Farewell to the great one

[Damien Thorn]

Ronald Reagan, the greatest president of the 20th century, passed away today.
I remember hearing his speech when he took office and I was amazed as to how the mood of the whole country turned around almost overnight. We went from pessimism to optimism. We are all indebted to him for defeating the evil empire of the Soviet Union, for restoring our military, reducing the intrusiveness of government, and for reminding a generation that "America's greatest days are ahead of her".

[Tophat]

Agreed

[Matt Erickson]

I turned 18 a month before the election in 80 and was honored to have voted for him twice,great man great president.

[Platoonist]

Wonder if we'll ever find anyone to fill those boots again?

Salute!

[Mike Scholl]

Don't know how History will rank him in the long view..., but he was definately a man who
"found his moment" to be on the stage.

[siRkid]

I joined the military in 1973 when it was not safe to wear your uniform while on leave. Reagan, was the man who turned it all around. He put pride back into America. I was proud to serve under him.

[dwesolick]

Rest in Peace Gipper. The world is a far better place because of his presidency.

[tsimmonds]

I certainly do miss his decency and honesty, qualities sorely lacking these past twelve years...

[Ron Saueracker]

ORIGINAL: Kid

I joined the military in 1973 when it was not safe to wear your uniform while on leave. Reagan, was the man who turned it all around. He put pride back into America. I was proud to serve under him.

Looks like the US could use another Ronnie Reagan. The boys on deck and in the pipeline don't look capable of dealing with the present dilemma. Reagan and his staff had more to offer than just bombing the hell out of everything. It would have been interesting to see what RRs approach would be right now. Engaging in an arms race to break the economic back of ones adversary just doesn't work here.

[Joel Billings]

At the risk of being flamed to a crisp, I need to say that not everyone agrees about Reagan (the politician, not the man, as he appears to have been a wonderful person in many ways). My father, a verteran of WWII (D+2 to Germany) and I were in Normandy for the 40th anniversary of D-Day. He made sure we left town on the day of the 40th celebration because he refused to be in town when Reagan gave his speach. My father was a Professor of English in California at Fresno State and was very anti-Reagan. Other than my father being very anti-war (Vietnam), I never got the full story about what Reagan did to the University system to earn my father's displeasure, but it was there and heartfelt. Of course my father would admit to being a radical in many ways. He loved going at it with his older brother, a conservative Omaha beach D-Day veteran that served for life in the military. Listening to the two of them argue was great fun. How they came from the same family, I'll never know. Now, they don't even talk politics because my father realizes that his brother's health would be at risk if they had a heated conversation. Anyway, I just wanted to mention that to a large minority of the country, Reagan was a controversial and often disliked politician. But then, I'm sure some would say the same of FDR or any major historical figure. I'm not trying to be disrespectful of President Reagan, as we should all mourn his death. Now, back to work.

[dwesolick]

ORIGINAL: Joel Billings

My father was a Professor of English in California at Fresno State and was very anti-Reagan.

Imagine that. One might almost think there's a liberal bias at America's universities.[8|]

[Blackhorse]

ORIGINAL: Joel Billings

At the risk of being flamed to a crisp, I need to say that not everyone agrees about Reagan (the politician, not the man, as he appears to have been a wonderful person in many ways). . . My father was a Professor of English in California at Fresno State and was very anti-Reagan. Other than my father being very anti-war (Vietnam), I never got the full story about what Reagan did to the University system to earn my father's displeasure, but it was there and heartfelt.

Hi Joel. RR was Governor of California when anti-war protests by students and faculty were shutting down public universities in California. Reagan attended a meeting of the Regents of the University of California system (different from the California State University system, which includes Fresno State . . . but they were all public universities). RR told them that, henceforth, he would send in the National Guard to break up sit-ins whether the universities requested it or not. Not a popular move among the faculty and students -- but a foreshadow of how he would handle the Air Traffic Controller strike as President. To the very marrow of his bones RR believed that any public servant who walked out / sat in forfeited his right to serve the public.

Too bad you missed the Normandy speech; one of RR's best, IMO: "These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc. These are the men who took the cliffs. These are the champions who helped free a continent. These are the heroes who helped end a war. . ."

[waynec]

i remember being at the west ft hood officers club annex with the MILES NETT the night president reagan was elected in 1980. many adult beverages were consumed that evening. and, being under 30, we awoke the next morning to "continue the mission" with no problems. (hell i look at a bottle of rum today and get a hangover).
anyway, how fitting that the man who brought freedom from tyranny to eastern europe will be linked with the invasion that brought freedom from tyranny to western europe.

[Svar]

ORIGINAL: Joel Billings

At the risk of being flamed to a crisp, I need to say that not everyone agrees about Reagan (the politician, not the man, as he appears to have been a wonderful person in many ways). My father was a Professor of English in California at Fresno State and was very anti-Reagan. Other than my father being very anti-war (Vietnam), I never got the full story about what Reagan did to the University system to earn my father's displeasure, but it was there and heartfelt. Of course my father would admit to being a radical in many ways. He loved going at it with his older brother, a conservative Omaha beach D-Day veteran that served for life in the military. Listening to the two of them argue was great fun. How they came from the same family, I'll never know. Now, they don't even talk politics because my father realizes that his brother's health would be at risk if they had a heated conversation. Anyway, I just wanted to mention that to a large minority of the country, Reagan was a controversial and often disliked politician. But then, I'm sure some would say the same of FDR or any major historical figure. I'm not trying to be disrespectful of President Reagan, as we should all mourn his death. Now, back to work.

Joel,

I'm not about to flame you because your father and his bother are just like me and my sister. My sister was a student at U.C. Davis when Reagan took office and the mood of the entire California university system was very anti-Reagan. I thought at the time it was because he severly reduced the 'free lunch' that many students were getting. I voted for Reagan 4 times and always supported him much to my sister's disgust. I also went to school at U.C. Davis but the difference between my sister and I was, I put myself through college and didn't graduate until I was 29 years old while my parents put my sister through school right out of high school. I also suffered financially under President Reagan as a civil servent whose cost of living increases were always reduced because the country couldn't affort them but my support for the president never waivered. As a fiscal conservative I was willing to suffer for the good of the country but one of the things I have noticed over the years is liberals while they are very willing to spend taxpayers money on all kinds of wellfare programs they don't want it to hurt them financially. So if your father thinks Reagan hurt the California university system financially then who does he blame today because it is in much worse shape today than when Reagan left the governorship?

[Snydeman55]

Funny how so many people think the Greatest President was one who existed in their lifetime.

I grew up in the Reagan years, and while I recognize his abilities in some ways, I do not consider him among the top Presidents who ever served in the oval office. He lied like most other Presidents have done, he made mistakes, and he had some victories as well. Therefore I'll mourn the man's passing, but not raise him up to some demi-god status as a mortal among mere men. IMO, he was a decent enough President. No more, no less.

On another unrelated point, perhaps that "liberal bias" in universities and colleges has something to do with the fact that the people who go there, and teach there, are often educated to a greater or lesser degree beyond their peers. Perhaps one who thinks with a more educated mind is more capable of seeing beyond the lines fed to us by those who feel we are stupid enough to accept them...which we are sometimes not. Those who usually argue about liberal/conservative bias in the media or the University system are usually forgetting that there are plenty of conservative AND liberal professors and students at America's universities. There are even *gasp* moderate ones. In my experience charges of an overt bias in any widespread system is a sign that someone is just mad that everyone in that system doesn't share their own point of view and opinions. Of course, that's just MY opinion.

Now don't get me wrong...I'd also not argue that Clinton or Bush are the Greatest either, so it's not like I'm a Reagan-hater. I just felt the need to counterbalance the hero worship for the gipper that is, in my opinion, undeserved.

That being said, I'm sorry he had to suffer through Alzheimer's so long. It's a nasty illness., and a terrible way for anyone to have to spend their last years on earth.

[denisonh]

1. No man is perfect.
2. No man is good at everything.
3. No man can please everybody.

These are inportant itmes to understand in evaluating an individual and his/her contribution to society, particularly those who have the privlege to serve in key positions of authority and responsibility.

One must evaluate what they achieved with respect to what was critical or important.

As someone who has spent 17 years in the US Army, understanding the significance of change in from the Post Vietnam army until the army that won in the gulf in 1991 colors my opinion of Ronald Reagan.

I went to basic in 1982, jump school in 1984, and was commisioned in 1987.

Through my own observations, but more importantly, talking with the officers and NCOs that experienced Vietnam and the aftermath in the Army gave me a clear understanding of the changes in the Army during the Reagan administration.

One cannot underestimate his influence. Under his watch, the all-volunteer Army grew not only in size, but capability and professionalism. Equipment and doctrine were greatly improved.

The president may not directly account for this, but he created the environment and impetus for resourcing these changes.

The reforged military was, IMHO, a major part of the success in winning the cold war, and the legacy of the capability existing in today's military.

So no man is a "God", no man is perfect, but a man can be the source of critical change that has an important and lasting impact.

IMHO, Ronald Reqagan was such a man. I beleive he is deserving of more than just my respect, but admiration as well. I will make a point to go see his body as it lies in state this week and showing of my admiration and respect.

This is a free country, and a man's opinion is his own. Ronald Reagan did more than his share as a President to protect that right.

[Honda]

An honest politician = oxymoron

[tiredoftryingnames]

Who you calling an ox and a moron?

[Ron Saueracker]

I just loved the "missiles are on the way" crack.

[madmickey]

ORIGINAL: Snydeman55

Funny how so many people think the Greatest President was one who existed in their lifetime.

I grew up in the Reagan years, and while I recognize his abilities in some ways, I do not consider him among the top Presidents who ever served in the oval office. He lied like most other Presidents have done, he made mistakes, and he had some victories as well. Therefore I'll mourn the man's passing, but not raise him up to some demi-god status as a mortal among mere men. IMO, he was a decent enough President. No more, no less.

On another unrelated point, perhaps that "liberal bias" in universities and colleges has something to do with the fact that the people who go there, and teach there, are often educated to a greater or lesser degree beyond their peers. Perhaps one who thinks with a more educated mind is more capable of seeing beyond the lines fed to us by those who feel we are stupid enough to accept them...which we are sometimes not. Those who usually argue about liberal/conservative bias in the media or the University system are usually forgetting that there are plenty of conservative AND liberal professors and students at America's universities. There are even *gasp* moderate ones. In my experience charges of an overt bias in any widespread system is a sign that someone is just mad that everyone in that system doesn't share their own point of view and opinions. Of course, that's just MY opinion.

Now don't get me wrong...I'd also not argue that Clinton or Bush are the Greatest either, so it's not like I'm a Reagan-hater. I just felt the need to counterbalance the hero worship for the gipper that is, in my opinion, undeserved.

That being said, I'm sorry he had to suffer through Alzheimer's so long. It's a nasty illness., and a terrible way for anyone to have to spend their last years on earth.

I am a Professional Engineer with an MBA my impression of University Professor are 90% do not have the common sense of a doughnut. They work a heavily subsidized industry where people praise its value as a motherhood issue. My greatest hope is that sometime in the future Professors will be paid on what students will pay for their value. If this happened a lot a liberal arts university will have to apply for job at 7-11.

Reagan was the greatest President of the last century by a wide margin his actions won the cold wars and turned around the US economy. I am a Canadian and The US per capita income (which was similar in 1980) has outperformed the Canadian per capita income since Reagan came to power. Our debt and deficit per capita were a lot worse than the American in the 1980 despite the facts Canadians had no tax cut and spend very little for defense (we depends on the Americans).