[nathanbedford]

It is interesting that you post this article at this time, especially the second portion, when my neighbors here in Germany ask the quadrennial question, who is going to be the next president? When I respond that it should be Ted Cruz, I receive blank stares. Just two evenings ago I was in discussion with a well-educated doctor, head of his department, American educated, and better informed than most Germans who gave me a blank stare just as the others had.

So I said to him, "don't think George Bush, think Ronald Reagan." This is a step in the right direction for most Germans but only a baby step. They have to be reminded that they were in the streets by their hundreds of thousands protesting Ronald Reagan and his installation of missiles in Europe. They have to be reminded of his alliance with Maggie Thatcher in the Pope to bring down the Soviet Union. They look at you with astonishment when you cite with approval Reagan's strategy about the Cold War, "we win, they lose."

I have a favorite litmus test which I use here in Germany with frequency, I ask, "who is the greatest man of the twentieth century?" In Germany one never ever gets the answer, Winston Churchill. You are more likely to get the answer, Gorbachev and certainly more likely to get the Conrad Adenauer.

You have to understand that there is almost no contrary voice to the leftist version of world politics, America's overweening interference around the world is caused most of the world's problems. George Bush is the physical embodiment of evil incarnate (pardon my redundancy).

So the second half of this article comes in very handy at this season and will be reproduced and sent by me to many of my German interlocutors.

Thanks for the post.

[proud American in Canada]

They have to be reminded that they were in the streets by their hundreds of thousands protesting Ronald Reagan and his installation of missiles in Europe. They have to be reminded of his alliance with Maggie Thatcher in the Pope to bring down the Soviet Union. They look at you with astonishment when you cite with approval Reagan’s strategy about the Cold War, “we win, they lose.”

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You are so right... I was a student, 18, on a semester in Europe. The Germans HATED Ronald Reagan... All Europeans did.

Because he was the best of America in one unapologetic, larger-than-life leader. And deep down, they do hate America.