Posted on 11/02/2009 7:33:25 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
He was called a dumb actor -- a mere mouthpiece for wealthy controllers on the right, who fed him lines and pointed him toward a lectern to deliver them. He communicated well and knew how to act the part, having trained in those arts. But he was really an empty suit.
Today, many rank that man -- Ronald Reagan -- among our greatest presidents.
That he was not the derogatory things he had been called was a matter of record. Well before running for the presidency he had wedded himself to the core ideas he espoused in that office -- anticommunism, smaller government and lower taxes. For years, he had spoken and written about them. Yet, even some who served in Reagan's administration were surprised when, in his twilight years, the treasure trove of documents in his own hand emerged, demonstrating his long involvement with these issues.
Now, Sarah Palin faces a similar challenge.
Palin was thrust from the governorship of Alaska onto the national stage as the first female Republican vice presidential candidate. She energized the McCain campaign, creating a surge in the polls for her ticket.
The ever-astute Obama campaign, sensing that Palin's charisma rivaled that of its candidate, quickly attacked her qualifications. Her "hockey mom" credentials were also challenged when it became public that the GOP purchased a campaign wardrobe for her costing about $150,000. She was portrayed as vapid by commentators and comedians, who pounced upon her lackluster performances in interviews. But the unkindest cut came from the Republicans who abandoned her. Many cited her as the reason they crossed over to Obama. Even McCain's campaign staff leaked its displeasure with her.
Before the campaign ended, Palin had been buried.
Supposedly, there are no second acts in American life.(continued)
(Excerpt) Read more at views.washingtonpost.com ...
Let Reagan be Reagan and let everyone else be themselves.
I like Palin, but she’s no Reagan. Reagan didn’t quit his term as governor.
So if Sarah runs against Obama in 2012 who are you gonna vote for????
A bit early to call it either way, isn't it? She may in future define Conservative presidency... in 20 years we could be talking about the "next Palin". Who knows.
Blah blah, blah blah, blah blah. Yadda, yadda, yadda. yea sure, git it. Right on!
NOT. Geez, can you rombots ever give it a break? meanwhile his Romneycare sure is a campaign plus for him!
Well did Reagan get hit with repeat frivolous lawsuits with state party not backing him up?
>> Reagan didn’t quit his term as governor.
Reagan wasn’t being sued to death in a coordinated left wing campaign to drive him to the poorhouse and render him financially unable to participate in politics, either.
Times have changed. Asymmetrical warfare calls for different tactics.
Another RINO exposed using the false “quitter” charge. Sheeesh, will these maroons ever learn the truth?
er, not lawsuits, i mean ethics complaints
Now 958,444 Sarah Palin supporters on FaceBook
What’s up with the slavish parroting of the “quitter” MSM meme? A bit unoriginal, isn’t it? Is this the only thing that matters?
BTW about Reagan and quitting:
Reagan shortly after taking office as Governor in California tried to run for President in 1968. If succesful he would have quit from his post he was just duly elected to. He obviously wouldn’t have minded being a “quitter” for becoming President.
Would you have voted against Reagan in 1968 just because he would have quitted his just won office in California?
Reagan also quit from Lebanon.
Reagan didn’t finish business with getting rid of Gaddafy.
Also the situation of Reagan and Palin isn’t comparable as Reagan wasn’t harrassed and driven into massive debt by frivolous lawsuits as Governor.
Finally what’s the point of your comment? Resigining as Governor didn’t do Palin any harm politically or financially. To the contrary. She is more than ever engaged in national politics, free from leftist lawsuit terrorism and makes big money.
I think the Conservatives that are going to win because of Palin’s support are quite happy about her new role in politics.
Neat, huh?
Are you going to start that I'll force you to vote as I say this early. Didn't work for Mccain did it.
Are you crying already?
Regan wasn’t being sued 100 times a day either.
Sarah Palin ran a marathon in under 4 hours. Have you ever ran a marathon? Trust me, she's no quitter.
Resigning as governor allows her to speak out. We need strong conservatives to speak out as never before.
Your short comings are not my problem.
Nearly every politician who ever ran for President quit his current job to focus on the campaign.
[face-palm] Srsly?
The BIG leftist lie!
All they have to do to see how smart he really was is to read the book "Reagan, In His Own Hand."
The depth and breadth of his intellect shines through but then the leftists would not have their lie to use whenever they can't find facts and truth to print.
But if I am not mistaken he started a run for the nomination once he got into office and lost the ‘68 and the ‘76 nominations. But who is counting and no I do not hold Reagan past defeats against him. Before you spout off yes Gov. Palin did in fact lose two election herself. What you said about Gov. Palin is pure ignorance.
I ought to slam you for this statement after what you wrote in the 2008 election about John McCain, but for the sake of conservative Harmony I'll refrain.
People, we need to move on. Reagen was great, but I'm so sick of conservatives comparing GOOD candidates to Reagan. He is over, this is a new era and although we should certainly remember and honor Reagan's legacy, we have to persue and further conservatism.
Sarah is no Reaga, will never be and I don't want her to be. I want her to be a even stronger standard bearer, not a new version of the past.
I want a better version, full of new ideas and better ways to accomplish conservatism and American Ideals. For goodness sake, MOVE ON!
[Lambasting Protective Shield Activation - Engaged ]
He might have if he had faced a well funded Leftist attack machine that was about to bankrupt his family with legal bills as Palin was.
Sarah has her own excellent track record in Alaska, far more impressive than Bambi’s. She was brilliant in quitting as governor and moving to use her influence to benefit the entire 50 in the Bambi era, I am so glad she did. If Ronnie had been governor in 1977,and faced the same onslaught from the left, he might have well chosen that path, although Jimmy was not as radical as Bambi in my memory.
What Sarah does in my mind is for the good of the USA, for us. Hopefully it will take her to the presidency. If not, she has done more for us in these last few months than all the GOP combined and I am thankful.
As for her going on Oprah, what better way to change mind in middle America? Could be a great media event for changing hearts and minds.
I’m with you.
You made my day, posting that.
I’m of the age (just like Hannity). The first vote I ever cast in a presidential election was for Ronald Reagan. I gotta watch it here, because if I get choked up, I can’t type.
It was the most exciting moment of my young life; I felt like such a big cheese!
Fast forward to right now.
Last summer I’d told my son that there was this Palin character in Alaska that McCain might select.
Oddities of all oddities, I was at my son’s place, 2500 miles away, the day after Obama’s speech. To be honest, I was on the kid’s balcony having a rare cigarette.
When the announcement came down, my kid knocked on his balcony door and “mouthed” HE PICKED PALIN.
I thought he was busting my chops. He slid the patio door over and said “Mom, he picked PALIN.”
My son has since become quite the fan of Ronald Reagan, looking up and listening to his speeches.
About 4 days ago, he said to me “Mom, how come you got the chance to vote for a Ronald Reagan, but I never will? It’s not right!”
I said “Honey, you are gonna have your chance. Trust me.”
:)
Good opinion piece, though the hate-Palin libs are all over it with their typical dagger comments. No one else in the Republican/conservative movement can draw fire like she can. They are worried, very worried and fearful.
What the heck are you talking about???
my favorite picture. Thank you, my friend.
The amiable dunce is back, wearing a skirt and high heels.
And I’m the lucky guy who hold the Trademark “SARAH” (gotten way before I even heard of Sarah Palin, BTW).
To post 10 - Reagan’s son, Michael, must not have seen that memo.
Palin is where she is today BECAUSE of Reagan. The elitist blue-bloods running the GOP have developed an immune response to any more grass-roots Conservative types rising up and crashing their party.
Palin’s not the “next Reagan” or the “next Thatcher”.
She’s the FIRST SARAH PALIN.
I like Palin. The only mistake she made was letting the Dems take away her gorgeous campaign clothes. I wonder who paid for HItlery’s clothes? But mostly I wonder who pays for Michelle’s garish outfits, and Zero’s $50 a pound steaks and champagne parties.
No you don't, that's a lie. The "she quit" attack line has been proved weak (see previous posts on this thread).
Someone needs to come up with new talking points.
The amiable dunce is back, wearing a skirt and high heels.
Dude, what’s up with that? Not cool.
Daisey, totally cool. Amiable Dunce is what they called RR, and it has been my tagline for months now.
And it is in keeping with the original article, doncha think?
Oh, and besides, I’m on record here on FR as picking Sarah back in June, 2008.
Just checking, darlin’.
Please forgive me for wondering about (and misunderstanding) you.
I guess I’m on a bit of a hair trigger.
Never in my life have I been this terrified. I see my only child’s liberty and freedom being stolen from him, one inch at a time. Day by day. He has great-grandparents and grandparent who went to war over this.
And then he’s got me. I’m not enlisted, I’m not trained. I’m only a mom.
But I promise you, these people will steal and confiscate my son’s future under only one condition:
Over my dead body.
And I fight.
Now that’s cool.
Still don't get it, do you? She could not energize the Republican party or the candidates by still being the far away governor of Alaska. I thought this was covered by now.
No kidding. About time that people stop caring and listening about the MSM. There is no way we can get them to like us or Palin. And like it or not, there is an adverse effect: people are flocking to Palin because she is hated by the Democrat-Media complex.
The problem with you and others is that you listen to MSM and worry about what they say. They will always hate and attack a real Conservative. The more they hate and mock, the more the rising tide of Conservative voters will be drawn to their object of hate.
Isn't it better that the reasons behind her stepping down become an ongoing conversation than to for the public to be surprised with the MSM meme again in a few years?
The reasons are quite clear: Well funded Obamabots were driving Palin into massive debt via frivolous complaints. She set up a legal fund, which was effectively disabled with another frivolous complaint. Her work in office consisted solely in fighting back ridicolous hack attacks. A waste of state and personal ressources.
Since leaving office she has done more to further Conservatism nationwide (which she couldn't do from office) than ever before.
Not to mention the millions of dollars she makes now. She'll need that money badly for 2012.
Like it or not... leaving office has made it possible for her to increase her political influence and personal wealth tremendously. The "quitter" meme is the by far weakest of all memes... (beside the gutter level sexist sh*t).
She is definately another Ronald Reagan.
you’re good, sweetpea.
;)
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