Ronald Reagan on the importance of political compromise(in his own words)

An American Life (his autobiography) | 8/7/03 | Ronald Reagan

[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.

[habs4ever]

That chip on your shoulder is getting to be a curse, Gomer.You ought to work on your jingoisim a bit, too.Such bitterness is very unbecoming.

Whatever you say...keep polishing that apple.You do grovelling so well!

[Howlin]

Don't flatter yourself; it doesn't take anybody that clever to see through you.

[tpaine]

Just commenting on the passing scene, dear Amelia.

'Flames' are always in the eye of the beholder, imo. To me if you can't take the 'give & take', you shouldn't try to play the game.

[tpaine]

Whatever. Howl on.

[Howlin]

Gosh, you're original, too! Quite the complete package.

[AAABEST]

That chip on your shoulder is getting to be a curse, Gomer.You ought to work on your jingoisim a bit, too.Such bitterness is very unbecoming. watever you say...keep polishing that apple.You do grovelling so well! - a half liberal Canadian nobody who accuses famous conservatives of not having credibility.

[justshe]

Better luck next time!

[eleni121]

The great Reagan also held fast to the credo: Thou shalt not speak ill of a fellow Republican."

Conservatives should take what they can get and build on that! In a democratic political process that is the only way.

[PhiKapMom]

Personally, I would much rather read Reagan's words than 75% of the vanities that are being posted with increasing regularity on these boards.

You and me both. Funny how no one answered about President Reagan campaigning for the Brady Bill! Did some folks forget? Or on purpose they forgot?

[justshe]

Thank you.......a post about the TOPIC of this thread!

Good going!

[justshe]

I've been waiting!

[PhiKapMom]

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.

You and me both! Also noted that the people who dissed Pres Bush during the primaries and said he could never win in November, are the ones dissing Arnold with the same crap -- not conservative enough. I want to win CA and IMO Arnold is the person to do it!

[Amelia]

To me if you can't take the 'give & take', you shouldn't try to play the game.

I'm more an observer, generally - I don't consider myself talented enough to play with the pros.

However, I always find watching you amusing, and I didn't want to see the refs sideline you again for unnecessary roughness, you know?

[habs4ever]

Damn, boy, you are jes off the turnip truck...I have never voted Liberal in my life, but do live in an igloo from December to April when I'm not working as a lumberjack.

I bet all them Canucks down Florida way just burn your redneck ass, eh? I know...some stripper gave you the dose and you found out she's from Quebec..buyer beware :)

[PhiKapMom]

Excellent points. It has finally dawned on me the folks that said Bush was not conservative enough to win in Nov 2000 are the same ones saying it about Arnold.

Wonder why that is? Could it be they prefer their purist conservatives to winning?

Well this Bush Republican wants to win and will vote for whoever can win for Republicans. If I still lived in California, I would be out knocking on doors for Arnold. As it is, I am sending emails to everyone I know to support Arnold!

[Wait4Truth]

The problem on FR is that the purists refuse to accept the truth. An arch-conservative cannot win statewide in CA. It will never happen. And that's the bottom line. Arnold is our best chance and I actually think he'd be a great governor.

[PhiKapMom]

Have a feeling we are going to have a long wait! I am not holding my breath!

[PhiKapMom]

You are so right about that! Simon couldn't win when Davis was almost universally hated. We need a winner and Arnold IMO is that man.

[Amelia]

At least you're an American and you realize Mark's great contribution to our country. Critique all you like.

Last time I disagreed, I was accused of Attacking a Great Conservative Icon. I don't even remember what the argument was about now.

I see your point about people from other countries getting into our internal arguments - and I feel the same way about people of other religions getting too involved in the Catholic or Episcopalian discussion threads.

On the other hand, I'm not sure that any of us should feel we're unable to disagree with another FReeper just because the other person is better known. Should we think people are infallible because they are better known? The rest of us do have a disadvantage if we disagree with Mark however - he makes his living arguing his side of things; most of the rest of us are amateurs! ;-)

[Consort]

I know...I know...strategery right?

No. The voters, a majority of who voted for Gore and the full Liberal agenda.