BS: Ronald Reagan - Sadly Missed

Subject: RE: BS: Ronald Reagan - Sadly Missed
From: Don Firth
Date: 06 Jun 04 - 08:56 PM

Thomas Jefferson talked about the necessity of an informed electorate. The fact that for many years now, American presidents have been elected by an uninformed electorate shows how right Jefferson was.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Ronald Reagan - Sadly Missed
From: Greg F.
Date: 06 Jun 04 - 08:38 PM

What does that say to you?

Sez to me that the average U.S. Voter is easily conned by no more than a smile and a handshake from a third-rate, B-movie actor and that "Ronnie" was able to project his delusions and the fantasy world he lived in onto the U.S. populace.

Unbelievably, as Reagan and his programs have since been shown to be a cheat and a sham - when not simply illegal or criminal- large numbers of people are still in thrall to the specious nonsense he spouted.

Also says a lot about the current level of support for the BuShite Junta. And the current level of self-delusion.

The "Great Prestidigitator" indeed.

Subject: RE: BS: Ronald Reagan - Sadly Missed
From: GUEST,John O'Lennaine
Date: 06 Jun 04 - 08:32 PM

Martin -
It says to me that the American constitution desperately needs an "idiot exclusion" clause in its chapter on the presidency, to protect the American people from themselves.

Not to mention the rest of the world. The Americans like to blow hard about how the're the biggest and best, and in most cases the're right, but they keep electing idiots to the most powerful and potentially damaging job in the world.

Who's next? Ronald McDonald?

John

Subject: RE: BS: Ronald Reagan - Sadly Missed
From: maire-aine
Date: 06 Jun 04 - 08:26 PM

Not missed by me, not by a longshot. But I do feel a great deal of sympathy and compassion for his wife. I spent five years taking care of my mother who developed Alzheimer's, so I have a sense of what the disease can do to the family. I hope she takes the opportunity to go forward with her own life.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: Ronald Reagan - Sadly Missed
From: Once Famous
Date: 06 Jun 04 - 07:51 PM

What I keep thinking about is that the two elections that he won were I believe the largest landslide wins in anyone's favor.

What does that say to you? Without being sarcastic.

Subject: RE: BS: Ronald Reagan - Sadly Missed
From: kendall
Date: 06 Jun 04 - 07:44 PM

Sure, he was a democrat in those days.

Subject: RE: BS: Ronald Reagan - Sadly Missed
From: Cluin
Date: 06 Jun 04 - 07:26 PM

RR saved his future wife's reputation. Got Nancy de-blacklisted in the McCarthy days.

Subject: RE: BS: Ronald Reagan - Sadly Missed
From: kendall
Date: 06 Jun 04 - 06:44 PM

The man was an actor. Not a very good actor, but good enough to fool a lot of people.-

Subject: RE: BS: Ronald Reagan - Sadly Missed
From: Peace
Date: 06 Jun 04 - 06:28 PM

Greg F: Very well said. dianavan, I'd forgot his sellout of "Reds" when that piece of garbage, McCarthy, was looking for commies under beds. Good on yer.

Other than he was something of an actor, what DID he ever do that was so good that people (other than his family and friends) will miss him? I'd like to hear about that. Anyone?

Subject: RE: BS: Ronald Reagan - Sadly Missed
From: GUEST,Reagan: In The Top 10 List Of Presidents
Date: 06 Jun 04 - 06:24 PM

According to John McCain and Chris Matthews, Reagan will make the top 10 list of the best presidents. At this rate, Bush will make that list! Horrors!

I must be missing something here.

Subject: RE: BS: Ronald Reagan - Sadly Missed
From: dianavan
Date: 06 Jun 04 - 06:18 PM

Thanks, Ebbie - Now if I can convince my family, friends and co-workers of that, my life will be much sweeter.

Subject: RE: BS: Ronald Reagan - Sadly Missed
From: Greg F.
Date: 06 Jun 04 - 06:00 PM

Well intentioned? Get real.

The man was bordeline mentally ill and suffering from senile dementia while he was in the White House. Our first incapacitated, sitting president since Wilson- although Dumbya for sheer incompetence comes damn close. Using "he tried" logic, we should all feel sorry for the passing of Pol Pot- he tried, too, according to his lights. How about some sympathy for poor old Augosto Pinochet?

Yet more disgusting and demoralizing than the incredible harm this man and his cronies did are the legions of people who still, persist in making excuses for him. He was a miserable piece of work, and his life diminished thousands- possibly millions by now.

And yes, as president of the Screen Actors' Guild dear old slimy Ronnie shopped all sorts of folks to McCarthy to further his career.

Good riddance to the smiling, lying miserable S.O.B. The world is a better and a sweeter place without him.

With any amount of luck Lady Maggie, Kissinger and a few others will follow him to Hell in short order.

Subject: RE: BS: Ronald Reagan - Sadly Missed
From: SINSULL
Date: 06 Jun 04 - 05:25 PM

Sadly missed? Not by me. And probably not by the thousands of mentally ill patients who found themselves labelled "capable of living on their own". They were - in cardbord boxes over subway grates.

Subject: RE: BS: Ronald Reagan - Sadly Missed
From: Ebbie
Date: 06 Jun 04 - 04:20 PM

Hail Dianavan, the Omniscient!

Subject: RE: BS: Ronald Reagan - Sadly Missed
From: dianavan
Date: 06 Jun 04 - 04:09 PM

When Reagan was elected I knew that it was the beginning of actors in the role of presidency. It was obvious that the American public was more interested in image than ability. That trend has continued. The power behind the oval office continues to operate much the same way today. Its all in the visual and the ability to project an image the majority of Americans want to see. It has nothing to do with ability or integrity. As long as you can talk the talk and walk the line...

What was Reagan's role in the McCarthy affair?

Subject: RE: BS: Ronald Reagan - Sadly Missed
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 06 Jun 04 - 03:15 PM

Well the current resident (since he wasn't actually elected president) makes Reagan look good. But at least Ronnie could read. (He certainly never had an original thought; he only spoke the words put into his mouth by his handlers.)

And Reagan made Nixon look good.

The only thing that trickled down . . . well it certainly wasn't prosperity, just the poor (and the middle classes) getting pissed on. (Wish more voters had gotten pissed OFF and voted accordingly.)

As Thomas Jefferson once said, "I regret for my country when I reflect that God is just."

I just heard some young twit on the radio who hadn't even been born during his presidency saying what a good president he was. Arghhh!

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Ronald Reagan - Sadly Missed
From: Don Firth
Date: 06 Jun 04 - 01:39 PM

". . . and I heard the shocking news . . ."

I fail to see how someone can be shocked at the death of a man who is 93 years old, sick, and suffering from Alzheimers. It was expected, immanent for some time now. His death was a mercy to both him and his family.

HERE is a short, informative, and unbiased biography of Reagan. Reagan said on at least one occasion that he was dedicated to reversing FDR's New Deal programs because they had cost his father his job back in the Thirties. History tells a somewhat different story. His father was a shoe salesman and, it seems, he was, if not an alcoholic, at least a heavy drinker. He lost several jobs, more because of Jim Beam than FDR. He was eventually given a job working on a WPA project (note the second pargraph in the article I linked to). Maybe when Reagan formulated his political policies, his memory was already starting to fail.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Ronald Reagan - Sadly Missed
From: Ebbie
Date: 06 Jun 04 - 12:49 PM

Ron Olesko, that reminds me of what I eventually came to realize. Both sides of our family tend to live very long lives. I told my brother, If it is true that people don't die until they have learned what they came to earth to learn, it appears that we are thicker headed than most.

Subject: RE: BS: Ronald Reagan - Sadly Missed
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Jun 04 - 12:44 PM

Of the major political figures of the second half of the 20th century, there were three I have despised most intensely: Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, and Pope John Paul II. All three were well-meaning, self-righteous, idealistic people in their day, I suppose - but that made them all the more dangerous.

One down, two to go.

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: BS: Ronald Reagan - Sadly Missed
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 06 Jun 04 - 12:35 PM

Only the good die young

Subject: RE: BS: Ronald Reagan - Sadly Missed
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Jun 04 - 11:08 AM

The world is a much better place without him.

Subject: RE: BS: Ronald Reagan - Sadly Missed
From: Ebbie
Date: 06 Jun 04 - 11:08 AM

Fionn, from other threads I gather that el ted is on the computer at harpmaker's.

Subject: RE: BS: Ronald Reagan - Sadly Missed
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 06 Jun 04 - 10:30 AM

Sadly Missed??

Only with every bullet so far... but now I can stop trying

Subject: RE: BS: Ronald Reagan - Sadly Missed
From: GUEST,John O'Lennaine
Date: 06 Jun 04 - 09:42 AM

Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, Malcolm Frazer...

Not a time in world political history I would eagerly revisit.
Between them they brought a lot of rain into a lot of lives, and not much sunshine.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Ronald Reagan - Sadly Missed
From: kendall
Date: 06 Jun 04 - 08:34 AM

Sadly missed? Not by me, or anyone else who saw through him.

Subject: RE: BS: Ronald Reagan - Sadly Missed
From: GUEST,el ted's alter ego
Date: 06 Jun 04 - 08:07 AM

Bedtime for Bonzo was his finest hour. Of course the chimp was a better actor and would have made a better president.

Subject: RE: BS: Ronald Reagan - Sadly Missed
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 06 Jun 04 - 06:11 AM

Harpmaker (and #El Greko), I can't see any contribution from el ted in this thread. Has a post been airburshed out?

Subject: RE: BS: Ronald Reagan - Sadly Missed
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 06 Jun 04 - 03:28 AM

I believe he was well intentioned, if intellectually limited. But then, he paid for that when he was alive, being the butt of so many jokes. As el ted says, he tried.

His efforts were sometimes misdirected, and I certainly did not approve of many of his actions. But I never hated him. He was too funny for that. And his wish had been to do good - as he understood it. That's a lot more than one can say about GWB.

Neither a great politician, nor a great actor. Just a normal human being, with failings and weaknesses, often misdirected by those around him with stronger personalities than his own (Nancy was one). He was given a job that he was not up to - so what? Many of us are. But I will not demonise him. Just a bloke. Rest easy, Ronald.

Subject: RE: BS: Ronald Reagan - Sadly Missed
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Jun 04 - 02:56 AM

We should all pray for Ray-Gun. Now he is dead he will spend the rest of eternity suffering the torments of hell for the enormous crimes this monster has committed: supporting death squads in El salvador, etc. He was an amiable fellow. So what. Hitler was charming.

Subject: RE: BS: Ronald Reagon - Sadly Missed
From: Peace
Date: 06 Jun 04 - 12:36 AM

I too am a good man who has tried, and I haven't yet passed on.

Subject: RE: BS: Ronald Reagon - Sadly Missed
From: GUEST,TIA lost the damn cookie again
Date: 05 Jun 04 - 11:41 PM

I've always compared Reagan to my own Grandfather - would have trusted my daughters with him for the weekend, and they'd all have a great time, but not a wise President.

Clinton made a better President, but I'll stay home that weekend, thanks.

I'll miss and respect the man/person, even as I disapprove of the former President.

RIP and condolences to his loved ones.

TIA

Subject: RE: BS: Ronald Reagon - Sadly Missed
From: harpmaker
Date: 05 Jun 04 - 11:39 PM

el ted
       my words were few and small. revisit. A good man who tried has passed on, what have you done?

Subject: RE: BS: Ronald Reagon - Sadly Missed
From: Peace
Date: 05 Jun 04 - 11:21 PM

Well, I don't agree with that. I think all people try to improve the world. On average, most of us don't become rich or famous enough to be presidents or kings, etc. But we all try to the extent of our abilities. Left or right wingers.

I am usually left of center on most things, but I find myself being to the right of many folks on issues like the death penalty and certain wars.

That said, he was a mediocre president and Reaganomics was devastating to poor people. Helped the rich, though. Yes, he helped rid Germany of the Berlin Wall, but basically the Eastern Bloc was 'spent' into oblivion, and that was done by taxpayers, willingly or unwillingly.

I said a short prayer for his family. However, unlike Donne, I am not of the opinion that ANY man's death diminishes me. I don't feel that his did. Many people will feel differently. I am not happy he died, but neither am I sad about it.

Bruce M

Subject: RE: BS: Ronald Reagon - Sadly Missed
From: harpmaker
Date: 05 Jun 04 - 11:07 PM

el ted
       ok, you have a go, lets see what you wanky left wingers can do. Respect The man , he tried. You didn't.

Subject: RE: BS: Ronald Reagon - Sadly Missed
From: dianavan
Date: 05 Jun 04 - 10:30 PM

You'd think that if someone really admired Ronald Reagan, they could at least spell his name right.

This poster has got to be joking.

Subject: RE: BS: Ronald Reagon - Sadly Missed
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Jun 04 - 10:09 PM

Iran contra, a huge deficit, taking credit for the fall of communism, a BS war on drugs, teaching us all about what "spin doctors" can do. Yes, the list of his accomplishments goes on.

Subject: RE: BS: Ronald Reagon - Sadly Missed
From: Ebbie
Date: 05 Jun 04 - 09:53 PM

Get real.

Sorry for the loss you feel but if you take a clear look at the man and the damage he accomplished in his lifetime you will see why it's hard for me to understand how anyone could feel admiration for him.

Subject: BS: Ronald Reagon - Sadly Missed
From: folkfan73
Date: 05 Jun 04 - 07:59 PM

I just been to CNN website on Saturday night, and I heard the shocking news that Ronald Reagon (the great actor and politician) has died on 5th June 2004 with Nancy and his children at his bedside. I read the article on him and it said that he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease for ten years prior to his death. He will be sadly missed.

After I read the article, I switched my terrestrial UK TV on to BBC1 to hear that his death made world news, as I suspected.

Then, I saw a link to read a five part biography on the CNN website, and here is the link....

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2004/reagan/index.html

I still need to go back to this website to read Ronald Reagon's speeches, to continue my admiration and review of his life, but will leave reading the speeches on another day as it is well past my bedtime, so Good night!