[holdonnow]

Ok, brainiac. I'll defend Reagan as you wonder mindlessly into the darkness. Reagan made deals that promoted our agenda. He cut taxes like no other president in American history (25% over 3 years, as well as indexing). No 10 year plan. And he did so with a Democrat controlled House. Had his proposed budgets been adopted, federal spending would have been cut by 25% -- no so-called Reagan deficit. He massively increased defense spending, modernized the nuclear missile arsenal in Europe (despite the worldwide nuke freeze movement), initiated the Stategic Defense Initiative, defeated the Soviets and won the Cold War, forced the commies out of South America (Nicaragua in particular), forced the commies out of Afghanistan, and didn't share Bush's "vision" of a Palestinian state. Reagan didn't sign any bills to limit free speech, he didn't sign the biggest farm bill in history (in fact, he took great heat for trying to cut the farm subsidy program, the wasteful Food Stamp and school lunch programs). He also actually tried to abolish the Education Department (rather than joining with Ted Kennedy to massively increase federal spending), he actually shut down the federal government on at least two occasions due to too much spending, he vetoed liberal bills, and he appointed many conservative judges. I like Bush very much. But he's way off on the Mideast. And like the libs, you don't make a point well by diverting to another.

[Dane]

Ok, brainiac. I'll defend Reagan as you wonder mindlessly into the darkness. Reagan made deals that promoted our agenda.

And Bush got a tax cut through, got rid of the ABM treaty, reversed the UN Mexico City abortion decisions, stated that the 2nd admendment is an individual right, took us out of the World Court etc. etc without the mandate Reagn enjoyed.

The point being that Reagan and Bush are pragmatists. A point you will never concede.