Posted on 10/24/2005 5:44:36 AM PDT by Molly Pitcher
SIMI VALLEY, Calif. -- Sometimes, the only thing a president can do is hang onto history -- the promise of that day when he has his library and all his critics have transformed into admirers who gloss over his many stumbles only to stand in awe of his accomplishments, when the naysayers and nitpickers cannot be heard, as the ears before him hear only an uplifting soundtrack of Aaron Copland.
President Bush clearly was dreaming of that day as he stood at the grand opening of the Reagan Library Air Force One Pavilion, with wife Laura and Nancy Reagan by his side. He beheld the faces of a sea of survivors of the Reagan administration.
Former California Gov. Pete Wilson, once vilified, is now how held up as an example for GOP Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Reagan's former attorney general, Ed Meese, endured a spate of scandals that would humble Bush guru Karl Rove. Former Reagan speechwriter Ken Khachigian weathered many brutal political campaigns.
Time allows the survivors to put it all behind them -- Iran-Contra, the god-awful Beirut-barracks bombing that left 241 American servicemembers dead, a massive deficit, ketchup as a vegetable. Today, the world remembers the Westminster speech in which he laid out his belief that freedom would triumph over communism, the Normandy speech and the day an American president uttered the words, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall."
Today, Republicans hear the words Ronald Wilson Reagan and they smile. No wonder, then, that Bush used the occasion of this ceremony to jump on the Gipper's bandwagon. Conservatives (rightly) are angry that Bush allowed the federal government to balloon and (foolishly) miffed that he chose a nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court who wasn't a member of their club.
The left, of course, is hitting Bush for the deficit, as well. And from all sides, there is the constant carping on Iraq -- from those who want more troops, a withdrawal date -- and who barely give a nod to a successful voter-approval of the Iraqi constitution.
And so Bush reminded the people before him about how his term will look if America succeeds in Iraq. U.S. Rep. David Dreier, R-Calif., picked up the theme, when he said after the Bush speech that both presidents had the "spirit to take on an -ism" -- communism and terrorism.
Having been belittled for calling terrorists the "evildoers," Bush reminded the audience how Reagan defeated "the evil empire." And Dubya didn't need to remind this crowd of the ridicule Reagan endured for using that term.
Nancy Reagan made an unwitting connection when she recalled her final flight with Reagan on Air Force One as they left the White House in 1989. "As the champagne was poured and glasses were raised, someone shouted: 'Mission accomplished, Mr. President. Mission accomplished.'"
Former state Sen. Jim Brulte, R-Rancho Cucamonga, remembered the days when he was a "flunky junior nobody" in the Reagan administration. "The first Gorbachev summit," he noted, "ended in 'failure' because Reagan wouldn't give away the store." But it wasn't failure.
It was an episode in a campaign won, Bush noted, because of Reagan's "resolve." While Bush is different in many ways -- Reagan was supremely confident in himself and secure in his skin; for all his bluster, Bush is less self-assured -- they both shared a vision of what this world could be.
And so as political heat blasted this administration, amid stories of a petty feud with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and as serious legal problems threaten top White House aides, Bush had reason to dream of the day when the rancor is past -- the day when a president's children are no longer the stuff of negative stories, his work habits no longer the stuff of derision and his speech no longer fodder for late-night talk shows.
How America sees Bush depends completely on what happens in Iraq and the war on terrorism. While the outcome is uncertain, the goal, to Bush, is clear.
Dennis Revell, the widower of Maureen Reagan, mused: "History is seldom an instantaneous pat on the back. That time will come for this president, as well."
Bush aint no conservative.
I completely agree. Bush has had an awful year.
If you really want a blood feud on your hands, then continue to spew Democrat talking points about Reagan. Really, I've had it up to here with people defending every last thing Bush does - but tearing down Reagan is the last, final straw.
Ivan
Yeah. He bombed Khadafi's compound and killed his daughter in 1986.
Khadafi then funded two terrorists to blow up Pan Am 103 over Scotland in 1988.
He really pounded Khadafi, didn't he?
He managed to cut taxes and roll back the role of the state to do so.
Reagan raised taxes in 1984. RAISED TAXES! Then he restructured the tax code in 1986, eliminating the shelters that helped fuel the savings and loan scandal in the Bush I administration.
Ivan, you need to brush up on your history.
And, calling me a "sick twisted bastard" in the first sentence sets the stage for a rant, not a discussion.
Just the facts, Ivan. Just the facts.
You can't refute the facts I posted either, huh?
Which Libya was at pains to deny for years because of fear of retribution (thanks to Reagan). Strange form of revenge, where you don't let the person you're avenging yourself on know who did it. Truly, Libya went to ground.
Reagan raised taxes in 1984. RAISED TAXES! Then he restructured the tax code in 1986, eliminating the shelters that helped fuel the savings and loan scandal in the Bush I administration.
Reagan cut income taxes (the taxes to which you refer are payroll taxes and a petrol tax). Overall, government's share of GDP went down during Reagan's watch.
And, calling me a "sick twisted bastard" in the first sentence sets the stage for a rant, not a discussion.
Give me a break - you've been vile towards anyone who suggests anything untoward about your hero. You shouldn't scream like a little girl when someone kicks you hard in the goolies in retaliation.
Ivan
On the contrary, it was Reagan acting in the best interests of our country. Reagan managed to bring down the Soviet Union without getting the US bogged down anywhere. Bush might want to consider how Reagan did this. And let's not even talk about government spending. The point is, Reagan solved the problems he was elected to solve, and Bush hasn't solved anything.
There is nothing. NO-thing that sinkspur won't say to defend Bush from even the most principled and soft-spoken criticism.
Quite simply, he'll brook no negative remarks as regard Mr. Bush and he'll stoop to the lowest levels in his ham fisted efforts to "counter" those criticisms.
When called on it, he invites us to join him in the gutter to debate Reagan's legacy. And this, on a conservative forum. If I wanted to debate the Reagan legacy and counter the half-truths and distortions of a decidely liberal point of view, there are any number of websites and fora that I could point my browser at. But here? Odd, that.
I like your posts.
President Reagan and Mrs. Thatcher were the dynamic duo that defined the 1980's. They pounded the left into submission - till basically Blair was reduced to making his peace with the free market, as was Clinton. (That said, Blair was a better student than Weird Bill).
It's extremely poor that one would speak ill of the dead. It's worse that it would be done in the name of defending the indefensible.
Regards, Ivan
YOU CANNOT DISCUSS THE FACTS, sonny. You've proved it now in two posts.
Well said, Ivan. It is inconceivable to me that some "conservatives" are now resorting to trashing President Reagan in order to defend some of President Bush's decisions.
Raising payroll taxes and gasoline taxes are TAX INCREASES. And eliminating tax shelters in 1986 cost the country billions in bailing out Federally insured savings and loans, which had invested heavily in those shelters.
Presidential Libraries reek of caesarism.
50 million Muslims would disagree.
I recall reading that some were implying or suggesting close comparisons of Bush to Reagan after Reagan died, before he was even buried. I found it disturbing and classless.
LOL! 50 million freed Muslims will appreciate George W. Bush, even if you don't.
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