The stupidity of Ronald Reagan. By Christopher Hitchens
Ronald Reagan claimed that the Russian language had no word for "freedom." (The word is "svoboda"; it's quite well attested in Russian literature.) Ronald Reagan said that intercontinental ballistic missiles (not that there are any non-ballistic missiles—a corruption of language that isn't his fault) could be recalled once launched.
To take your points on Sarah rather than Reagan, once she realized that she was facing a vicious attack interview, her unwillingness to answer a question about what she was reading and not citing a Supreme Court case that would be used against her rather than dealing more effectively with the evil she faced shows that she was not then ready for the insanity of the far left media. Let's see if she's ready in 2012. Endorsing McCain bothers me, but I'm willing to write that one off as loyalty if she is otherwise acceptable. Keeping her kids with her as she travels strikes me as good parenting. I've seen it as exposing her kids to the world rather than using them as props. Note: I am thrilled with Jim DeMint but also convinced that he does not plan to run in 2012. If I find a viable candidate who is better than Sarah Palin, I will happily support that person in 2012. So far though, it would take someone exceptional to win my vote if she chooses to run.
You’re right, Reagan did make gaffes, but he could speak VERY well spontaneously w/o notes. After all, they didn’t call him “The Great Communicator” for nothing.
Palin is not a great communicator. She may be a good fundraiser for the RNC and that’s where I’d like to see her.
In spite of Reagan’s goofups, he sure did generate some hugely quotable quotes over the years, on a par with Churchill:
Honestly, I just don’t see Palin coming up with any insightful, philosophical quotables like Reagan did.
Oddly enough in recent history, Slick Willie made VERY FEW verbal gaffes, comparatively speaking. JFK didn’t either. Maybe Democraps are just slicker than conservatives and have the gift of gab.
But at this point in history, conservatives need true public speakers to convey our message to the unwashed masses in a way that won’t be ridiculed by 51% of the population.