Take heart, Sarah...here's what Reagan said (vanity)

The Real Reagan by Frank van der Linden | July 7,2009

[WestTexasWend]

"Though some of Ford's advisers might dismiss Reagan as an aging right-wing after-dinner speaker or as an evangelist exhorting the Republicans to abandon their sinful liberalism and return to the Faith of their Fathers, Ford took him seriously as the only threat to his own dream of an uncontested nomination.

Ford, therefore, moved to take his potential rival into camp by making him a member of the administration. Twice the President dangled a cabinet post before Reagan's eyes, and twice the bait was refused.

'The first time, he offered me literally a choice of several cabinet positions,' Reagan recalled. 'In late 1974, he said, "I'm going to be making some cabinet changes. There could be a choice of several." I thanked him, told him I was greatly honored, but I thought I could do more for what I believed in - and what I thought he believed in - as an independent, with my radio program, newspaper colums, and speeches"

excerpt from page 110, The Real Reagan by Frank van der Linden, (ISBN 0-688-00386-9) published 1981

[WestTexasWend]

Today's political experts seem to have forgotten this. None of them would've thought Reagan's path could lead to the White House, and had he listened to his critics back then he likely would've failed. He stuck to his guns, and won two terms and the Cold War.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Ronnie whipped the Rooskies without firing a shot.

[Dan Middleton]

Reagan was a heavyweight who paid his dues for decades before running for president.

[xcamel]

[Always Right]

A fairly good analogy of how they could box in Reagan if he was in the cabinet and how Sarah was boxed in as Governor.

[TSgt]

Americans are sick of career politicians who are egregiously out of touch with the average person. Sarah is about as close to a real American as it gets and her family challenges, teen pregnancy, child with down syndrome, only accentuate this fact. She is a strong, intelligent woman who is also a Christian.

The relentless media attacks on her and her family tell me one thing, she scares the hell out of the left and they will do anything they can to diminish her and make her appear like a quirky white lady from Alaska.

Remember how Ronnie connected with the average American Joe? We need a new revolution, I’m not sure if it’s Sarah but I don’t see many other options.

[Dawgreg]

Well said Mike.........I have NO problem with her resigning her governorship to free herself up to go out and kick arse and take names.:)

[Dawgreg]

WOW, her inagural gown perhaps??? LOL

[WestTexasWend]

True...but we don’t have decades to diddle and demand that she genuflect at the altar of Those Who Are Part of The Problem. This parade has started, and all eyes are on Sarah, not the age-old elephant that’s in every parade.

Reagan TOOK his nomination FROM THE PEOPLE, plain and simple...it wasn’t bestowed on him by the ‘pubbies Old Guard. Besides, the “paying your dues” system is chronocally overated and outdated. It’s what gave us the failed presidential candidacies of Ford, Dole and McCain, and too many congressional and state races to count. We’ve got a guy in the White House that didn’t pay his dues...do you really think Sarah would be any worse? (Please don’t say “yes, because she won’t have the support of the GOP...they will literally stampede to line up behind her, just as they did with Reagan...and their “help” could be her undoing.)

[Dawgreg]

And we were all blessed that he did it his way. Lord, I loved that man!

[Richard Kimball]

The other thing to remember about Reagan is the Republican establishment hated him. They tried to foist Ford on him as VP, and wanted Ford to be a co-president, to reign in Reagan's "dangerous tendencies."

Reagan remained neutral in the 88 primaries, and caught some flack because he didn't endorse Bush I. Bush I ran on Reagan's success, then started distancing himself from Reagan as soon as he was elected, saying he wanted a "kinder, gentler" nation. His distancing himself from Reagan policies was, IMHO, one of the biggest reasons he was a one term president.

Bush II and McCain were more of the country club Republican thing. The problem is that using the Dems as a boogie man only works for so long. At this point, most Republicans want to go back to the old Rockefeller system of using public office to secure favorable legislation for their pet cartels.

Reagan's economic success was based on turning businesses loose. The east coast Republicans that run the party today do not believe in free enterprise. The ethanol boondoggle is emblematic of their philosophy. Mandate an economically unfeasible program to benefit core contributors at the expense of the small businessman. They have no problem with the excessive regulations, as these keep small businessmen from making a start.

[ConservativeMan55]

bttt

[kevkrom]

Reagan was a heavyweight who paid his dues for decades before running for president.

Different era, different rules.

The "paid his dues" argument is how the GOP keeps giving us stiffs like Dole and McCain. If Palin spends the next 16 or so months getting out there, raising money and support, and getting conservatives elected in 2010, she'll have both "paid her dues" and built a support base for her own 2012 run, if she wants to.

Perhaps she'll prefer to play kingmaker instead, but I don't think that's her style.

[ebshumidors]

Outstanding analysis

[definitelynotaliberal]

ping