Posted on 05/07/2009 10:56:17 AM PDT by La Enchiladita
Santa Barbara, California -- You drive up a steep, rough and winding road to reach Ronald Reagan's ranch in the Santa Ynez mountains. For eight years, from 1981 to 1989, this place north of Santa Barbara was the Western White House; Reagan spent nearly a year of his time in office here. Now, what he called Rancho del Cielo is pretty much deserted.
...
The first thing that strikes you as you approach the house is how modest it is. The main part of the building was constructed in 1871. Even after Reagan added a couple of rooms when he bought it in 1975, the whole house only measured about 1,500 square feet.
. . .
The house is nestled on the edge of a mountainside meadow. It's idyllic, but if you drive about five minutes away, you'll find another spot on the property, at the top of a hill, where the president could have built a new home, perhaps an impressive monument to himself, with fabulous views of the Pacific to the west and the valley to the east. Instead, Reagan preferred the little house by the meadow.
Walking around the ranch, you can't help thinking about the current Republican party and its relationship to Reagan. One feeling the ranch produces -- nearly forces on you -- is the realization that the 1980s were a long time ago. When Reagan took office, the top income tax rate was 70 percent. The Cold War was in one of its most dangerous phases.
By the end of his administration, Reagan had reduced that confiscatory 70 percent tax rate to 28 percent. And he won the Cold War. Most presidents don't leave much for us to remember them by. Reagan has two great legacies.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonexaminer.com ...
In turn, this piece causes us to reflect on the man himself and on our future as a Republic.
There is a Ronald Reagan Vandenberg Memorial on Vandenberg AFB where we go to watch rocket launches. Ronnie is facing the nation that he loved so much with the Missile Defense launchers and the open expanse of the Pacific ocean behind him. When the crowds gather there for a launch the mood of the folks is reverent and quiet. Within the military family there is, and always will be, a great respect for this greatest of Americans.
The principles of Reagan were not invented by Reagan. They have a long history. The fact that he was unafraid to brandish and articulate them forcefully during a period of national navel-gazing (much like today) led to his spectacular success.
The GOP establishment was anti-Reagan/anti-conservative then, and remains so today. It will take another fearless man to re-establish the principles of constitutional republicanism on which this country was founded. And like Reagan, he must call a spade a spade when dealing with the quisling party.
Wonderful. I did not know about the Vandenberg memorial.
I will be making my first visit to the Reagan Library next week and am very excited!!
The PBS program, “California’s Gold,” did a wonderful, memorable episode at the Reagan Ranch. I highly recommend searching for it in their library and purchasing. Every once in a while, they re-air the program.
Anyway, that is spectacularly beautiful country. Anyone who has driven Camino Cielo will never forget it!!
I’ve never been to his ranch, but I have been to the area a couple of times. God’s country.
Great skit, I still miss Phil Hartman.
You will enjoy it immensely. I know I did. But there will be alot of sorrow thinking about the current state of leadership in contrast to this giant.
Thanks
Remembering a great President... just because.
btt
To me, President Reagan brought back a pride and faith that this great country could overcome our problems and be a great country once again. Carter was a pessimist and had no faith in the country or the American people. President Reagan guided us out of a very low point and got the country back on track.
I remember..... “It’s morning in America!”
Will God ever bless us again as He did then...??
You are so classy and that is a classy post, my FRiend. The quote below his picture brings tears to my eyes.
Thank you so much for such kind words, Dita!
Thank you for the post honoring President Reagan. The absolute best. Those were the days! You are going to have a fabulous time going to the Reagan Library. Look so forward to hearing about your trip!
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