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Ronald Reagan on the importance of political compromise(in his own words)
An American Life (his autobiography) | 8/7/03 | Ronald Reagan

Posted on 08/07/2003 2:05:04 PM PDT by Diddle E. Squat

"When I began entering into the give and take of legislative bargaining in Sacramento, a lot of the most radical conservatives who had supported me during the election didn't like it.

"Compromise" was a dirty word to them and they wouldn't face the fact that we couldn't get all of what we wanted today. They wanted all or nothing and they wanted it all at once. If you don't get it all, some said, don't take anything.

"I'd learned while negotiating union contracts that you seldom got everything you asked for. And I agreed with FDR, who said in 1933: 'I have no expectations of making a hit every time I come to bat. What I seek is the highest possible batting average.'

"If you got seventy-five or eighty percent of what you were asking for, I say, you take it and fight for the rest later, and that's what I told these radical conservatives who never got used to it.


TOPICS: Extended News; Government; Philosophy; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: compromiseorsellout; conservatism; howfaristoofar; howtogainpower; howtowin; idealism; incrementalism; liberalism; politicalreality; pragmatism; reagan; reagancompromise; reaganconservatives; ronaldreagan; winheartsandminds
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Negotiating with a party in good faith is fine. Unfortunately, Democrats are not acting in good faith now and must be bulldozed.
81 posted on 08/07/2003 4:44:10 PM PDT by At _War_With_Liberals ("they took 2 steps to the left, I took 3 steps to the right")
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To: Amelia
At least you're an American and you realize Mark's great contribution to our country. Critique all you like.

Compare your statement to that annoying half pinko Canadian's and you'll see a big difference.
82 posted on 08/07/2003 4:44:20 PM PDT by AAABEST
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To: george wythe
The uncompromizing conservatives would rather have President Hillary than President Bush.

After all, they keep repeating that there is no difference between the Pubbies and Rats.

The one-party cartel blah, blah, blah

When x-42 was in office the pubbies wouldn't let the rats have:
Education Bill (no child left behind)
Farm bill
Prescription Drugs Medicare bill
Any big governement spending he can get bill.

President Bush has said that he would extend the '93 silly so-called assault weapons ban signed by x-42. Don't be surprised when congress somehow is pressured into selling US out again.

83 posted on 08/07/2003 4:45:26 PM PDT by AeWingnut (Soccer: a symptom of a greater ill)
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To: justshe
Ok that was kind of cute and disarming. You were supposed to say something hysterical letting me know that I was able to get to you. Not fair.

Do you really own a musket?

84 posted on 08/07/2003 4:47:58 PM PDT by AAABEST
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To: AAABEST
Regardless of Mark's contribution, (and for your information there are a whole lot of people on FR who don't know his real identity, American or not) he is, in my opinion, mistaken. So is Rush.
85 posted on 08/07/2003 4:48:16 PM PDT by Miss Marple
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To: Miss Marple
Regardless of Mark's contribution, (and for your information there are a whole lot of people on FR who don't know his real identity, American or not) he is, in my opinion, mistaken. So is Rush.

Your opinion is fine with me. Now go compare your statement with the Canadian's and you'll see why he got the reaction he did.

And yes, he knew who Mark was.

86 posted on 08/07/2003 4:54:44 PM PDT by AAABEST
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To: justshe
"When you compromise to promote the conservative agenda, fine.

But when you compromise and promote the left's agenda, that's the problem.
And that's the problem with signing the campaign finance bill, a complete surrender; signing Daschle's ag bill, a complete surrender; signing Kennedy's ed bill; a near complete surrender; and offering to sign ANY prescription drug bill that expands Medicare. There's a difference between compromise and surrender on important domestic issues."

7 posted on 08/07/2003 2:14 PM PDT by holdonnow




justshe wrote:
Well......Mark's argument about what constitutes 'compromise' fell flat......so I think he cut and run.



Weird comment, jshe.

Marks argument was well reasoned, to the point, and backed up by some hard to dispute facts.
He defended his conclusions for a few more posts, then announced he had to leave.

That's "cut & run"? ...
You may have some sort of a dyslexic problem, imo.
87 posted on 08/07/2003 4:56:17 PM PDT by tpaine ( I'm trying to be Mr Nice Guy, but politics keep getting in me way. ArnieRino for Governator!)
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To: AAABEST
Regardless of Mark's contribution, (and for your information there are a whole lot of people on FR who don't know his real identity, American or not) he is, in my opinion, mistaken. So is Rush.
88 posted on 08/07/2003 4:56:32 PM PDT by Miss Marple
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To: Keyes2000mt
McClintock will not win, period. No chance. Issa had the good sense to get out. If, by some miracle, McClintock did win, he would get far less than Arnold, because any "conservative" is going to spend half his time battling the media and the other half battling the Dems in the state leg. and accomplish nothing.

I remain convinced that this situation needs a "larger-than-life" figure who can go over the heads of the Dems and the media, and that ain't McClintock.

89 posted on 08/07/2003 4:56:49 PM PDT by LS
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To: AAABEST
(wink)
90 posted on 08/07/2003 4:57:53 PM PDT by justshe ("Do you trust a Democrat to protect America?")
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To: dinok
If anything, GW has conceeded to 75% fo the opposition agenda.

I guess that is why all the dems are so upset with him.....

91 posted on 08/07/2003 4:58:05 PM PDT by cinFLA
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To: dinok
If anything, GW has conceeded to 75% of the opposition agenda................

Is it possible that it is our perception that is askew?

Perhaps the president is getting 100% of HIS agenda........

92 posted on 08/07/2003 5:00:29 PM PDT by WhiteGuy (Deficit $455,000,000,000 + MY VOTE IS FOR SALE)
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To: AAABEST
Do you really own a musket?
84 -AAA-


I'd bet that if she does, it one of those old horse pistol ones, shaped like a battle axe.
93 posted on 08/07/2003 5:01:09 PM PDT by tpaine ( I'm trying to be Mr Nice Guy, but politics keep getting in me way. ArnieRino for Governator!)
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To: tpaine
And Mr. tp.....you may have trouble reading an entire thread. If you had, you would have seen my reasoning HERE

To: holdonnow

"When you compromise to promote the conservative agenda, fine. But when you compromise and promote the left's agenda, that's the problem."

com·pro·mise: A settlement of differences in which each side makes concessions.

Let's be honest here. Rush's definition of compromise is just a BIT skewed. He's saying "MY side ONLY gets the benefits!" Posh!

37 posted on 08/07/2003 3:37 PM PDT by justshe


In fact.....it isn't a BIT skewed.....it is WAY SKEWED. Mark defined surrender...by the left. He did NOT define 'compromise'.

94 posted on 08/07/2003 5:05:49 PM PDT by justshe ("Do you trust a Democrat to protect America?")
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To: AAABEST
And yes, he knew who Mark was.
-AAA-



I think he is one of the same gang who tried to drive MarK off of FR a few months ago.
-- Strange group, -- JR had to finally intrevene in their flame fest, ims...
95 posted on 08/07/2003 5:07:21 PM PDT by tpaine ( I'm trying to be Mr Nice Guy, but politics keep getting in me way. ArnieRino for Governator!)
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To: justshe
Sorry, my gibberish translator is broken. Please rephrase.

-- Or better yet, fergidaboudit.
Mark's words speak for themselves, as do yours.
96 posted on 08/07/2003 5:15:52 PM PDT by tpaine ( I'm trying to be Mr Nice Guy, but politics keep getting in me way. ArnieRino for Governator!)
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To: tpaine
Sorry, my gibberish translator is broken.

This will come as no great surprise to anybody who happened to see this

97 posted on 08/07/2003 5:21:24 PM PDT by Howlin
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To: tpaine; holdonnow; Jim Robinson
I think he is one of the same gang who tried to drive MarK off of FR a few months ago.

I remember that, I just chose not to bring it up on this thread. I couldn't believe the way they went after Mark, on of the few high profile people who has the balls to admit that he enjoys FR.

I believe that some were so enamored that they would sacrifice anything, including the integrity of this forum to for one man.

That said, I think they've "chilled" a bit. I see more of a dialogue lately. Unless I'm mistaken you've chilled a bit too you, so have I for that matter.

98 posted on 08/07/2003 5:21:39 PM PDT by AAABEST
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To: tpaine
You're just dying to start a flame war, eh, tpaine?

That weak flesh is gonna get you yet!
99 posted on 08/07/2003 5:22:33 PM PDT by Amelia
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To: Howlin
Gee, an attempt at reversed word play.
How clever.
100 posted on 08/07/2003 5:24:02 PM PDT by tpaine ( I'm trying to be Mr Nice Guy, but politics keep getting in me way. ArnieRino for Governator!)
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