Ronald Reagan dead at 93

Niffoni · Post by **Niffoni** » June 5, 2004, 7:09 pm

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3638299/

The article is entirely too long to quote, but it provides a cool timeline regarding his political career. Love him or not, he's a guy we're going to remember for a long long time. Possibly longer than some of the more recent leaders of the free world(tm)

I was born the same year he was first elected, and it's not hard to come across U.S. news in canada, so he had an impact on my world, even if i didn't realize/care at the time.

Fesuni Chopsui · Post by **Fesuni Chopsui** » June 5, 2004, 7:13 pm

Bah I was just about to post this!

I am saddened by his death, however no amount of sympathy or pity will erase the innumerous number of problems created under his administration that to this day we are still living out

He will be a president we all remember, as you said, for a very long time...but as for me, I will always remember him in a negative way

Aruman · Post by **Aruman** » June 5, 2004, 7:39 pm

No president can claim a term in office where everything 'goes right'.

Ronald Reagan to this day has left the best impression on me as to what a president is and should be, and accomplished more for the benefit of the citizens of the United States than any president following his terms in office.

He was always optimistic, and in my opinion, truly had the interests of the United States and the citizens in mind, not just his own career.

It will be quite some time before a president such as Ronald Reagan ever assumes office again. The great ones who are real leaders are few and far between.

kyoukan · Post by **kyoukan** » June 5, 2004, 7:45 pm

thanks for building all those nukes. hope hell's hot enough for you ronnie, you evil fucking scumbag.

Niffoni · Post by **Niffoni** » June 5, 2004, 7:57 pm

Fesuni Chopsui wrote:Bah I was just about to post this!

Sorry Fes, I'll let you get the next high-profile death

I can't say I liked him much either, but my childhood certainly was influenced in some way by his run in the office. It's just interesting to look back on the direction the world was going when he was popular. Helps you see things from a perspective you don't always get to. And of course, it's sad to hear of any passing. At least he had a long, BUSY life.

Midnyte_Ragebringer · Post by **Midnyte_Ragebringer** » June 5, 2004, 8:46 pm

I still remember writing him a get well card when he got shot, and then being so happy when he wrote me back(an intern writing me back as it was him, but I didn't know that at 9 years old), and how much I looked up to him.

I will always look back upon him as what a president is supposed to be. I admire how the country seemed to all rally around him. I yearn for a president that can do the same, someday.

Arilain · Post by **Arilain** » June 5, 2004, 9:07 pm

I am saddened to hear that Reagan passed away. However looking back at the events and policies of the 80's he defenently was a visionary and accomplished much more than any other president I have seen in my life time. He turned America around and started the economic boom of the 80's and made it easier for businesses to excel.

For all the people that hate him for whatever reason; just remember he was human, and all humans make mistakes. Reagans accomplishments far out wiegh his mistakes, and it is a shame we do not have more people like him.

suppin · Post by **suppin** » June 5, 2004, 9:27 pm

Chidoro · Post by **Chidoro** » June 5, 2004, 9:46 pm

Big business and overly wealthy individuals are weeping I'm sure.

All I want to know is if his hair was pitch black this morning.

Jice Virago · Post by **Jice Virago** » June 5, 2004, 9:46 pm

He did no such thing. He pioneered corperate welfare and the imperialistic neoconistic religious state of the modern GOP. In his early days, he set the tone for his career by turning in as many of his coworkers as he could to the McCarthy commision. As governor of california he was the architect of such "forward thinking" plans as lets send all the blacks back to africa, a position he publicly stated on numerous occasions. At the early stages of the AIDS epicdemic, he personally held back funding from the CDC because it was only affecting gays and intercity blacks, initially. His trickle down economics (best described as the rich getting to piss all over the poor and middle class) paved the way for the second biggest recession in US history (second only to GW) and his numerous ill thought attempts at humor strained already tense relations with the soviet bloc, leading to increased global instability. His half assed war on drugs ultimately resulted in the largest increases in violent crime and drug abuse since the 1960s (when the FBI green lighted the flooding of inner cities with cheap narcotics to break down the black power movements), ultimately only targetting low impact drugs (Pot, ect) while leaving the more dangerous drugs relatively untouched.

His legacy is the legion of neocon thinktanks his people established to research legally ending the equal rights amendment, among other things (and our friend, the $40 million dollar BT special prosecuter, Ken Starr came from one of these groups) such as seeking to replace Jefferson on Mt Rushmoore with Reagan after it came out that Jefferson had sired black children. In my view, he polarized the GOP into the right wing bible beating brigade it is now, forever preventing them from ever fielding a centralist (and therefore, popular) canidate like McCain, for example. His one and only true contribution to society, gun control laws, came not from a true conviction but because he himself was shot. He (or the people who controlled his alzheimer addled ass) paved the way for the mess we are currently in today. While he is not as evil (or blatantly stupid) as the current administration, the GW Megacorp could have never gotten as far as they have if Reagan hadn't paved the way for them.

Expect noecon fundies to be fervantly chanting "Win one for the Gipper" in between denouncing homos and towel heads at the GOP convention this year. The mindless radical right will treat him like some sort of martyr, which for them I suppose he is. I wonder how many of them will bother to remember that he is the one who trained, armed, an financially backed Sadam in the first place? It is a sad state of affairs that the current state of the country so closely parallels the time he was in office, with record unemployment, military pork (star wars again?), and the largest erosion of personal freedoms since the Viet Nam era. I also think it is ironic that his PR people's last act was to lie about his health shortly before he passed away. I guess if he can take heart in anything as he died, it would be that he doesn't look as bad as the current administration.

I feel sympathy for his family, but I refuse to feel any pity for this man.

Karae · Post by **Karae** » June 5, 2004, 9:59 pm

I'd like to take this time to thank Ronald Reagan for all he "accomplished."

Thanks for the nukes.

Thanks for the war on drugs.

Thanks for making our economy dependent on government defense spending.

Thanks for the recession of the early 90s.

Thanks for Saddam Hussein.

Thanks for Osama Bin Laden.

Great President? Bullshit.

He accomplished more for humanity by getting Alzheimer's than he ever did as President.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » June 5, 2004, 10:11 pm

Reagan Rocked!

To the silent majority that read this board, don't listen to these whiners! You can slap together a list of bitches about any president. The negative attitudes of many of the posters here will pump out the hate posts any chance they get!

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » June 5, 2004, 10:19 pm

I hate ATi!

Sirton · Post by **Sirton** » June 6, 2004, 1:55 am

I disrespected one of your libs once when they died..and got jumped on...I felt I should respect your feelings afterward and erased it liked you guys asked..Now I see the same people being hypocrits...Have some self value some dignity please...disagree whatever, but dont go name calling and trashing on anyones death.

I thought he was one of the best presidents weve ever had....with the fall of communism or the Soviet Union..Military build up that the Soviet Union couldnt compete with...The reversal of double digit inflation, fall of the berlin wall, the spread of democracy, the change of the stock market for being for a select few to half the house holds. The change of Jimmy Carters Mailase America to a Optomistic and wanting to be proud as an American was the best thing, and making about 3-4 times the amount in the 80s than any other time exspecially the late 90s... I went to about 50+ countries during his years and we had more respect by far than any other time in my life...Maybe not love but respect.

To me in ranking him, and will prob be really close to where he will be placed to Historians..Ive seen him in the top 5 many times and always in the top 10 already except by the <10% ultra liberal groups:

1) Teddy Roosevelt
2) George Washington
3) FDR
4) Ronald Reagan
5) Thomas Jefferson
6) Lincoln

And whatever shit you lib. or communist or anti America guys are imagining remember a vast majority of Americans admire and voted for Ronald and still like him...No matter how loud or whatever you say he will be known ALWAYS as one of our greatest Presidents...AND THERES NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT

HAHAHA!

So sit on your ass like you do for hours a day looking as this screen with your miserable life and know you dont make a difference. Well I take that back....you do one way...you turn people away from thinking like you with your vulgar, depressing, pitiful self.

Arilain · Post by **Arilain** » June 6, 2004, 2:16 am

How many of you guys on this board remember having Nuclear war drills in school? I remember.

How about remembering first hand the cold war? I remember

How many people on this board remember double digit inflation? I remember

How many people on this board remember the big government programs that made inner city life worse? I still see the effects

Was Reagan perfect? Hell no.

Did he wake up and see that things needed to be changed? Hell yeah.

Did he have the guts to do what he saw was right for the country? Unlike some other politicians of the time he did.

Tyek · Post by **Tyek** » June 6, 2004, 2:17 am

Did someone just put him ahead of Lincoln? I think he was a decent President but lets not get overexcited here.

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » June 6, 2004, 2:19 am

I think he did a fine job given the state of the nation at the time...

I do find it ironic that most of the people that 'hate' the man, were still sucking on their mother's teats while he was in office.

Sirton · Post by **Sirton** » June 6, 2004, 2:26 am

Maybe because he just died today has some effect. Maybe if I lived during the Civil War it would be different and maybe in time it would be, but considering we fell into a Civil War instead of being able to keep us from going into War with ourselves maybe get a few negative points on my personal list, but maybe that because they should of listened to Benjamin Franklin at the founding and gotten rid of slavery at our founding or failure of previus administrations of the Civil War, but hey I didnt live during that time. My point is hell always be up on the majority of historians list.

Karae · Post by **Karae** » June 6, 2004, 3:47 am

How about instead of insulting me, you try posting some evidence to prove he was a good President. I've already listed several reasons he was a bad President, step up to the plate, and show me how the good outweighs the bad.

Oh wait, you can't.

It amazes me that you *SELF PROCLAIMED* conservatives support a President that grew the size of the government more than any President since FDR. And this was a bloated, monolithic government. Not the small, nearly non-existant by today's standards government FDR entered office with.

How about a 300% growth of federal debt under his Presidency? From $890 billion to $2.9 trillion.

Was it an era of prosperity for the average person? Yea, I'd say that's true. But that prosperity came at a huge price. One that, over twenty years later we're still paying. It just doesn't even out.

kyoukan · Post by **kyoukan** » June 6, 2004, 3:48 am

HE WON THE COLD WAR

fucking barf revisionism

Jice Virago · Post by **Jice Virago** » June 6, 2004, 4:21 am

I bet I could end the cold war by throwing 2 trillion dollars at the richest military contractors in the country too....

Carter was too nice for his own good and sucked in areas, but he damn near brought about lasting peace to Lebenon, but that was all trashed after Ronny came into office. In many ways he was the most christian president ever, and I personally didn't like him a whole lot outside of his diplomatic record. But he was better for the average man then Ronny. Ronny ushered in an era of unsurpased personal greed in this country and pushed the cost far enough into the future that it would never come back to bite him in the ass, personally.

He was a bigot, racist fundie who sold out his own whenever it suited his purposes, whether to advance his career during the McCarthy era or throwing North to the wolves to cover his ass during Iran/Contra. You fuckers bitch about Clinton seem to forget that this is a guy whos main defense was that he couldnt seem to remember wether or not he sold guns to fuckers who hated us. The fact that the radical arm embraces him as the second comming of Jesus suprises no one.

Tenuvil · Post by **Tenuvil** » June 6, 2004, 4:34 am

To me Reagan was one of the greatest Presidents of the modern era.

He certainly was the best statesman of any recent President. He helped to end Communism in Europe and brought an end to the Cold War. His economic policies were the seeds of the biggest economic boom of the 20th Century.

Debate these things all you like but to me personally he was an exemplary President and he will be missed.

Spang · Post by **Spang** » June 6, 2004, 4:52 am

i was 2 when he got elected and, well, 10 when he finished his 2nd term. i really didn't follow politics then. i don't think many elementary school kids do.

only thing i remember about him was he'd interrupt whatever i was watching on TV for his state of the unions and what not. but, all presidents do that.

was he good or bad? i dunno, i was too busy being a kid.

Karae · Post by **Karae** » June 6, 2004, 4:58 am

Tenuvil wrote:He helped to end Communism in Europe and brought an end to the Cold War. His economic policies were the seeds of the biggest economic boom of the 20th Century.

1) Communism is not a bad thing. It just doesn't work. Reagan had little to do with its fall - it would have failed without him.

2) As I said before, yes it was an era of prosperity. However, the price of that prosperity was not worth it. Only a fool can argue 3 trillion dollars of debt was worth 8 years of prosperity.

I'm sure the reason for many posting that he was a good President is, looking back at the 80s, they were happy. But, Reagan mortgaged our future for that happiness. That's what makes him a bad President.

Cartalas · Post by **Cartalas** » June 6, 2004, 8:32 am

Its a shame the "Sad excuse for a life" Club cant see past the hate long enough to see a man that did more in 30 secs of his life then all of them put together will do in a life time.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » June 6, 2004, 9:36 am

3 trillian in dept to end the cold war? Sold!

I do it again and vote anyone in office that said they could spend 3 trillian and have peace in the middle east. It's only money. What the fuck are you whining about? That 3 trillian is a distant memory, the Soviet Union is no more and Russia is practically a third world country.

If you can spend your enemy into collapse, do it.

The 80's rocked thanks to Reagan and so did the early 90's thanks to Bush SR. Clinton ruined us and left an economy on the verge of collapse for Bush Jr. Thanks Tech bubble Clinton! That sax playing bozo ignored the problem and let it ride so he'd look good instead of taking measures to prevent a collapse.

It only goes to prove the point that you Reagan hating idiots only like presidents that don't do shit and spend their days in the White House goofing off. Bin Laden not getting taken care of is the result of that..but oh..Clinton had a peaceful presidency...it's because he ignored the fucking problems and made a circus of our goverment by screwing around.

Midnyte_Ragebringer · Post by **Midnyte_Ragebringer** » June 6, 2004, 10:07 am

Winnow wrote:3 trillian in dept to end the cold war? Sold!

I do it again and vote anyone in office that said they could spend 3 trillian and have peace in the middle east. It's only money. What the fuck are you whining about? That 3 trillian is a distant memory, the Soviet Union is no more and Russia is practically a third world country.

If you can spend your enemy into collapse, do it.

The 80's rocked thanks to Reagan and so did the early 90's thanks to Bush SR. Clinton ruined us and left an economy on the verge of collapse for Bush Jr. Thanks Tech bubble Clinton! That sax playing bozo ignored the problem and let it ride so he'd look good instead of taking measures to prevent a collapse.

It only goes to prove the point that you Reagan hating idiots only like presidents that don't do shit and spend their days in the White House goofing off. Bin Laden not getting taken care of is the result of that..but oh..Clinton had a peaceful presidency...it's because he ignored the fucking problems and made a circus of our goverment by screwing around.

Here here !!!!

Toshira · Post by **Toshira** » June 6, 2004, 11:14 am

Two guys walk into a room filled with gasoline at knee level...and start counting their matches.

Sometimes, images best capture a noble man and without words describe what he does best.

Xzion · Post by **Xzion** » June 6, 2004, 11:48 am

you would honestly place a president who helped end slavery and brought about one of the greatest steps towards equality and freedom behind some racist bigoted asshole who stood against interracial marriages, proposed to send the blacks back to africa, and proposed to disgrace one of our founding fathers just becouse he was rumored to have children from a woman of another race?

I wasnt alive for most of his presidency, so i dont know too much about the man, but from what i hear all he did was take this country a step backwards, at least socially.

From what i hear, he was great as far as economics were concerned, but terrible socially. As he was the founder of the regressive,*cough* err conservative movement.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » June 6, 2004, 11:53 am

And whatever shit you lib. or communist or anti America guys are imagining remember a vast majority of Americans admire and voted for Ronald and still like him...No matter how loud or whatever you say he will be known ALWAYS as one of our greatest Presidents...AND THERES NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT

No he wont be, at least not outside of the US where people aren't completely blind and dumb like you. I lived outside of the US at the time, and believe me.. he wont be regarded as one of the greatest there. Probably in top 20 due to what happened in the world, but top 5? Not a chance. We will know in 30-40 years though.

So sit on your ass like you do for hours a day looking as this screen with your miserable life and know you dont make a difference.

Because you and your uber l33t direct link to the White House makes all the difference in the world! Right...

And please.. "He won the cold war! He ended communism! He spread democracy all over the world!"

Puhlease... get a grip on reality. The '80s sucked, even the music was horrible!

Sionistic · Post by **Sionistic** » June 6, 2004, 11:58 am

Cartalas wrote:Its a shame the "Sad excuse for a life" Club cant see past the hate long enough to see a man that did more in 30 secs of his life then all of them put together will do in a life time.

Haha cart, why dont you just say "you're not a president, what could you know!" line, you know you want to.

Midnyte_Ragebringer · Post by **Midnyte_Ragebringer** » June 6, 2004, 12:26 pm

Ronald Reagan won the Republican Presidential nomination in 1980 and chose as his running mate former Texas Congressman and United Nations Ambassador George Bush. Voters troubled by inflation and by the year-long confinement of Americans in Iran swept the Republican ticket into office. Reagan won 489 electoral votes to 49 for President Jimmy Carter.

On January 20, 1981, Reagan took office. Only 69 days later he was shot by a would-be assassin, but quickly recovered and returned to duty. His grace and wit during the dangerous incident caused his popularity to soar.

Dealing skillfully with Congress, Reagan obtained legislation to stimulate economic growth, curb inflation, increase employment, and strengthen national defense. He embarked upon a course of cutting taxes and Government expenditures, refusing to deviate from it when the strengthening of defense forces led to a large deficit.

A renewal of national self-confidence by 1984 helped Reagan and Bush win a second term with an unprecedented number of electoral votes. Their victory turned away Democratic challengers Walter F. Mondale and Geraldine Ferraro.

In 1986 Reagan obtained an overhaul of the income tax code, which eliminated many deductions and exempted millions of people with low incomes. At the end of his administration, the Nation was enjoying its longest recorded period of peacetime prosperity without recession or depression.

In foreign policy, Reagan sought to achieve "peace through strength." During his two terms he increased defense spending 35 percent, but sought to improve relations with the Soviet Union. In dramatic meetings with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, he negotiated a treaty that would eliminate intermediate-range nuclear missiles. Reagan declared war against international terrorism, sending American bombers against Libya after evidence came out that Libya was involved in an attack on American soldiers in a West Berlin nightclub.

By ordering naval escorts in the Persian Gulf, he maintained the free flow of oil during the Iran-Iraq war. In keeping with the Reagan Doctrine, he gave support to anti-Communist insurgencies in Central America, Asia, and Africa.

Overall, the Reagan years saw a restoration of prosperity, and the goal of peace through strength seemed to be within grasp.

Fesuni Chopsui · Post by **Fesuni Chopsui** » June 6, 2004, 1:04 pm

Midnyte_Ragebringer wrote:
Ronald Reagan won the Republican Presidential nomination in 1980 and chose as his running mate former Texas Congressman and United Nations Ambassador George Bush. Voters troubled by inflation and by the year-long confinement of Americans in Iran swept the Republican ticket into office. Reagan won 489 electoral votes to 49 for President Jimmy Carter.

On January 20, 1981, Reagan took office. Only 69 days later he was shot by a would-be assassin, but quickly recovered and returned to duty. His grace and wit during the dangerous incident caused his popularity to soar.

Dealing skillfully with Congress, Reagan obtained legislation to stimulate economic growth, curb inflation, increase employment, and strengthen national defense. He embarked upon a course of cutting taxes and Government expenditures, refusing to deviate from it when the strengthening of defense forces led to a large deficit.

A renewal of national self-confidence by 1984 helped Reagan and Bush win a second term with an unprecedented number of electoral votes. Their victory turned away Democratic challengers Walter F. Mondale and Geraldine Ferraro.

In 1986 Reagan obtained an overhaul of the income tax code, which eliminated many deductions and exempted millions of people with low incomes. At the end of his administration, the Nation was enjoying its longest recorded period of peacetime prosperity without recession or depression.

In foreign policy, Reagan sought to achieve "peace through strength." During his two terms he increased defense spending 35 percent, but sought to improve relations with the Soviet Union. In dramatic meetings with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, he negotiated a treaty that would eliminate intermediate-range nuclear missiles. Reagan declared war against international terrorism, sending American bombers against Libya after evidence came out that Libya was involved in an attack on American soldiers in a West Berlin nightclub.

By ordering naval escorts in the Persian Gulf, he maintained the free flow of oil during the Iran-Iraq war. In keeping with the Reagan Doctrine, he gave support to anti-Communist insurgencies in Central America, Asia, and Africa.

Overall, the Reagan years saw a restoration of prosperity, and the goal of peace through strength seemed to be within grasp.

The source being?

Pherr the Dorf · Post by **Pherr the Dorf** » June 6, 2004, 1:17 pm

What the fuck is 3 trillion in debt.... it's what we are still trying to dig ourselves out of, it and it's interest. What the fuck is Iran Contra, a double sided deal that gave arms to Iran (508 TOW anti-tank missiles and an attempt to send 500 HAWK anti aircraft missiles, of which only part of the transaction went thru because Iran simply didn't want them) in exchange for hostages in Lebanon, and taking those profits to back rebels that were trying to topple a democratically elected (Sandinista)government a few hundred miles south of us.

The United States Congress then on November 18, 1987 issued its final report on the affair, which stated that Reagan bore "ultimate responsibility" for wrongdoing by his aides and his administration exhibited "secrecy, deception, and disdain for the law." Oliver North and John Poindexter were indicted on charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States on March 16, 1988. North was convicted of three charges which were eventually vacated upon appeal. Poindexter was convicted on several felony counts of lying to Congress, obstruction of justice, conspiracy, and altering and destroying documents pertinent to the investigation. He avoided jail time due to a legal technicality.

Some claim there is also evidence that the CIA and perhaps other parts of the US government may have been involved with drug trafficking to raise money for the Contra campaign. The 1988 report from the Senate Subcommittee on Narcotics, Terrorism and International Operations concluded that various individuals in the Contra movement were involved in drug trafficking, that other drug traffickers provided assistance to the Contras, and that "there are some serious questions as to whether or not US officials involved in Central America failed to address the drug issue for fear of jeopardizing the war effort against Nicaragua." At a minimum, Oliver North's notebooks indicate that he was informed repeatedly of Contra involvement in drug trafficking, and there is no record of his passing this information along to the DEA.

In (June 27, 1986) the International Court of Justice (also known as the World Court) ruled in favour of Nicaragua in the case of "Military and Paramilitary Activities in and Against Nicaragua". The U.S. refused to pay restitution and simply claimed that the ICJ was not competent for the case, and subsequently vetoed a United Nations Security Council Resolution calling on all states to obey international law. The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution (http://www.un.org/documents/ga/res/41/a41r031.htm) in order to pressure the U.S. to pay the fine. Only El Salvador, which also had disputes with Nicaragua (and was run by a US-backed right wing military dictatorship), and Israel (which receives US$4 billion a year in aid from the US) voted with the U.S. The money still has not been paid.

Oddly enough, the person who headed the drug findings was John Kerry, his report can be found here http://www.webcom.com/pinknoiz/covert/contracoke.html

It's really pretty amazing the connections if you are geeky enough to read it all, war on drugs

Ohhh yah and the war on drugs, don't even get me going on that bit of facist horseshit they tried shoving down our throats.

Ransure · Post by **Ransure** » June 6, 2004, 1:23 pm

Fesuni Chopsui wrote:
Midnyte_Ragebringer wrote:
Ronald Reagan won the Republican Presidential nomination in 1980 and chose as his running mate former Texas Congressman and United Nations Ambassador George Bush. Voters troubled by inflation and by the year-long confinement of Americans in Iran swept the Republican ticket into office. Reagan won 489 electoral votes to 49 for President Jimmy Carter.

On January 20, 1981, Reagan took office. Only 69 days later he was shot by a would-be assassin, but quickly recovered and returned to duty. His grace and wit during the dangerous incident caused his popularity to soar.

Dealing skillfully with Congress, Reagan obtained legislation to stimulate economic growth, curb inflation, increase employment, and strengthen national defense. He embarked upon a course of cutting taxes and Government expenditures, refusing to deviate from it when the strengthening of defense forces led to a large deficit.

A renewal of national self-confidence by 1984 helped Reagan and Bush win a second term with an unprecedented number of electoral votes. Their victory turned away Democratic challengers Walter F. Mondale and Geraldine Ferraro.

In 1986 Reagan obtained an overhaul of the income tax code, which eliminated many deductions and exempted millions of people with low incomes. At the end of his administration, the Nation was enjoying its longest recorded period of peacetime prosperity without recession or depression.

In foreign policy, Reagan sought to achieve "peace through strength." During his two terms he increased defense spending 35 percent, but sought to improve relations with the Soviet Union. In dramatic meetings with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, he negotiated a treaty that would eliminate intermediate-range nuclear missiles. Reagan declared war against international terrorism, sending American bombers against Libya after evidence came out that Libya was involved in an attack on American soldiers in a West Berlin nightclub.

By ordering naval escorts in the Persian Gulf, he maintained the free flow of oil during the Iran-Iraq war. In keeping with the Reagan Doctrine, he gave support to anti-Communist insurgencies in Central America, Asia, and Africa.

Overall, the Reagan years saw a restoration of prosperity, and the goal of peace through strength seemed to be within grasp.

The source being?

did you really have to quote the entire quote?...

Fesuni Chopsui · Post by **Fesuni Chopsui** » June 6, 2004, 1:30 pm

Ransure wrote:
Fesuni Chopsui wrote:
Midnyte_Ragebringer wrote:
Ronald Reagan won the Republican Presidential nomination in 1980 and chose as his running mate former Texas Congressman and United Nations Ambassador George Bush. Voters troubled by inflation and by the year-long confinement of Americans in Iran swept the Republican ticket into office. Reagan won 489 electoral votes to 49 for President Jimmy Carter.

On January 20, 1981, Reagan took office. Only 69 days later he was shot by a would-be assassin, but quickly recovered and returned to duty. His grace and wit during the dangerous incident caused his popularity to soar.

Dealing skillfully with Congress, Reagan obtained legislation to stimulate economic growth, curb inflation, increase employment, and strengthen national defense. He embarked upon a course of cutting taxes and Government expenditures, refusing to deviate from it when the strengthening of defense forces led to a large deficit.

A renewal of national self-confidence by 1984 helped Reagan and Bush win a second term with an unprecedented number of electoral votes. Their victory turned away Democratic challengers Walter F. Mondale and Geraldine Ferraro.

In 1986 Reagan obtained an overhaul of the income tax code, which eliminated many deductions and exempted millions of people with low incomes. At the end of his administration, the Nation was enjoying its longest recorded period of peacetime prosperity without recession or depression.

In foreign policy, Reagan sought to achieve "peace through strength." During his two terms he increased defense spending 35 percent, but sought to improve relations with the Soviet Union. In dramatic meetings with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, he negotiated a treaty that would eliminate intermediate-range nuclear missiles. Reagan declared war against international terrorism, sending American bombers against Libya after evidence came out that Libya was involved in an attack on American soldiers in a West Berlin nightclub.

By ordering naval escorts in the Persian Gulf, he maintained the free flow of oil during the Iran-Iraq war. In keeping with the Reagan Doctrine, he gave support to anti-Communist insurgencies in Central America, Asia, and Africa.

Overall, the Reagan years saw a restoration of prosperity, and the goal of peace through strength seemed to be within grasp.

The source being?
did you really have to quote the entire quote?...

Absolutely

Midnyte_Ragebringer · Post by **Midnyte_Ragebringer** » June 6, 2004, 1:35 pm

The source being http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/rr40.html

Thess · Post by **Thess** » June 6, 2004, 1:39 pm

Midnyte_Ragebringer wrote:The source being http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/rr40.html

Try to find much of a negative description of anyones presidency in our history on whitehouse.gov - the site tends to highlight the good each president did, rather then the mess they created.

Midnyte_Ragebringer · Post by **Midnyte_Ragebringer** » June 6, 2004, 1:52 pm

LOL, yes. Exactly the point. It's tiring listening to the negativity focused on by the majority of people on this board and in the media. It's a nice change to focus on the positives. Try it. You'll find the world isn't quite the mess your fucked up little head thinks it is.

Thess · Post by **Thess** » June 6, 2004, 2:11 pm

Midnyte_Ragebringer wrote:LOL, yes. Exactly the point. It's tiring listening to the negativity focused on by the majority of people on this board and in the media. It's a nice change to focus on the positives. Try it. You'll find the world isn't quite the mess your fucked up little head thinks it is.

Yes because every president we've ever had in this country never did anything wrong.

Drolgin Steingrinder · Post by **Drolgin Steingrinder** » June 6, 2004, 3:11 pm

Voltaire wrote:One owes respect to the living, to the dead one only owes the truth

Karae · Post by **Karae** » June 6, 2004, 3:50 pm

Midnyte_Ragebringer wrote:LOL, yes. Exactly the point. It's tiring listening to the negativity focused on by the majority of people on this board and in the media. It's a nice change to focus on the positives. Try it. You'll find the world isn't quite the mess your fucked up little head thinks it is.

Then GTFO.

My posts have nothing to do with negativity, and everything to do with the truth. If the truth about Reagan is negative, it isn't my fault.

Aruman · Post by **Aruman** » June 6, 2004, 4:04 pm

There are people that focus on the positive truths.

There are people that focus on the negative truths.

There are people that consider both the positive and the negative truths.

Regardless, Ronald Reagan did more good for the country than bad, no matter which category you fall into.

Far be it from me to talk someone out of being negative all the time on these boards.

You choose the outlook you want, I'll choose the outlook I want.

A big problem in the US is people tend to focus on the negative all the time because that is all you see int he media.

Karae · Post by **Karae** » June 6, 2004, 4:29 pm

Aruman wrote:Regardless, Ronald Reagan did more good for the country than bad, no matter which category you fall into.

Again, a pointless statement with zero evidence.

People keep arguing that the 80s was a prosperous time. I have never once debated that. That prosperity just came at an unjustifiable price, mainly the huge economic price of the largest deficit spending in history and the threat to our security of fortifying Osama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein.

It's laughable that some of you jump up and down about how evil Saddam Hussein is, and how right we are to invade Iraq, and then turn around and want to talk about how great Ronny Reagan was when he is the sole reason Saddam survived the 80s.

Again, I'm focusing on the truth as a whole. The negative outweighs the positive and, as evidenced by the posts to this point, you cannot rationally argue the opposite.

Forthe · Post by **Forthe** » June 6, 2004, 4:29 pm

Aruman wrote:There are people that focus on the positive truths.

There are people that focus on the negative truths.

There are people that consider both the positive and the negative truths.

Regardless, Ronald Reagan did more good for the country than bad, no matter which category you fall into.

Far be it from me to talk someone out of being negative all the time on these boards.

You choose the outlook you want, I'll choose the outlook I want.

A big problem in the US is people tend to focus on the negative all the time because that is all you see int he media.

Part of the focus on the negative is due to it being hidden and covered up. Our governments are so secretive that we are lucky to find out what was really going on 30 years later.

I think Reagan will be a footnote in history mainly for starting us on this age of trickle down economics that sees the middle class making the same as we were in 1970 (adjusted) requiring 2 salaries and an insane debt load to maintain a standard of living while the rich have seen a stellar increase in wealth during the same period. Before the republicans start their shit, Clinton wasn't much better in this regard, he only tempered it slightly.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » June 6, 2004, 4:32 pm

Karae wrote:
Midnyte_Ragebringer wrote:LOL, yes. Exactly the point. It's tiring listening to the negativity focused on by the majority of people on this board and in the media. It's a nice change to focus on the positives. Try it. You'll find the world isn't quite the mess your fucked up little head thinks it is.
Then GTFO.

My posts have nothing to do with negativity, and everything to do with the truth. If the truth about Reagan is negative, it isn't my fault.

Bullshit. Your posts have everything to do with negativity. You're worse than that cocksucker Michael Moore. I hope your college classes are over soon so you can get back to reality and quit whipping up these angry young man commentaries practiing your bullshitting skills for meaningless political science papers.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » June 6, 2004, 4:38 pm

Try it. You'll find the world isn't quite the mess your fucked up little head thinks it is.

heh like you would know how anything is outside of your trailer park?

kyoukan · Post by **kyoukan** » June 6, 2004, 6:10 pm

Winnow wrote:Bullshit. Your posts have everythign to do with negativity. You're worse then that cocksucker Michael Moore. I hope your college classes are over soon so you can get back to reality and quit whipping up these angry young man commentaries practiing your bullshitting skills for meaningless political science papers.

the only thing missing from this post is the line "you librawls are all the same!" to complete the circle of out of touch conservative moron dialogue.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » June 6, 2004, 6:21 pm

kyoukan wrote:
Winnow wrote:Bullshit. Your posts have everythign to do with negativity. You're worse then that cocksucker Michael Moore. I hope your college classes are over soon so you can get back to reality and quit whipping up these angry young man commentaries practiing your bullshitting skills for meaningless political science papers.
the only thing missing from this post is the line "you librawls are all the same!" to complete the circle of out of touch conservative moron dialogue.

I'm wasn't referring to liberals. General negativity for the hell of it is what bothers me. I just wish everyone was as bright, cheery and full of wide-eyed optimism as kyoukan.

Fesuni Chopsui · Post by **Fesuni Chopsui** » June 6, 2004, 6:23 pm

Winnow wrote:
Karae wrote:
Midnyte_Ragebringer wrote:LOL, yes. Exactly the point. It's tiring listening to the negativity focused on by the majority of people on this board and in the media. It's a nice change to focus on the positives. Try it. You'll find the world isn't quite the mess your fucked up little head thinks it is.
Then GTFO.

My posts have nothing to do with negativity, and everything to do with the truth. If the truth about Reagan is negative, it isn't my fault.
Bullshit. Your posts have everythign to do with negativity. You're worse then that cocksucker Michael Moore. I hope your college classes are over soon so you can get back to reality and quit whipping up these angry young man commentaries practiing your bullshitting skills for meaningless political science papers.

Hmm I always thought you were liberal Winnow...guess I was wrong!

Then again, I also thought you were good at typing

Edit: Ack, I was thinking of Aslanna, nevermind!