2018 Dead Pool

Quote: Evenbob

"President Reagan's policies brought us out of stagflation that we had been in for nearly two decades. Oversaw a rise the economy and created millions of jobs. He also restored faith in America and patriotism. The National Geographic Channel had a three part documentary called "The 80's the decade that made us". It really shows how so many entreprenuers created the things we enjoy today like PC's, Cellphones, home entertainment like the VCR and so many other things that not only America, but most of the world enjoy today, all because of the Reagan economy.. He had vision enough to see that the Soviet Union was a country that was rotting from within. He knew that there was no way that socialism could possibly keep up with capitalism in a military buildup. He ended the Cold War."

I could create an illusion of prosperity too by borrowing trillions of dollars.

About the Soviet Union, they might have collapsed with the arms race. We'll never know. I don't fault Reagan for that, but nor give him full credit for winning the cold war.

I'm not saying Reagan was a terrible president. I even liked him at the time. He was the first vote I ever cast for president in 84. However, I prefer the more moderate centrist presidents like Ford and Clinton.

Quote: Wizard

I prefer the more moderate centrist presidents like Ford.

I remember not one thing Ford
did in his short term. Is that why
you like him, he did nothing?
He was my congressman, he
was a doofus. I was embarrassed
the whole time he was president.

Quote: Evenbob

I was embarrassed
the whole time he was president.

In that case, he must of been a greater President than I imagined.

Quote: Wizard

I could create an illusion of prosperity too by borrowing trillions of dollars.

About the Soviet Union, they might have collapsed with the arms race. We'll never know. I don't fault Reagan for that, but nor give him full credit for winning the cold war.

I'm not saying Reagan was a terrible president. I even liked him at the time. He was the first vote I ever cast for president in 84. However, I prefer the more moderate centrist presidents like Ford and Clinton.

It was not an illusion of prosperity, it WAS prosperity. Everyone forgets just how bad things were in 1980. The economy had reached the end of a cycle started 40 years earlier, the old way had to be updated. This happened under the Reagan economy.

Before Reagan, everyone thought the USSR and its evil was just something we had to live with, and once communism took hold in a country it was, "oh, well." Reagan believed we could push the USSR back and kill it. Reagan did this by rebuilding a military that was also at the end of a 40 year cycle. Defeated and demoralized when he took over, Reagan made it not just sound, but proud. And you may not give him "full credit" but he was the one who drove the nail in the coffin. When he said, "TEAR DOWN THIS WALL" even his own people thought he was nuts. They said, "Don't offend the USSR!" He said it. Three years later, the wall was down!

People forget how good he made people feel about the USA. From 1965-1980, people no longer felt good about being Americans. They no longer felt good about America. Reagan changed all of that.

You may like Ford and Clinton for their being "moderate." But neither really accomplished much of anything. The Clinton inherited a rebounding economy and left a recession. He had no real vision. His strength was in going with the current and not against it. Ford was a caretaker. Much like the guy Steve Wynn might have put in charge of the Dunes when he bought it, told to just run things until the demo permit is approved. "We're tearing it down anyways, so just be sure we get no gaming violations. Make a few extra bucks if you can, but nothing is expected of you."

As Limbaugh says, there are no books called, "Great Moderates In History."

Quote: Evenbob

"President Reagan's policies brought us out of stagflation that we had been in for nearly two decades. Oversaw a rise the economy and created millions of jobs. He also restored faith in America and patriotism. The National Geographic Channel had a three part documentary called "The 80's the decade that made us". It really shows how so many entreprenuers created the things we enjoy today like PC's, Cellphones, home entertainment like the VCR and so many other things that not only America, but most of the world enjoy today, all because of the Reagan economy.. He had vision enough to see that the Soviet Union was a country that was rotting from within. He knew that there was no way that socialism could possibly keep up with capitalism in a military buildup. He ended the Cold War."

I'm curious if EB actually thought this copy and paste job would actually change anyone's mind? Otherwise, why waste the time to find and post it?

Quote: AZDuffman

As Limbaugh says, there are no books called, "Great Moderates In History."

I'm not going to get into all your specific points. I don't judge a leader by how many books are written about him. By that measure, Hitler would have been one of the best. In presidents, as well as all walks of life, I respect the one who finds the intelligent middle ground on most issues. That is probably why people, especially women, find me boring, but that is me to the core.

Quote: Wizard

That is probably why people, especially women, find me boring, but that is me to the core.

A friend of mine said women admire risk takers, but only if you always succeed. They hate weakness, and the so called "middle ground" looks like weakness.

Quote: Wizard

I'm not going to get into all your specific points. I don't judge a leader by how many books are written about him. By that measure, Hitler would have been one of the best. In presidents, as well as all walks of life, I respect the one who finds the intelligent middle ground on most issues. That is probably why people, especially women, find me boring, but that is me to the core.

Chamberlin went for "intelligent middle ground." Not the best results.

While there is a place to respect finding the middle ground, my point is that it is rarely the top trait you want in a leader. Reagan made many compromises. But he always had a vision and knew who he was and what he wanted. McCain ran as a moderate, those results speak for themselves.

Quote: Evenbob

"President Reagan's policies brought us out of stagflation that we had been in for nearly two decades. Oversaw a rise the economy and created millions of jobs. He also restored faith in America and patriotism. The National Geographic Channel had a three part documentary called "The 80's the decade that made us". It really shows how so many entreprenuers created the things we enjoy today like PC's, Cellphones, home entertainment like the VCR and so many other things that not only America, but most of the world enjoy today, all because of the Reagan economy.. He had vision enough to see that the Soviet Union was a country that was rotting from within. He knew that there was no way that socialism could possibly keep up with capitalism in a military buildup. He ended the Cold War."

Again with the anonymous citations.

Reagan was a Muppet. However, he was intelligent enough to know the depth of his ignorance, and worked to surround himself with experts. Unfortunately, he wasn't too concerned about their ethics, and his administration set the modern record for scandals...until Trump.

Not much to admire about either.

Quote: beachbumbabs

Again with the anonymous citations.

Reagan was a Muppet. However, he was intelligent enough to know the depth of his ignorance, and worked to surround himself with experts. Unfortunately, he wasn't too concerned about their ethics, and his administration set the modern record for scandals...until Trump.

Not much to admire about either.

Strange statements coming from someone claiming to be a lifelong Republican.

Modern record for scandals? Did you sleep thru Clinton?