[RJCogburn]

To make basic changes, one must first change the the thinking, the philosophy, of a critical mass of the public.

Reagan advanced that effort in clearly stating that rather than being a solution, government was a part of the problem. Sadly, his successors disagree.

[Mr. Mojo]

Reagan advanced that effort in clearly stating that rather than being a solution, government was a part of the problem. Sadly, his successors disagree.

Sad indeed. Small-gov't advocacy has been replaced by "compassionate"-gov't advocacy, where "compassion" seems to be code for "nanny-statism."

[Moonman62]

Reagan did slash regulations, and his philosophy was clear. And I believe he did make cuts to the federal budget outside of defense. GWB is going around telling people that a 4% increase in discretionary spending is some type of austerity program. Yuck!

[Moonman62]

The GOP is going around tearing down Reagan's reputation to make GWB look good the same way the Clintonistas dumbed down the office of the president to make their guy look better.

[tkathy]

Reagan was a unique president. The post 9/11 world is far different from the 80's. Bush is facing problems that Reagan never had.

[jammer]

That's a pretty hard assessment they made of R.R. For example, the increase in the education department, which they point so strongly to, was a 50% increase in nominal dollars. I would like to see the increase in real dollars.

Sure, Reagan ran into a political wall in trying to dismantle the two joke departments, but he didn't have Bush's advantage: a Republican House. Every year, when I was stupid enough to watch the Today show, Bryant Gumble would pronounce the budget submitted, "Dead on Arrival." And they were--had we not had Reagan, we would have had no defense, the Soviet Union would still be in business, and the country would be entirely socialist, if not having experienced another depression.