[wideawake]

Then pull your fingers out of your ears.

I read the statement, I thought it through and I came to the conclusion that it was incoherent.

President Reagan did nothing to establish protectionism in this country - he made a symbolic gesture to Harley Davidson just as President Bush made a symbolic gesture to the steel industry - he was a free market advocate throughout his Presidency.

President Bush's position on trade is no different from President Reagan's. Are you seriously implying that President Reagan encouraged trade unionism, or protectionism?

You'll need to clarify.

[Willie Green]

he was a free market advocate throughout his Presidency.

The corporate neocons at the Cato Institute disagree with you: THE REAGAN RECORD ON TRADE: RHETORIC VS. REALITY

[ninenot]

Are you seriously implying that President Reagan encouraged trade unionism, or protectionism

Are you SERIOUSLY trying to tell us that Reagan did not play to the unions? How the hell did he get all those Union VOTES?

Please stop using the pejorative "protectionism." Either argue the position or call names. If you insist on name-calling, we have to conclude that you cannot argue the position (meaning that you are a Mankiw, not an intellectual being.)