Why is Reagan Their Hero

[jclay2]

Seriously, I don't understand why all the republicans as the perfect conservative. Now I am not saying he was the closest in a long time to a good conservative. True, He did cut taxes and seriously stimulated the economy but there was also a massive flaw in him: He didn't cut spending. During his eight years, government spending doubled, that is about 9 percent a year. Although Governemnt spending as a percentage of GOP went down, the shear government spending in Washington doubled. I want a leader who can cut government spending and taxes. You just can't have one without the other.The bad thing is that some conservatives say it is a good way to raise more government revenue.

 

[nate895]

Seriously, I don't understand why all the republicans as the perfect conservative. Now I am not saying he was the closest in a long time to a good conservative. True, He did cut taxes and seriously stimulated the economy but there was also a massive flaw in him: He didn't cut spending. During his eight years, government spending doubled, that is about 9 percent a year. Although Governemnt spending as a percentage of GOP went down, the shear government spending in Washington doubled. I want a leader who can cut government spending and taxes. You just can't have one without the other.The bad thing is that some conservatives say it is a good way to raise more government revenue.

They think it was justified because of the red menace.

 

[jclay2]

The problem is that he never really tackled spending and entitlements.

 

[nate895]

The problem is that he never really tackled spending and entitlements.

I blame the Democrat Congress for the entitlements, the defense dept. was all the Cold War, and no one wants to be a communist.

 

[nick4rp]

Another black mark for Reagan (and I'm generally still a big fan) was the Amnesty bill he passed.

Now here's my question for you guys. We always hear "what would Reagan do"?

Lets reverse it. "What would Paul do" if he ran against Carter.

What would he do with the Iranians. This is where I think alot of Republicans have a hard time swallowing his "lets make friends and trade with them" views. 1953 happened, Blowback happened, so how do we treat the clear and present danger.

How would Ron Paul have dealt with the Ayatollah?

This is the common question raised against me when I tell people to vote for RP. "What about Islamic terrorism"?

I end up looking like the guy who cheered for Neville Chamberlain in this case, and you know, every Republican is a Winston Churchill fan you know.

 

[nate895]

I'm a fan of Winston Churchill too, but Churchill wasn't going to go to war preemptively. If we are attacked, by all means, we should attack and destroy the enemy. If an Islamic extremist actually follows us home, and we have already said we aren't going to do anything to anyone, we should defend ourselves. I think Dr. Paul would agree.

 

[Signzit]

Ronald Reagan Sounds like Ron Paul

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STLR6tFP4S4

 

[ChickenHawk]

Reagan did what he could with what he had to work with. He could have done better but his policies were probably the single most significant reason the cold war ended peacefully. Reagan knew how to stand up to our enemies in a way that earned their respect. That seems to be a lost art in politics these days.

His leadership skills are what carried him even when his policies didn't work out so well. He knew how bring out the best in Americans and that is what he will be remembered for the most. In my opinion he was one of the greatest political leaded in the history of modern civilisation. He won't be remember that way because he didn't fight a war, he avoided one.

 

[Primbs]

There are many other threads that discuss Reagan and spending. Congress does the spending and the president has limited abilities to slow spending short of shutting the government down.

 

[Signzit]

Reagan did what he could with what he had to work with. He could have done better but his policies were probably the single most significant reason the cold war ended peacefully. Reagan knew how to stand up to our enemies in a way that earned their respect. That seems to be a lost art in politics these days.

His leadership skills are what carried him even when his policies didn't work out so well. He knew how bring out the best in Americans and that is what he will be remembered for the most. In my opinion he was one of the greatest political leaded in the history of modern civilisation. He won't be remember that way because he didn't fight a war, he avoided one.

Well said man!

RWR ran this country better then some, while 1/2 a sleep; or was he?

 

[snaFU]

Reagan reduced free school lunches by counting ketchup as a vegetable.

 

[Hoffman]

I've pondered this question also, I could think of a few other presidents I'd mention before Reagan. I was young, but remember a lot of people bitching about Reagan back then. Nothing against the guy, I just don't see overt greatness there.

 

[Primbs]

Study Reagan. The same lines of attack used against Reagan will be used against Ron Paul.

Especially if Ron Paul tries to cut government spending the attackers will say Ron Paul is starving children etc. The attacks have already started.

 

[tuckessee]

Reagean gave us the "War on Drugs". No liberty loving person can respect Reagan for that fact alone.

 

[DRV45N05]

I'm a fan of Winston Churchill too, but Churchill wasn't going to go to war preemptively. If we are attacked, by all means, we should attack and destroy the enemy. If an Islamic extremist actually follows us home, and we have already said we aren't going to do anything to anyone, we should defend ourselves. I think Dr. Paul would agree.

Well, Churchill technically didn't take Britain to war, so it's difficult to say when he would have taken them to war against Germany. Chamberlain did take Britain to war when Germany decalred Poland, so you could say that the war was not technically in defense.

 

[therealjjj77]

I think most people only liked him because of how he made them feel. They felt like they had a true leader. The issues of conservatism were not what made him great in the subjective minds of Americans. It was the idea that he brought people together and they just felt good with a leader like him. Sheepel I tell you. =P

 

[Nicketas]

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[Nicketas]

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[fmontez]

Back in the 80's it was a sad time, hard to explain it to younger people. President Reagan made us feel proud to be Americans; he ignited the flame of Patriotism. There are many people in this Nation that hate our Country, like Senator Kerry (scary to think someone that hates his Nation almost became President.)

Ron Paul is a great man, but he is no Ronald Reagan! I cried when President Reagan died, I doubt I would ever shed a tear for another politician. I can say without a doubt that President Reagan was the greatest President in our Nations History.. and that is why he is our hero.

 

[ChickenHawk]

Reagean gave us the "War on Drugs". No liberty loving person can respect Reagan for that fact alone.

Reagan did not give us the war on drugs but he did have a rather large roll in it. People make mistakes and that does not disqualify them for respect. I don't think the war on drugs really went the way they had planed. There have been a few former Reagan administration officials who have come out and said that their policies were a mistake and Reagan himself had problems with many of the things that were done. It was congress that led the way in the drug war. Also, remember that the drug war was wildly popular and going against even part of it would have been political suicide.