Yes, it does seem as though Reagan's actions / words were somewhat contradictory but I think he probably had to toe the line with big business and support legalizing the 2.7M newcomers during that time frame but he did also point out that " a country that can't protect it's borders is not really a country any longer" (paraphrase). If you've followed some of the material available on the FTAA and it's ramifications on America there's no doubt in my mind that there's a move afoot to create an American Union ala the EU and illegal immigration is the conditioning agent to force us accept the new paradigm despite our opposition.
After watching some of the current machinations regarding the EU's drive for a new constitution and decreasing of individual national sovereignty for it's members it's clear to me that as the FTAA/American Union proceeds we'll someday see a tremendous assault on our Constitution, BOR and our legal system. This new supranational gov't. will have it's own commissions and legions of bureaucrats available to make sure our transition to a third world style banana republic as seamless as possible. Of course all this nonsense started a long time ago but this current push for a hemispheric union has accelerated tremendously under Bush and his cronies.....no matter that countless Americans have been raped, robbed, murdered, etc. by cretins who would not be here if we had a coherent border policy and for that he will go down in infamy.
I'm sure glad you took the time to post all of that! I saved it too! I don't think some people on here know about all of that. Or if they did, they've forgotten it. So many times our President's accomplishments get buried under rhetoric from both sides of the ideological divide. Now I realize that we are a nation of human beings. And a goverment of imperfect human beings will not be perfect!
But after reading your list, I realize how so much of it is conservative to me! Or at least I thought it was a conservative list. I always thought that much of the items on the list were desired by most, if not all conservatives on here, but I guess not. At least the way some posters on here talk!
By reading a lot of the posters on here tonight; I realize by the ugly comments by some of them, it seems GWB/his supporters, are not conservatives at all! Or we are not 'real', or 'pure' conservatives, like they are! Somehow we are otherwise: weak, stupid, brainless, immature, unprincipled, bad people, because we support him! Why heck, apparently, we aren't even considered to be his "base", like they are!
Now most posters on this thread don't think this way. But It seems like lately, there is a whole new chorus on here, that's always angry, and bashing GWB, and and those who support him! Where were these people when we were fighting hard to get him in office, and to get him in there again late last year? It's strange, but a lot of them were nowhere in sight!
Now, all of a sudden, they're are here, and insulting him, and other Freepers! When people in the news, and in the opposite party, were lying and talking dirty about him and Mr. Cheney, and other Republicans, where were these posters? I wonder? Probably off pouting, and sulking somewhere, because we don't go along with them, and those candidates they support!
When I read your list, I was struck by all of the things GWB and others, yes even some Democrats(those with a conscience that is), were able to get done! If he was such a miserable failure, how is it that he not only got in again, but with a bigger vote margin than before?
If he is such a terrible leader, how is it that 'real liberals' are always howling about what a religious extremist, warmonger, far right, evil, stupid, (well you get the picture!)man he is, etc..? If he/us are not 'real' conservatives, what is a 'real' conservative? If these angry posters are examples of 'real' conservatives, I don't know if I want to be a 'real' conservative!
If he was so careless about the border, and our security, how is it that the hispanic human rights groups are always harping about how our Pres. treats the immigrants, legal or illegal? How is it that VF is now saying that he's going to complain to the international groups like the UN, or ICC, about how we are treating the immigrants? Man, that doesn't sound like he's much of a 'bosom buddy' of our Pres., is he?
Well, how I run on! Anyway, thanks for posting it. At least a lot of us appreciate being reminded of our/GWB's accomplishments. I'd heard of a lot of them before; but they get buried under all the sour grapes, and other belly-aching that seems to be all over the place on this web-site lately!
My compliments to you and all of the voices of reason, who answer the angry ones with good arguments, that I can't always come up with! I also appreciate those who even if they don't support him, or agree with GWB/Republicans on all things, they are still capable of discussing these in a basically decent, polite, and respectful way!