Posted on 06/04/2006 2:24:14 PM PDT by nuconvert
Bush is the Next Reagan
Jun 4, 2006
Slater Bakhtavar - Persian Journal
The same people who heavily criticized former President Reagan for his tough stance against Communism and for his aggressive push for democracy in Eastern Europe are now attacking President Bush for his tough stance against fundamentalism and his aggressive push for democracy in the Middle East.
-They argued then that Communism would never fall - it did They argue now that Islamic Fundamentalism will never fall - it will
-They argued then that the Soviet Union is too strong - it wasn't
They argue now that the insurgency is too strong - it isn't
-They argued that Reagans vision of democracy in East Europe would never work - it did
They argue now that Bushs vision of democracy for the mid-east would never work - it will
They argued then that Reagans evil empire speech was a failure - it wasn't
They argue now that Bushs axis of evil speech is a failure - it won't be
-They argued then that former soviet bloc countries wouldn't embrace democracy - they did
They argue now that middle east countries would never embrace democracy - they will
-They argued then that Eastern Europeans nations would never be our allies - they are
They argue now that middle eastern countries will never be our allies - they will be
-They argued then that people without God could never embrace democracy - they did
They argue now that Muslims will never embrace democracy - they will
-They argued then that President Reagan was unrealistic - he wasn't
They argue now that President Bush is unrealistic - he'll prove he isn't
-They argued then democracy isn't universal to former Communists - it was
They argue now democracy isn't universal to Middle Easterners - it will be
-They argued then that funding of pro-democracy groups in Eastern European countries won't work - it did
They argue now that funding of pro-democracy groups won't work in the Middle East - it will
The same exact critcism was directed at Reagan. The future will be the judge of President Bush and my guess is that he will be judged as the Great Liberator of the Middle East.
Is Bush the next Reagan?
Well, let's look at the real annualized percent growth in various kinds of government spending: total, defense, domestic, entitlement, and discretionary.
Reagan (two terms, Dem Congress)
2.6, 4.4,-1.2, 2.0, 1.9
Bush (first term, GOP Congress)
5.6, 8.8, 7.1, 4.7, 8.0
In each of these categories Bush grew the budget at least twice as fast as Reagan; their spending records have little in common.
Source: http://www.cato.org/pubs/tbb/tbb-0510-26.pdf
The difference as I see it, is that Bush learned from the reality of Reagan's failure and is doing things a different way.
Reagan's view was good, but it didn't work. Bush wants results, so it makes sense that he wouldn't try something that had already been proven impossible.
Example.......education. Get rid of the education department (that's what we all wanted)........did Reagan do it? Did Reagan accomplish anything conservative in education?
Now look at the Bush education bill. In it are accountability and education reforms (which is why the NEA hates the bill and hates Bush).
Under Bush, the spender, education is getting more conservative. Under Reagan, the government shrinker, it got more liberal.
Me neither.
Do the math: The Reagan amnesty was advertised as being for about one million illegal aliens. Three million took advantage of it, leading to an additional twenty million to thirty million coming here since then. (The MSM's 12 million figure is a joke.)
The amnesty that the administration and the Senate are promoting is for 12 million or so.
The question is, will 30 million plus then apply? Will that then lead to 60-90 million more crossing the border illegally? Many think so, including me.
"REAGAN SET THE PRECEDENT FOR AMNESTY..."
I agree with you. That is not in Reagan's favor.
Whilst it appears as though the GOP "owns" both Houses, what with the real RINOS and the horrid GANG OF 14, you would be hard pressed to actually prove that. Without Delay, the House is rudderless.
Finally, we do NOT have a GOP majority in "all three branches"! The third branch is theJUDICIARY.
So, until you finally learn a bit more facts about our government, I suggest that you refrain from posting; elsewise, everyone will know just how very little factual knowledge you posses. ;^)
So...Reagan fought SO hard against those dems, he vetoed the Amnesty Bill, did he???
No, no he didn't.
I liked President Reagan.
I like President Bush.
I think we were blessed to get both of them.
Thank you, dear Lord, for giving us President Ronald Reagan and President George W. Bush.
Polling numbers should be a concern to all of us.
Instead of name calling those who are trying to raise warning flags about the policies that may harm the GOP in mid-terms, a lot of people here just call us bushbashers.
I'll give you one poll you and others who think like you should watch.
Watch the Primary Election in Utah next month, where the current GOP rep Chris Cannon is in the fight of his career. He shares the same policy issues as Bush, especially on immigration and he is running against an enforcement first GOP candidate.
Polls show this race a toss-up. We shall soon see, in an early test, if the citizens of Utah agree with this policy or disagree.
That should be an indicater to you and those who think like you, better take a real hard look at this policy in particular, before the mid-term elections.
Abortion advocates.
Gay marriage proponents
The NEA
The anti-American left
Military haters
The ACLU
TERRORISTS!!
That's right off the top of my head, ten.
You obviously haven't thought this through very thoroughly.
Then you're saying that Newt failed within six months of getting his House majority which was sworn in January 1995, following their victory in November 1994? Bizarre.
You're actually saying that Newt wasn't effectively finished by the end of '95. Why don't you tell me what he accomplished after '95.
Bizarre is your revision of history.
Have you ever read about Coolidge? He was an excellent President. And one of his geniuses was "not doing anything," because he truly believed in a limited government.
Oh, and one of the first things Reagan did when he entered the White House was hang a portrait of Coolidge. He greatly admired him. So, I guess he was pretty dumb to do that.
Didn't you just contradict yourself at least 3 times in your post at #344?! [Example: In earlier posts, you indicated that Tip O'Neil's House DOMINATED Reagan; at post #344, you assert that O'Neil's House FEARED Reagan ????]
BTW: If it was to Reagan's credit that he had a larger Senate majority than GWB, was it also to his discredit that the GOP suffered one of its worst loses EVER in 1986, returning the Senate to the Democrats? I suppose the 1986 election debacle was simply an example of Reagan going "directly to the people"?! . . . Stop trying to make Reagan a demigod -- he was a pragmatic politician, albeit a GREAT one, as is George W Bush!
Amen, Patty. AMEN!
Exactly
Abortion advocates.
Gay marriage proponents
The NEA
The anti-American left
Military haters
The ACLU
TERRORISTS
I can't disagree with you there.
"But Reagan failed at accomplishing his goal, RF. He didn't shrink government..........he just talked about doing it."
Yes, I agree. Government did not shrink under Reagan by any meaningful measure.
I will state in his favor that the prosperity brought on by Reagans domestic economic policy is partly to blame for this lack of success in shrinking government, but I concede your point.
"U feel me"....that is disgusting...or doesn't make sense.
By the way, if being a 29%er means I am a fan of President Bush...then, yes I will agree.
But, if it doesn't,...then once again, I have no clue what you are talking about, do you?
Newt was sent to the showers by the Clintons and they did it with ease.
He was effectively demonized. It's that failure that gave rise to compassionate conservatism, like it or not.
It's a term used to ask if you understand
Apparently you know less about our government, than most fifth graders. Pity that.........
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