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Dubya Does 'Reagan'
Townhall ^ | 10/23/2005 | Debra Saunders

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."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: americahate; bushhatred; irancontra; iraq; presidentbush; presidentreagan; thepresidency
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To: Molly Pitcher

Bush aint no conservative.


41 posted on 10/24/2005 8:01:56 AM PDT by cynicom
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To: randog
Also, where is Bush's leadership regarding making the tax cuts permanent? Nowhere. In fact, his administration has just created a commision to reform the tax structure and that's a total joke.

I completely agree. Bush has had an awful year.

42 posted on 10/24/2005 8:02:06 AM PDT by KC_Conspirator (This space outsourced to India)
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To: sinkspur

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


43 posted on 10/24/2005 8:03:04 AM PDT by MadIvan (You underestimate the power of the Dark Side - http://www.sithorder.com/)
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To: MadIvan
He also pounded Libya into submission.

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.

44 posted on 10/24/2005 8:06:51 AM PDT by sinkspur (If you're not willing to give Harriett Miers a hearing, I don't give a damn what you think.)
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To: MadIvan
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.

Just the facts, Ivan. Just the facts.

45 posted on 10/24/2005 8:08:05 AM PDT by sinkspur (If you're not willing to give Harriett Miers a hearing, I don't give a damn what you think.)
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To: sinkspur
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.

OTOH, your history comes either from Hollywierd, or DU. Man, you people have sunk to incredible depths in defense of Bush. Sick, sick stuff. Keep it up, and our host man in fact ban you for being such a jerk.
46 posted on 10/24/2005 8:11:22 AM PDT by safisoft (Give me Torah!)
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To: safisoft
OTOH, your history comes either from Hollywierd, or DU. Man, you people have sunk to incredible depths in defense of Bush. Sick, sick stuff. Keep it up, and our host man in fact ban you for being such a jerk.

You can't refute the facts I posted either, huh?

47 posted on 10/24/2005 8:13:08 AM PDT by sinkspur (If you're not willing to give Harriett Miers a hearing, I don't give a damn what you think.)
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To: sinkspur
You can't refute the facts I posted either, huh?

I don't discuss some things with children. Make the leap, and move to DU. I don't care about a 1998 sign up date - you are a troll.
48 posted on 10/24/2005 8:18:01 AM PDT by safisoft (Give me Torah!)
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To: sinkspur
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.

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

49 posted on 10/24/2005 8:19:29 AM PDT by MadIvan (You underestimate the power of the Dark Side - http://www.sithorder.com/)
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To: sinkspur
>>>>>>You blow off Lebanon as if it was nothing.

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.

50 posted on 10/24/2005 8:20:23 AM PDT by Thorin ("I won't be reconstructed, and I do not give a damn.")
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To: MadIvan; sinkspur

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.


51 posted on 10/24/2005 8:21:44 AM PDT by borkrules
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To: MadIvan

I like your posts.


52 posted on 10/24/2005 8:35:34 AM PDT by mysterio
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To: borkrules

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


53 posted on 10/24/2005 8:43:49 AM PDT by MadIvan (You underestimate the power of the Dark Side - http://www.sithorder.com/)
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To: safisoft

YOU CANNOT DISCUSS THE FACTS, sonny. You've proved it now in two posts.


54 posted on 10/24/2005 9:14:46 AM PDT by sinkspur (If you're not willing to give Harriett Miers a hearing, I don't give a damn what you think.)
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To: MadIvan

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.


55 posted on 10/24/2005 9:16:16 AM PDT by bamabaseballmom
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To: MadIvan
Reagan cut income taxes (the taxes to which you refer are payroll taxes and a petrol tax).

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.

56 posted on 10/24/2005 9:18:22 AM PDT by sinkspur (If you're not willing to give Harriett Miers a hearing, I don't give a damn what you think.)
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To: Molly Pitcher

Presidential Libraries reek of caesarism.


57 posted on 10/24/2005 9:18:46 AM PDT by Dumb_Ox (Be not Afraid. "Perfect love drives out fear.")
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To: Thorin
The point is, Reagan solved the problems he was elected to solve, and Bush hasn't solved anything.

50 million Muslims would disagree.

58 posted on 10/24/2005 9:19:11 AM PDT by sinkspur (If you're not willing to give Harriett Miers a hearing, I don't give a damn what you think.)
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To: EagleUSA
Too bad GWB cannot hold a candle to Reagan. Too bad for America.

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.

59 posted on 10/24/2005 9:20:28 AM PDT by Black Tooth (The more people I meet, the more I like my dog.)
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To: MadIvan
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.

LOL! 50 million freed Muslims will appreciate George W. Bush, even if you don't.

60 posted on 10/24/2005 9:21:02 AM PDT by sinkspur (If you're not willing to give Harriett Miers a hearing, I don't give a damn what you think.)
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