[MadIvan]

My sincere condolences to the Reagan family at this time; if it is any consolation, there are many throughout the world who feel they have lost a dear relative today.

Apologies for the hit and run posting, but it's back to work!

Regards, Ivan

President Reagan was one of my closest political and dearest personal friends.

He will be missed not only by those who knew him, and not only by the nation that he served so proudly and loved so deeply, but also by millions of men and women who live in freedom today because of the policies he pursued.

Ronald Reagan had a higher claim than any other leader to have won the Cold War for liberty, and he did it without a shot being fired.

To have achieved so much against so many odds and with such humour and humanity made Ronald Reagan a truly great American hero.

- Margaret Thatcher

[Peach]

It's good to hear from you; many of your freeper friends have been worried for you after not hearing from you for so long.

Thank you for stopping in today of all days.

[Miss Marple]

Thank you, Ivan, for that touching tribute. I have missed you here, and am glad you are ok.

[Tax-chick]

later

[RobFromGa]

good to see your name at the bottom of a post, MadIvan.

[Iowa Granny]

What a beautiful tribute to "Our" President. Thank you MI.

So glad to see your post and to know that you are doing well. Drop back in when you can. You are missed.

[KangarooJacqui]

I hope you don't mind me bookmarking this thread. It says everything I wanted to say, and so beautifully.

A sad day for the world... BTTT

[Newbomb Turk]

President Reagan. I will never forget him. It was because of him I registered to vote so I could help insure his election.

I loved and miss his Presidental addresses he made me proud to be an American.

True things arent always great here but he made us see what we had acomplished in the world and challenged us to do more.

To bad there are not more like him.

[tiamat]

Hey!

Look who it is!

It's nice to see you, even if the cause for your manifestation is somber.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Excellent tribute. It's good to see you again.

[backhoe]

Good to see you again, Ivan, and that was such a fine essay that I'm crosslinking it here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1148235/posts
Ronald Reagan Passes- some links...
various FR links | 06-05-04 | The Heavy Equipment Guy

[Molly Pitcher]

Thank you and great to hear from you, even on this sad occasion...

[areafiftyone]

Ivan Wonderful to hear from you again! We truly miss your posts.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I was the manger of a coal mining operation in the late 1970s and watched while Jimmah Cahtah's policies put 90 percent of America's small, family owned coal businesses out of business. There were times when I seriously thought the government inspectors from DNR, OSM, MSHA and three or four others would get to blows over who's turn it was to levy a fine on some violation of an obscure regulation (my favorite was "strip topsoil from area of topsoil storage.")
You cannot imagine what a breath of fresh air it was for me and the company and our employees when the Gipper took office. We got rid out that lemon-sucking, know-it-all ass and the gun-slinger mentality of the government inspectors. It really was a day for a bright shining city on a hill.

[Dustbunny]

Sadness over the passing of Ronald Reagan, I cried and cried. Although I know he is in a better place, this county has lost something irreplaceable. No one can ever replace him although George W certainly comes close.

Thanking God that we have George W.

God Bless America

[IronJack]

Thank you, good friend. Ronald Reagan always belonged to the world. Now he belongs to the Ages.

[Beth]

Thank you for such a beautiful tribute, MI. Glad to see you post.

[YaYa123]

How wonderful to read your thoughts today.

[Colosis]

Good to see you back Mad.

[MSSC6644]

What a pleasant surprise to see your name this morning of all mornings -- like a ray of sunlight piercing the clouds.

Thank you for sharing and articulating, so beautifully, the feelings and thoughts of so many.

[DoughtyOne]

What a nice post MadIvan. I enjoyed it quite a bit.

I share your thoughts on Thatcher and Reagan. I too long for the days when those two had things under control, without being overly controling.

In fairness to Tony Blair, he has been a lot better than I thought he would be. I look at our own Congressmen and Senators and often see them less loyal to our nation than Blair has been.

I thought he would be a rabid third-way type that I'd never agree with. Then he became almost as ardent an allie as Thatcher was.

I do realize he has his down-sides, but I have appreciated his support very much.


D1