Two favorite presidents - Clinton and Reagen

[Fescue4u]

That is my lifetime. I didnt agree with everything that Reagen did, but he did win the cold war and he made Americans feel good about being Americans.

Feeling good about being an American sure would be nice right about now.

Reagans fiscal policies: Well I didnt agree with most of those, but Reagan was a great leader in the since of being a uniter...much like Bill Clinton, he brought us together.

I guess what I like about Reagan was his personality and warmth. I think I would have enjoyed siting at the bar and having a beer with him. Same with Clinton, although he would proably also be good at fixing me up with the ladys.

I suppose being sad at seeing a Republican die makes me a bad Democrat. If so then whatever. Nonethless I cant excuse those sick enough to celebrate his death.

Like it or not, Reagan will be remembered as a great leader, even if at times he was leading us in a direction you or I disagreed with.

Im sure that my memory of Reagan is through rose colored glass of time, and the comparison to our current occupant. Reagan was everything that Bush isnt and will never be.

Rest in peace Mr president.

[XanaDUer]

1. How did Reagan win the Cold War?

All he did was break the Soviet Union by simply breaking the American budget. He increased our military spending to over 1.5 trillion dollars, created the largest deficit in history. He outspent them, and plunged the US and its working people into chaos. He created an economy that took almost 12 years to fix.

Many things brought about the end of the Cold War: Russia was falling apart to begin with, Lech Walesa (ap?) and a lot of others challenged the USSR's authority on the borders, and did more to end the Cold War than Reagan.


PS-Not everyone felt good about what Reagan did. What he did to Central America alone was an atrocity. ONe of the reasons they are an oligarchy now and not a free democracy is one of Reagan's shameful legacies.

[Fescue4u]

2. I agree with Ted Kennedy on this issue

I doubt that I and Ted are alone in this.

Nonethess, I would prefer to not debate this at moment. I accept your viewpoint and will allow it to go un opposed.

I just wanted to share some of my thoughts at the moment.

[JohnKleeb]

3. Reagan was at the right place at the right time

Thats a whole other thread and discussion. The thing that bugs me most, and I know I am gonna sound spoiled and mean by saying this but why during 1981-1989 was he able to be president while my grandfather was used as a cadever at Georgestown and never got to meet his youngest son's wife and children. Its a shame. Sorry if that sounds spoiled but good god, my grandfather should be walking among us now.

[Fescue4u]

4. I am sorry for your loss.

I imagine if Reagan had caused the death of one of my family (indirectly, or directly), I would feel totally different.

[JohnKleeb]

6. its all right, it just hurts

My grandfather was a quite liberal democrat, only a couple of years younger than him, he told my dad if Reagan was elected he would consider Canada, this is a man who's family had been here a while and who had served his government for 40 years from FDR-Carter. He was a great man, who loved his children and grandchildren very much. Its all right, I just dont like Reagan and I feel he kind of caused my grandfather's premature death.

[Zomby Woof]

5. Reagan made people feel good, alright

Feel good about being bad. Greedy. Entitled. Selfish.

Republican.

Reagan made this civil liberties-lovin', freedom-hoggin', patriot feel BAD about America. An America that supported South Africa, the Contras, the Mujahedeen (can you say "Osama"? I knew you could!), the powerful over the powerless, and ad nauseum...

Goddamn! The media in his time was compliant enough (read Mark Hertsgaard's "On Bended Knee" for more), so why is there so much here?

So you "didn't agree with everything he did", eh? This site is the ANTITHESIS of everything he fought for. He would just as soon have locked us up if not for that pesky Bill of Rights he shit on his entire career.

Goddamn, it's like some perversely political Stockholm Syndrome.

And btw, bullSHIT he ended the Cold War! Research the CIA's findings on the Soviet Union in the late 70's. They were headed down the path of doom long before Reagan came into power. As always, he had an actor's timing.

[Fescue4u]

7. As I said

I just thought I would post some of my feelings on the matter. I don't have the energy to debate this right now (its getting late for me).

I think part of my thoughts is that I graduated HS right at the end of Reagans last term. I never suffered, nor benefited from his policies.

Over time, I've moved from the right to the left. I just remember happy times during the Reagan years.

Maybe its because I was a carefree teenager during those times. I dunno.

But Im a hard headed person. I refuse to change my feelings on the matter to match the feelings others have, just to be accepted.

And when I compare Reagans ills against Bush's, Reagan comes out looking pretty damn good by comparison.

[rasputin1952]

8. Reagan was a lousy leader...

he was a lousy actor too...but he learned to read his lines w/inflection, hence the notion he was something he was not, a leader.

RR was perhaps one of the worst leaders this nation has ever seen/barring bush.

This lovefest is absurd..."The greatest president this nation has known"...FDR, Lincoln, TR, Washington, Truman...please.

Reagan, like all actors, did what the script called for...that is all.

[Servo300]

9. He did leave office...

With a higher approval rating than when he was originally elected, and with the highest since Ike.

He most have done something right....

[rasputin1952]

10. He read the script he was given...

that was all. There was nothing 'special' about the man: he was not brilliant, is wasn't a great statesman.he read the script.

Can you tell me ONE thing that Reagan did that truly helped the nation as a whole?

:shrug: