This is absolutley a debate: The Reagan Presidency.

[Galahad]

Ronald Reagan had a tremendous impact on this nation.

That's the thing. There are probably a lot of folks that didn't live through the Roosevelt presidency that think they know what it was about and don't like him. But they still couldn't dispute his impact and importance. Roosevelt and Reagan are the two most important Presidents of the 20th century. You can't revise your way out of that.

 

[AirForceRocks]

One needs not live through an era to read and study it.

I agree, but there is nothing like living through it to really understand what happened. Do you really believe that you can understand what America was going through during WWII, just because you read about it? Or what it was like during the Civil War era, just because you read about it?

History is written by people with agendas, on both sides of the aisle. Reading about a period of history is no comparison to living through a period of history.

 

[DawnCt1]

Originally posted by Son of the Morning
I
"Like how he acquired private funding behind the legislature and traded hostages for arms to Iran to topple another country's government. .

The invasion of Grenada. Involvment in nuclear arms race, music censorship, etc." - credited to STASHONE

I.

Congress, after funding the Contras made the decision to abandon these freedom fighters attempting to defeat communisim in Central America. Members of the Reagan administration recognized that the existance of Daniel Ortega and his communist/Soviet supported regime were bad for the citizens of that country and bad for our hemisphere. Funding the contras was a good idea. Ask the citizens of Nicaragua who voted out the communist party and Daniel Ortega in their first free elections. The invasion of Grenada was essential to rescue our American medical students and to thwart communists inroads into that country. The nuclear arms race was essential in defeating the Soviets. Remember them? They don't exist anymore. Music censorship? What could you possibly be talking about?

 

[Virgo10]

Originally posted by jrydberg
I guess it's easy to tear down Reagan when one didn't have to live through the mid to late 70s.

B]

Umm, I was in my late 20's and early 30's in the mid to late 70's. I'm sorry to see this is already sinking in to name calling. My post was started to see if there were others who felt that Mr. Reagan was not the great president we're being fed by the media.

As for an appropriate amount of time to wait... what would that be? A week? A month? This is a CURRENT event so why not talk about it now?

Roberta

 

[cynsaun]

Originally posted by monkeyboy
He helped win the cold war

He built up a military unseen in peace time

He made me very proud to be an American (again)

I completetly agree!

 

[ThreeCircles]

Originally posted by AirForceRocks
I agree, but there is nothing like living through it to really understand what happened. Do you really believe that you can understand what America was going through during WWII, just because you read about it? Or what it was like during the Civil War era, just because you read about it?

History is written by people with agendas, on both sides of the aisle. Reading about a period of history is no comparison to living through a period of history.

No doubt that actually living through a particular era is the best means and the most complete way of understanding that time period. But for one (DawnCt1) to totally discount another's opinion simply because they "didn't live through it" seems to be nothing but a cover for a weak and baseless argument.

And, I also agree that history is, of course, written by individuals who most certainly have some form of bias or sentiment toward one side or the other on any given topic. But, so too do those people living through the period also have a bias. Even had Son of the Morning lived through the Reagan years, his interpretation and understanding of the period would be quite different than DawnCt1's. That goes without saying.

 

[AirForceRocks]

If the greatness of a President is based on the positive long term impact that the President had on the United States, then I don't think there is any doubt that President Reagan will go down as one of the two great Presidents of the 20th century, along with FDR.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Originally posted by AirForceRocks
If the greatness of a President is based on the positive long term impact that the President had on the United States, then I don't think there is any doubt that President Reagan will go down as one of the two great Presidents of the 20th century, along with FDR.

ITA

 

[DawnCt1]

Originally posted by ThreeCircles
Totally irrelevant but perhaps not "inappropriate."

And you missed my point about your previous screen name. Why did you have to register a new one DawnCt1? Why?

It couldn't be because of the approach that you take to these types of threads, now could it? The type of approach that you're currently taking with Son of the Morning?

What approach would that be? Would you suggest that I "allow" misconceptions to go unchallenged? Why did I register with a new screen name? I was locked out of the old one for what seemed to be a computer problem that I couldn't resolve. I received no notification that I was "banned" if that is what you re asking. If I was attempting to hide my identify, as you are implying, how would you know to ask me the question? Obviously, my screen name now has an additional digit and my signature is the same. I do miss my tag however, "I could be happy in La Jolla and Mr. Toad's Wild ride".

 

[jrydberg]

Umm, I was in my late 20's and early 30's in the mid to late 70's. I'm sorry to see this is already sinking in to name calling.

I wasn't calling anyone names. If I gave that impression, I apologize. It was a sincere observation. I'm not saying anyone who lived through that time couldn't have a negative view of Reagan. Obviously there are many who didn't like his policies. But I think it is a lot easier to not see the contributions made by Reagan when one did not live through it. That's all.

 

[MHopkins2]

Originally posted by Galahad
Roosevelt and Reagan are the two most important Presidents of the 20th century. You can't revise your way out of that.

Like I said, I don't really have an opinion one way or the other. But "important" is not the same thing as "good" or "admirable."

 

[richiebaseball]

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040607/ap_on_el_pr/kerry_9

WASHINGTON - Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry (news - web sites) is taking an unexpected week off the campaign trail, canceling all public events through Friday, when the nation buries former President Reagan.
The interruption of his campaign comes as Kerry is in a tight race with President Bush (news - web sites). But with the nation mourning one of its icons, partisan battles are out of the question, aides said Sunday.
"President Reagan's death is a time to put politics aside," said Kerry communications director Stephanie Cutter. "When a former president passes away, it's the end of an important chapter in history and it deserves respect."

I applaud Senator Kerry for his class and respect.

It seems there will always be some who will deny truth or create new realities simply out of partisanship. I have heard it said and seen it written that many consider FDR and Reagan the greatest Presidents of the 20th century. I wonder if these same people would still think the same of Reagan if he had evacuated and imprisoned Hispanics?


Just one man's opinion.

Richard

 

[Eeyore1954]

I greatly respected and admired President Reagan & will never forget the 1984 campaign, "Morning in America Again." While all of his policies were not perfect, he did have a profound impact on this country and our world. All presidents are only human; I don't know of any that I would consider 100% good. There are a few I highly admire and President Reagan was one of them.

 

[jrydberg]

On a side note, while Reagan had strongly held beliefs that he pursued with vigor, at the end of the day he was friendly and respectful towards folks like Tip O'Neill (and O'Neill was friendly and respectful to him). We seem to have lost that somewhere during the Clinton years. I disagreed with a lot of Clinton's policies, but I never understood the hatred for the man. That seems to have carried over to George W. Bush on the other side. Again, I don't understand. We would all do well to have a little of Reagan and O'Neill in us.

 

[DawnCt1]

Originally posted by richiebaseball
[ Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry (news - web sites) is taking an unexpected week off the campaign trail, canceling all public events through Friday, when the nation buries former President Reagan.
Just one man's opinion.

Richard

This may be self serving on Kerry's part. His poll numbers improve when he stays out of sight.

 

[emmagata]

Originally posted by ThreeCircles


It couldn't be because of the approach that you take to these types of threads, now could it?

Oh now this is really laughable!!! YOU have the audacity to criticize someone else's approach and attitude when you are completely guilty of the those tactics?


Hey pot, your black!!

 

[Pete's Mom]

Originally posted by ThreeCircles
Totally irrelevant but perhaps not "inappropriate."

And you missed my point about your previous screen name. Why did you have to register a new one DawnCt1? Why?

It couldn't be because of the approach that you take to these types of threads, now could it? The type of approach that you're currently taking with Son of the Morning?

Three Circles - A few months ago a lot of users were "locked" out of their original accounts due to some kind of computer glitch and had to re-register. Even the techs were stumped. It had nothing to do with being banned.

 

[Melora]

Wasnt our former President the one who said "Trees pollute worse then cars" (or some similar ridiculous statement?) I am quite sure someone will come in and tell me either thats not what he meant or that it correct in some way...

 

[ThreeCircles]

If the greatness of a President is based on the positive long term impact that the President had on the United States, then I don't think there is any doubt that President Reagan will go down as one of the two great Presidents of the 20th century...

Ah, yes. Long term impact. Let's look, shall we?

"The national debt surpassed a trillion dollars for the first time in history in October 1981 and more than doubled before Reagan left office. The annual interest on that debt surged to more than $150 billion to become the third largest item in the budget.

In 1982 that annual deficit soared beyond $100 billion dollars for the first time in history; in three of the next four years it exceeded $200 billion."

Ah, what a legacy!

 

[emmagata]

Originally posted by Melora
Wasnt our former President the one who said "Trees pollute worse then cars" (or some similar ridiculous statement?) I am quite sure someone will come in and tell me either thats not what he meant or that it correct in some way...

http://republican.sen.ca.gov/opeds/36/oped379.asp