The Search for Reagan

[Tennesseahawk]

We've been spending the last 20 years looking for the next Reagan. Maybe the 2010 Congress will be his reincarnate? Maybe the next Reagan is the Amercian voter waking up?

Reagan was a man, who had a philosophy, and shared that philosophy very eloquently with the people. I'm wondering if the people can realize it wasn't the man who made Reagan a great president... but the philosophy itself. The man was just the mouthpiece. It's always been up to the American people to decide when they want the next Reagan to emerge. I think it's about to happen.

Tho Reagan, the man, is dead; Reagan, the philosophy, is being reborn.

 

[greg334]

What was the philosophy?

Conservatism?

It seems that has been redefined for some other purpose and the people who are "conservatives" seem to be fractured as much as some parts of the left.

So what does it stand for now?

Is there a common thread among the different groups?

Outside of the religious right aspect of the conservative movement, what is it that is driving people to it, or are they being driven there at all?

I don't want the Regan style of appeasing one group to pull them into the fold by compromising the core beliefs but rather see the need to have one basic fundamental foundation that drives people outside of religion and the "Russel Kirk" conservative definition.

I think people are looking at the past, especially the Regan era as a salvation and comfort towards the unknown future. Because there is so much ambiguity and a lack of historical knowledge among the majority of people in the country, they are starting to go down the path of grasping for anything of the past to make them feel good about not knowing what will happen.

 

[layoutshooter]

I don't want another Reagan either. While I did agree with most, not all, of what he did military wise, he was a closet liberal. Like the amnisty for criminal invaders from Mexico. We need a Constitutional Conservative. They stand almost no chance though. Neither the religious bunch nor the flaming liberals would vote for one.

 

[Tennesseahawk]

Reagan hated the amnesty bill he passed. He was promised several things the Democrats never delivered on. I can't totally blame him for it. When you have to give and take, not everything goes your way.

I believe Reagan was a constitutional conservative. However, his hands were tied if he wanted to get things done. It reminds me of W. He gave away the farm to keep his war. Reagan negotiated with Congress to bring down the Soviets.

The only way we'll get a constitutional conservative to act like one, is to have a constitutionally conservative Congress. That's more of what I was talking about to start the thread.

 

[layoutshooter]

He could have and should have vetoed that bill. Even if that veto could not be sustained.

I am more aware than most of what took place with the Soviets. I give him a "B" He got it done but made a HUGE mistake which prolonged it far longer than it needed to. That was the INF treaty which made it easier for the Soviets to both save on their defense costs and still retain a means of attacking Western Europe. I was very heavily involved with that treaty, (strongly opposed to it) and the entire "Cold War" effort. That was my main career in life. I can explain why the "INF" treaty was stupid but I likely don't have time prior to picking up this load. If you like I can do that for you this weekend.

Reagan also blew it in the Middle East. He "cut and run" after the attack on the Marine barracks in Lebanon. HUGH mistake. We are still paying for that one to this day.

A Constitutional conservative would be zero attention to things like "gay rights", who can marry who , abortion etc. Those things are not the business of the Federal Government, they are to be left to the States. That is, if you believe in our Constitution as written.

 

[greg334]

Constitutional conservative?

I think after his awakening, he was close to a classical liberal, more than anything else - some can claim he was a libertarian but I think his image has been hijacked.

The amnesty bill was a mistake and it shows that there isn't any constitutional conservative there, criminals and others damaging the country by committing a crime against the foundation of the constitution - sovereignty.

He was instrumental getting the Soviets to implode and he did it with help of Thatcher and that Pope guy. He did more than Gorby did, Gorby did what he had to in order not to have a revolution.

 

[layoutshooter]

Spot on Greg. At least his speech writers were pretty good. Not anywhere near the "gloom and doom" of today. They often inspired. I took my family to hear him speak at the dedication of a new building at NSA when I worked there. Even taking into account that much of that speech was a pep talk for us he was a good public speaker.

I "forced" my sons to write reports on that day since I took them out of school. The youngest wrote a bit but he was quite young at the time. The oldest cracked me up with his. He wrote that it was a very hot and sunny day and the only shade he could find was behind a very obese lady!!!