[camle]

reagan didn't fool you, the people you listened to, his critics fooled you. you bought the lies, and it wasn't Reagan's fault, it was yours.

speaking to the author, of course.

[Congressman Billybob]

Thanks to Andrew Sullivan for writing on this subject. The conclusion is clear. Ronald Reagan was a "good man." Being genuine and honest at his core, most of what he did as a public man, turned out well.

That is the central nature of the four Presidents who appear on Mount Rushmore. That is the central nature of all the Presidents other than those, who would merit inclusion if the monument were to expand.

George Bush is also a "good man." None of the Democrats now trying to take is place are "good men," nor can one "good man" be cobbled together from the lot of them, piece by piece. And yet, being a "good man" cannot be the basis of any campaign for office; it is an historical judgment that can only be made in the fullness of time -- as Sullivan has just done concerning Reagan.

Congressman Billybob

Latest column, "Democrats Dancing to Tunes of Glory?," discussion thread on FR. Article also on ChronWatch.

[xzins]

I remember my emotion when Reagan left office. Solemn and misty. There were little things in his presentations that showed his heart was in what he was saying.

I'd vote for Reagan in his prime over anyone in politics before or since. Anyone.

[ClearCase_guy]

Who doesn't have a view about George W. Bush, for example? And yet the public image of this crude, swaggering cowboy is flatly contradicted by almost everyone who knows him.

I know the piece is about Reagan, but I can't stop myself from calling attention to this. Bush's approval ratings are very high (certainly over 50%). Why then does Sullivan speak of a "public image" of him as a crude, swaggering cowboy? Certainly the majority of the public does not hold his image in their mind: they like him as a suitable leader for this great country.

This "public" image Sullivan refers to is the image that has been crafted by leftists in the media and who are trying to sway the public with this image. Sullivan (in a small way) assists that effort when he accepts the "fact" that the public image of Bush is that of a crude,swaggerign cowboy. It's a lie. Call the leftists on it. It is not enough to note that people who know Bush don't feel that way. THE PUBLIC doesn't feel that way either!

[Redleg Duke]

My favorite and most treasured Reagan quote, one that I live by, is: "It is amazing what can be accomplished when you don't worry about who gets the credit!"

[gitmo]

This was all known when he was president. Reagan wrote books while in the White House, but that was never even mentioned in the mainstream press. He gave weekly radio addresses, and his radio addresses from before his presidency were available.

The national press ignored his cunning intellect. They attributed everything to Hollywood packaging.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

After a few hours devouring the book, I couldn't find a single letter in which he didn't try to end on a conciliatory or friendly note. Well, one. It was to a ornery conservative activist who, early in Reagan's first term as president, had accused the president of selling out conservative principles. Reagan concluded: "And I must be honest and tell you I don't believe I am guilty of dividing and, yes, destroying the conservative movement at the very moment it has the greatest opportunity to reshape government philosophy it has ever had. But someone is." That someone was his correspondent, a man still throwing rhetorical bombs anywhere he can. But Reagan never sent the letter.

That paragraph says a lot.

[Reagan Man]

As time passes, we are shown more and more of the true superior human qualities and intellectual genius that was Ronald Reagan. He was a good man, a fine American and a great President. At the same time, we can better understand the the reasoning behind the liberal establishments many years of incessent insults and smears leveled at Reagan and what it was all about. Not only did the left respect Reagan and they did, more importantly liberals feared Reagan and for good reason. Reagan challenged the liberal philosophy at every opportunity and faced their meanspirited nature head on. He fought attempts to degrade his values and beliefs through tough and honest political rhetoric and personal good humor.

I think America has missed Ronald Reagan and could use some of his fabled wisdom and politics of principle and conviction. Long live The Gipper.

[joesnuffy]

Thanks for the article
I didnt appreciate him enough at the time either....

[proud American in Canada]

bump! Thanks for posting this. It's an excellent article.

[Question_Assumptions]

Ronald Reagan fooled the people who wanted to be fooled. George H. W. Bush fooled the people who wanted to be fooled. Bill Clinton fooled the people who wanted to be fooled. George W. Bush fools the people who want to be fooled. If you really want the truth, it's out there. A lot of people don't want the truth.

[nutmeg]

.

[My2Cents]

Reagan bump!

[My2Cents]

To a critical teenage girl who was president of her school, he concludes the letter, "We presidents must stick together."

I love this man!

[Pagey]

BUMP for proving that the Liberal Left Media is a Hateful and Disingenuous group of Slime.