reagan - overrated?

[JosephTheLibertarian]

• 
  *good leadership skills
  *probably really cared
  *did nothing of what he promised to do. Government actually expanded under his Presidency
  *accepted a skull & bones neocon as his VP

overrated? I don't doubt that he was a nice guy, I just don't really know what the big thing with Reagan is? He threatened the Soviets....and? Socialism doesn't work, the free marketeers (including Ron Paul) knew this back in the peak of the Cold War. Of course, true free marketeers have always been ignored throughout the 20th century. Ludwig Von Mises, Murray Rothbard

 

[kylejack]

Not entirely his fault government expanded. He was very busy with the veto pen, but sometimes the Democrats over-rode his vetos.

 

[JosephTheLibertarian]

Not entirely his fault government expanded. He was very busy with the veto pen, but sometimes the Democrats over-rode his vetos.

Why didn't he eliminate some of the departments? He could have! He just really blown his shot... maybe he made Bush sr. his VP in order to win?

 

[kylejack]

Why didn't he eliminate some of the departments? He could have! He just really blown his shot... maybe he made Bush sr. his VP in order to win?

He pushed for elimination of the Department of Education, but couldn't get it through the Congress. The President is not a dictator, and RP will face the same problems.

 

[werdd]

Reagan was a great president because he "failed to see the irrationality of middle eastern politics" and thus pulled out and focused on more important things. If our current president possesed this quality, we might be in a good place right now.

 

[pcosmar]

I was not really happy with some of his positions and results, That said , he was the best we have had for many years.

 

[JosephTheLibertarian]

He pushed for elimination of the Department of Education, but couldn't get it through the Congress. The President is not a dictator, and RP will face the same problems.

Why did he waste money on the War on Drugs?

 

[kylejack]

Why did he waste money on the War on Drugs?

I will agree that was one of his failings. There was a lot of popular support for it at the time, because of the invention of crack creating an affordable form of cocaine that became popular in the ghetto and the consequent effects. Still, he was one of the more libertarian presidents in recent history, if there is such a thing.

 

[JosephTheLibertarian]

I will agree that was one of his failings. There was a lot of popular support for it at the time, because of the invention of crack creating an affordable form of cocaine that became popular in the ghetto and the consequent effects. Still, he was one of the more libertarian presidents in recent history, if there is such a thing.

Maybe he pushed it for political purposes? I don't think he thought it would end drug use in America. Do drug dealers put guns to people's head if they don't do drugs? lol cmon

 

[kylejack]

Maybe he pushed it for political purposes? I don't think he thought it would end drug use in America. Do drug dealers put guns to people's head if they don't do drugs? lol cmon

I agree, he wasn't perfect, but he still did a good job shaping the language on spending and taxation, and vetoed a ton of bills, something which Bush didn't do for his entire first term, practically.

 

[pcosmar]

That was the biggest problem for me also. I think he was as much a victim of the Shadow Government as a part of it.
Ron Paul has said that he will expose some of that.
That is my hope.

 

[JosephTheLibertarian]

Is it true that Reagan was once a Democrat?

 

[RockEnds]

Why did he waste money on the War on Drugs?

On a slightly sarcastic note, I always figured Reagan was just a Steppenwolf fan, and I place ultimate responsibility on The Pusher:

Well now if I were the president of this land
You know I'd declare total war on the pusher man.
I'd cut him if he stands, and I'd shoot him if he run,
And I'd kill him with my bible, and my razor and my gun....

Someone, somewhere took the lyrics of that song entirely too seriously.

 

[Original_Intent]

I think he is over-rated and I think Ron paul was disappointed in his performance as president. That being said he was probably still the best president in most of our lifetimes.

 

[Primbs]

Reagan had two factions fighting within his administration. Moderates vs. conservatives.

Reagan did appoint govt. cost cutters who would let elevators in govt. buildings go unfixed to discourage bureaucrats from showing up for work.

There were many libertarian types in the Reagan administration.

Reagan was the only president who would bring the federal budget to the state of the union speech and slam the thousand page book on the lectern and said this massive government spending has to stop.

Reagan proposed many cuts, but was shot down by the Democrat congress which controls appropriations.

Reagan didn't have many conservative friends to help him. There was very little conservative talk radio and many conservatives attacked Reagan for minor things.

 

[JosephTheLibertarian]

Why didn't he have Ron Paul as his VP? Or maybe a cabinet position? Gheeze, Ron Paul would be more respected right now!

 

[Original_Intent]

I have heard that Bush Sr. was forced on Reagan at the convention. I don't have sources, it is just what I have heard.

 

[winston84]

I do believe he is overrated as well, I think evoking his image is just a way to bring back some sort of Republican nostalgia.

 

[RonPaulForLife]

It's widely accepted that Reagan said one thing about government spending, but did another. Kind of like our president today!

It seems like Ron Paul was disappointed in Reagan and we should be too.

 

[klamath]

An all you that were disappointed in Reagan will probably be more disapointed in RP. When he doesn't wave his hand and the country is pure again, you will be cursing him.