The Palin-Reagan connection

Red State ^ | Thursday, November 20, 2008 | Josh Painter

[redk]

I'm one of those who refuses to proclaim Sarah Palin as "the next Reagan." To do so would be to open myself to all sorts of attacks from Reagan admirers and detractors alike, but that's not why I refrain from equating the two. I truly believe that Ronald Reagan was a rare and unique leader, a giant of the conservative movement who pushed it ahead as much as did Barry Goldwater and William F. Buckley. I do admire and support Gov. Palin, and I think she has her own brand of uniqueness.

[redk]

I can't say a whole lot because I'm not old enough to remember Reagan. The comments there however make me nuts.

[nickcarraway]

I think people are making this too literal.

[Clemenza]

Reagan has become in death, like Juan Peron in Argentina. To free traders, he was a free trader, to protectionists, he was a protectionist, etc.

Sarah is no Ronald Reagan or Margaret Thatcher. She is a provincial politician who needs to study and prepare before she even has a chance at winning a national election.

[thesetruths]

Ronald Reagan = Legend

[reasonisfaith]

Criticism against Reagan never includes whether or not he’s a true conservative. Such criticism would be silly. Same with Palin. This says it all.

It’s not complicated.

[Canedawg]

“She is a provincial politician who needs to study and prepare...”

---

Perhaps, but she appears to be a diamond in the rough.

[exist]

Okay well Reagan spent decades advancing and articulating conservative ideas.

People seem to think all it takes to be Reagan is to be popular and win elections. But watch Reagan's 1964 speech and it's pretty evident that Sarah Palin is not the next Reagan-- nobody is.

But she's the first Sarah Palin and that's good enough for me.

[curling]

Remember when they called Reagan a “bumpkin” or “grade-b actors” (aka: Bedtime for Bonzo)? Sound familiar?

[LiberConservative]

Governor Palin is NOT the “next” Ronald Reagan. But she is the FIRST great Republican leader from his legacy. Ronald Reagan, God Bless his soul, is 20th century. Governor Palin could be a the one to carry on RR's legacy into the 21st.

[NonValueAdded]

Yeah, but she has “it.” Would you buy proto-Reagan as the descriptor? I’d say she is one of the closest to the ideal.

[mkjessup]

I can't say a whole lot because I'm not old enough to remember Reagan. The comments there however make me nuts.

I'm old enough to remember Reagan, and voted for him four times, in the '76 primary against President RINO-Ford, in the '80 primary which led to the nomination, in the '80 general election, and his last campaign in '84 when he broke all previous electoral college records.

You always could count on Ronald Reagan's honesty, his honor, and his integrity.

He took the Oath of Office as it was intended, as a sacred trust, an Oath taken before Almighty God to 'preserve, protect and defend' the Constitution of the United States, and you always knew that even if you did not agree with him on any particular issue, that his decisions were made based on only one set of criteria: was the decision being made in the best interests of the people of the United States?

Reagan was the greatest President of the 20th century. He was not flawless, and he would be the first to admit it, among those few errors were choosing George H.W. Bush as his VP in the first place, and the others were Sandra Day O'Conner and Anthony Kennedy.

But as Reagan would say (and did say in the past) "he would take responsibility for the mistakes, if his adversaries would give him credit for the things he was right about" (paraphrased).

Ronald Reagan single-handedly reversed the course of deceit, defeatism and dysfunction that had been the result of the WORST President of the 20th century, the Buffoon from Georgia, the one and only Jimmy Carter (whose 2nd term begins January 20th, God Help Us All).

Thanks to Ronald Wilson Reagan, America won the Cold War.

Thanks to over 62 million sh*t-headed voters (both legal and illegal) who couldn't tell the difference between 0bama nad 0sama, America is on the verge of becoming that which we vanquished in that Cold War, America is about to become the United States of Soviet Socialist Republics, ruled by Comrade 0bama and his Communist/Democrat politburo.

Dark days lie ahead, believe that.

[Diogenesis]

The author is a confirmed RomneyBOT and his writings are thus worthless
except as part of Romney's campaign to destroy Gov. Palin.

Proof:

"Top 10 reasons why McCain should pick Romney - Mitt's the best choice for VP" by Josh Painter

Leper, backstabber, shape-shifter Myth Romney:
"You will embrace this attack on Gov. Palin,
her little children and her baby, using only 20% of our junior staff
through their spouses and media connections.
Make the GOP lose ---- for ME. For ME. For ME.
Leak the attacks calling her stupid using Jindal's, McCain's and Huckabee's names
exactly like our attacks on McCain and Thompson using Huckabee's name during the Primaries.
Make Gov. Palin look stupider than a first grader - and contrast that to me.
Make Gov.Palin's family look ugly - and contrast that to mine.
Create, then support, the attack on Palin from our northern lands in the Belmont sanctuary mansion
using the same fake law enforcement badges and ploys which we fabricated and still enjoy.
I will gain GOP favor by condemning the attack and
ordering it opposed from our lands in the south, and through Utah, Fox News and Newsweek.
Whichever way the tide runs, we will rise and take the prize promised to Me in 2012. "

[Morgan in Denver]

Sarah will need to write a bit too, IMHO. She needs to express her opinions and beliefs as she also governs Alaska and acting on those beliefs.

I don’t expect Sarah Palin to be another Ronald Reagan. I do expect her to represent conservative values and positions better than every Republican candidate or President since President Reagan.

The entrance of Sarah Palin on the national ticket energized and excited the conservative base more than any other candidate did this year. Not Thompson, not Romney, not Hunter, none of them galvanized the Republican base to the extent Sarah did. It will take a Sarah Palin or a Bobby Jindal to get conservatives as excited as Democrats were with Obama.

[thesetruths]

There is no comparison to anyone currently.

[Old Sarge]

Sarah’s national political career is like Reagan.

Dead.

And if Reagan were still alive, to many FReepers Reagan would be a RINO (he allowed illegal immigrant amnesty, remember?)...

[redk]

Oh I didn't know that about the author. I am however willing to leave people to their own opinions about Palin. In a few years time we will know who was right.

I am more curious about the recent rash of ‘Alaska Republicans’ I'm seeing all over the place with nothing but bad to say about her.

[pointsal]

Sarah Palin is okay...get over it!

Mitt-bots take their lead from Salt Lake City.

[bicyclerepair]

Just found out a friend’s wife voted for zerobahma. Huge disappointment.

She said her sister lives in Alaska and the both of them hate Sarah and said she’s “Bad”. She knew every LSM talking point.

I’m losing hope folks. We’re in a nation of ignorant sheep.

[SallyH]

I agree about the writing. I wish Palin would send an editorial opinion to the WSJ.

[Morgan in Denver]

Been there, done that too.

Ronald Reagan was a great president, unknown how great at the time. History provides the perspective and hindsight is always better than the left would like us to believe.

I believe the same will favor GW Bush. After 8 years of demonizing W, he DID bring dignity back to the office of the presidency. He DID NOT have the scandals Clinton experienced. He DID lead well as the war on Islamic terrorism developed. He DID reduce taxes that stimulated the economy. And yes, I can list the things GW did wrong too but I am suggesting history will remember the high points and ignore the mistakes.

Frankly, I believe the current financial crisis was induced and exaggerated to benefit the Democrats. We’ll know for sure if everything is coming up roses once Obama is sworn in. If Obama does not go radical and the economy improves, he will have chance to prove me wrong but I don’t expect that to happen.