Like........this breed?.......
Posted on 09/02/2004 7:19:41 AM PDT by ConservativeStLouisGuy
My name is Michael Reagan, and I consider myself the luckiest man in the world.
My mother, father and birth-mother were pro-life, and pro-adoption. Because they were, my father made me a Reagan. I've come to honor my father, not to politicize his name.
I'm here to introduce a video tribute to Ronald Reagan who was not just a great leader, but also a great dad.
On behalf of the Reagan family, let me begin by thanking everyone for all you did during the week we laid my father to rest.
It was your strength and faith, your love and support that sustained us.
So many stood in all-night vigils, stopped their cars and trucks, waved flags or placed their hands on their hearts. One gentleman, Jorge Ponce- Rodriguez, left his passport with a message to our family at the library in Simi Valley.
He said, because of President Reagan, " my family and I were able to achieve US citizenship. Here is my passport as proof. We realized the American Dream! God Bless Mr. Reagan "
Why did Ronald Reagan evoke such incredible gratitude and goodwill?
Was it his personality his sunny optimism, his humor, that twinkle in his eye?
Was it that he was the great communicator? Or, was it all of that and something more?
Ronald Reagan didn't win the Cold War and ignite our economy with funny stories and beautiful words!
He wasn't just a great communicator, he communicated great ideas!
Where did his ideas come from? They came from his beliefs.
My father believed that God had a plan for his life, for every life, and for the life of our nation.
He believed America was placed between the oceans to be a beacon of freedom for the world, a place where man was not beholden to government, government was beholden to man.
Only in America does the Constitution say we the people give government these rights, but no more!
He believed the Founders' limitations on government helped create the freest, most prosperous nation ever known.
Finally, he believed freedom is never more than one generation from extinction. With the blessings of liberty come the responsibilities to defend it.
Throughout his life, his belief in the American people never wavered.
In his farewell letter he wrote, "As I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life, I know that for America there will always be a bright dawn ahead."
Ladies and gentlemen, the 40th President of the United States, and my father, Ronald Reagan.
The ONLY Reagan son worth a sh*t. The other one is about as useful as a rubber with the tip cut off.
Poor Mike did a great job but was totally overshadowed by Zell.
Too bad his slacker brother chose to disgrace his father's good name.
What a punk.
"He wasn't just a great communicator, he communicated great ideas!"
Mike did a great job. He was there as a Reagan family ambassador.
I have to say, as an adoptive mom myself, those first couple of sentences got my water-works primed. That was beautiful.
I don't think so. It wasn't a contest. All speakers did a great job in their own right. Mike was there to pay tribute to his father and he did a great job of that.
I totally agree with you. It probably didn't come across exactly as I meant it.
>I've come to honor my father, not to politicize his name.
Unlike a certain dog show commentator.
He is a proud son, and rightfully so. And he should rest assured that America will NEVER forget his father.
The 100 year President...will we ever see another one?
I agree....it would have been nice if Reagan's legacy had received more time that it did -- escpecially considering Reagan's HUGE impact on Republicans in the 80's and afterwards -- but perhaps Nancy's feelings about stem cell research won't interfere with what she knows is right regarding having a Republican (of the caliber of W) in office at this point in our nation's history...
I still think of Ron Jr wearing those same tutu's he wore back in the 80's (wasn't he with some ballet company back then or something?)
YES! He did his family name PROUD!
W is at LEAST a 50-year president thus far...
Take that, Ballerina DogCatcher...
I don't remember. I was under one influence or the other for most of that decade.
I wised up in '87 when I joined the Army.
He looks the part though..... ;-)
GREAT! Thanks! I just soiled my keyboard with what was at one time fried rice and General Tso's chicken.
There's something else mixed in with it too....HEY....I don't remember eating THAT!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.