Imitation, the sincerest way to destroy a nation

[AMonger]

The earliest Demon-crat presidential nominee I remember is George McGovern. Even as young as I was, I could tell he was a loon. After him, the Demon-crats nominated one complete whackjob after another, each more ridiculous than the last (with the exception of McGovern, who topped them all). It was actually fun to watch, and worked out well, since it kept them out of the White House.But here we are, emulating them. One big government RINO after another. Anyone remember the last decent GOP nominee?

I'd say Reagan but he only talked a good game, then grew government like the rest of them.

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You know the problem with bad cops? They make the other 5% look bad.

 

[aristotle]

I don't understand the criticism of Reagan. I don't recall his adminstration creating new government agencies or huge social programs. Reagan did not attempt the government takeover of healthcare or any other industry. Reagan had little patience for union labor as he fired literally thousands of federal air traffic controllers for insubordination.

Reagan tried to hold the line on taxes and ushered in an era of deregulation. He didn't get everything he wanted as president, no one does. Compromise is a political reality. Reagan advanced the conservative agenda further and faster than any other US president of the last 75 years. He fostered an environment of cooperation with Speaker Tip O'Neil. Considering the mess made by Jimmy Carter, Reagan accomplished a great deal.

Naturally, there are those naysayers who will never be satisfied with any president. For them, nothing is ever good enough. For them, no president will ever be good enough. Not even Reagan. These idealists hold an impossible standard of perfection unattainable by humankind. To the naysayers, conservatives reply Americans never again had it so good as when Ronald Reagan sat in the Oval Office. Two historic landslide victories placed Ronald Reagan at the apex of power. America was respected abroad and confident at home. You gotta be at least 50 years old to remember America in her prime.

 

[AMonger]

Reagan had his good points, but the fact is, government grew both in size and in cost, even excluding defense. He did, indeed, create new departments and taxes, fell for a compromise over immigration that blew up in our faces, allowed neocons to take over the administration under him, and there was one other major thing I was going to list and now can't remember.

Yes, deregulation was good, standing up to the air traffic controllers was good, "Tear down this wall!" was good. But when all is said and done, he was a mixed bag.

--

You know the problem with bad cops? They make the other 5% look bad.

 

[aristotle]

Reagan had his good points, but the fact is, government grew both in size and in cost, even excluding defense. He did, indeed, create new departments and taxes, fell for a compromise over immigration that blew up in our faces, allowed neocons to take over the administration under him, and there was one other major thing I was going to list and now can't remember.

Yes, deregulation was good, standing up to the air traffic controllers was good, "Tear down this wall!" was good. But when all is said and done, he was a mixed bag

You know the problem with bad cops? They make the other 5% look bad.

Everyone is a mixed bag, including presidents.

 

[Pilgrim]

Also mixed into the bag was the Democrat controlled congress which presented continuous obstacles. Considering what Reagan had to deal with coming into his presidency, he did a fantastic job. Look at his recovery results from the Carter mess compared to those of Obama. His hyper-regulated, over-socialized policies have resulted in the most ineffective economic recovery since the Great Depression.