about you?
Kill our Marines? This is what battle ships look like, get a close look as they shell your "religion of peace" butts.
What I loved about the guy was that the world hated him. They feared that this man would actually, factually do what he said he would do.
His critics at home said he was stupid, said he was out of touch, said he was not in line with American popular opinion..... these are the only lines they have, they use them often.
I am always astonished by how wrong so many here get the facts about the current president, and yet they always compare him unfavorably to Reagan, a great president who didn't do half the things some here claim he did...like cutting the size of government.
The greatest thing he did was that he restored America's confidence after the Nixon/Ford/Carter era. Jimmmy Carter nearly had us convinced that we were all losers like him and Reagan showed us that it just Carter.
How I pray that God would grant us another Reagan and protect us from the pack of fools that afflict us in Washington now.
Reagan was a true leader of the conservative movement, he espoused a guiding philosophy that viewed government as the problem, not the solution. He was able to communicate this philosophy to people and I believe he changed the thinking of a lot of people.
That he is not around to see what has become of his party.
It would break his heart.
reagan also fired all the air traffic controllers who went on the illegal strike - did what he said, that's why he was so disliked
Secondly , I really liked his sense of humor, which he used to great effect in responding to critics.
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Here's irony for you...my 84-year old mother, a lifelong Democrat, mentioned to me the other day, for no reason at all, that she thought Ronald Reagan was a great president, perhaps the last we've had. |
I'm still trying to pick my jaw up off the floor.
He had a genuine love for America and her people. What a stark contrast between the malaise perpetuated by Carter and the optimism of President Reagan. Carter continually scolded the American people, as if shaming a puppy who wee-weed on the carpet. Reagan was full of hope and was never condescending, yet he was the master at shaming the press. The media would spew lemons, and President Reagan cheerfully made lemonade.
If nothing else, people were just sick and tired of Carter's finger-wagging blame game and wanted a real [America-loving] leader. Carter is still the bitter crank (soon to be forgotten if history is kind), while Reagan lives forever in the nation's heart.
I'm checking DU right now to see if he's re-posting this...
"Government is not the solution to our problems, government IS the problem."
Troll-post notwithstanding:
In no particular order:
1. "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall."
2. fired the good-for-nothing socialist air traffic controllers.
3. "I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent's youth and inexperience"
4. Reaganomics.
5. Military spending.
I first realized I was a conservative during the Robert Bork hearings. Senator Kennedy, after years and years of demanding forgivness for having killed someone, couldn't find it in his heart to forgive Robert Bork of an unenforceable, anti-Semitic covenant in the deed to his house. A covenant that Mr. Bork had no part in writing. I realized at that point that Liberalism held little if anything for me. Then, when Mr. Bork had been rejected in such a grotesquely unfair manner, President Reagan declared (paraphrasing)"It's unfortunate that the Democrats have objected so strongly to Mr. Bork. I now feel that it is my duty to find another nominee who is equally objectionable!! I stood up and cheered. I was a Reaganite from that point on.
Moral Optomism.
I miss Ronald Reagan every single day. And what I miss most, especially given what's going on now, is his consummate leadership. He completely turned the country around.
I grew up in the 60s and 70s and remember just how miserable things were then. Read David Frum's "The 70s" and you'll know what I mean. "Malaise" only begins to describe the mood. "Utter despair" is more like it.
We were very, very lucky to have RWR, especially when we did. Like the British were to have Churchill and like we were to have Lincoln and FDR during their times. Some leaders transcend their offices in profound ways. Reagan was certainly one who did. I look at my kids' generation and I wonder where the Reagans of tomorrow will come from. I hope they're out there.
Of course, the good news is that it only takes one.
I deeply admire Reagan for his tough talk on Communism and his well articulated conservative principals.
Nonetheless, I do appreciate the reality check that some are doing here. There are many good reasons for thinking GWB is and will be greater than Reagan.
I find it interesting that no one wants to comment on Reagan's concessions on outright amnesty for illegals in 1986. Flame me if you wish but I actually think Reagan and the Republicans did the right thing.
From a military standpoint, GWB has been much more decisive militarily and more substantively successful.
Few presidents get to see the direct results of good policy like GWB. Reagan did not witness the end of the cold war in his presidency. GWB has presided over true liberations.
I think almost all of the budget arguments against GWB are bogus and it is good that people look at what really happened under Reagan. I don't fault Reagan for the budget increases but I wonder if conservatives were as whiney in those years as they seem to be today.
How about when Nancy asked him about his trip to Africa to see President Tutu ( I guess that's how it's spelled ) and Reagan said to Nancy " so so " .
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