Ronald Reagan

[anime-man10]

In my opinion, Ronald Reagan was the greatest president in U.S History. He single handedly defeated communisim and made the economy better than ever. I have started this forum to see what all other people have to say about Ronald Reagan.

[Bolo]

At 3/30/07 06:29 PM, anime-man10 wrote: In my opinion, Ronald Reagan was the greatest president in U.S History. He single handedly defeated communisim and made the economy better than ever. I have started this forum to see what all other people have to say about Ronald Reagan.

Ronald Reagan was certainly not in the top 25 best presidents of all time, let alone the top slot.

He formed strong political alliances, most notably with UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, with whom he sided over the Falklands conflict with Argentina.

But his foreign policy was criticised for being in disarray. In October 1983, nearly 250 American marines belonging to the peacekeeping force in Lebanon were killed by a truck bomb in Beirut.

There was talk of a collapse in the US' Middle East policy coupled with criticism of an "absence of decision-making in Washington".

His October 1983 invasion of the small Caribbean island of Grenada was dismissed as a clumsy sham.

Then there were his gaffes, most notably when he joked about bombing the Soviet Union while testing the microphone before a weekly radio address.

The president was forced to admit that he had approved sending military supplies to Iran in blatant contradiction of stated policy. It later emerged that the profits from these arms sales had gone to help the "Contra" rebels fighting the left-wing Sandinista Government of Nicaragua.

Col Oliver North was sacked and Rear Adm John Poindexter resigned because of their involvement in the affair. Mr Reagan's National Security Adviser, Robert McFarlane, attempted suicide.

Mr Reagan gave the impression of knowing little of what was going on. The Tower Commission report on the scandal absolved him from deliberately lying to the American people but criticised him for being out of touch.

Later the final Congressional report laid the blame squarely on the president. It declared: "If the president did not know what his national security advisers were doing, he should have."

[Memorize]

At 3/30/07 06:46 PM, Bolo wrote:

Ronald Reagan was certainly not in the top 25 best presidents of all time, let alone the top slot.

Haha, you're still just as stupid as ever Bolo. You give me a laugh every time you post.

Heh, i'm so tempted to bust out the electorial map, but i'm sure you know how that went. Haha!

[Bolo]

At 3/30/07 06:54 PM, Memorize wrote:

At 3/30/07 06:46 PM, Bolo wrote:

Ronald Reagan was certainly not in the top 25 best presidents of all time, let alone the top slot.

Haha, you're still just as stupid as ever Bolo. You give me a laugh every time you post.

Heh, i'm so tempted to bust out the electorial map, but i'm sure you know how that went. Haha!

I made no comment to the affect of Reagan's political vicotry in '84.

Hey, what can I say? The people wanted MOAR NUEKS FOR TEH FUTUER!!1 And when in his second term, Nuclear proliferation soured in the minds of the American people, his sudden, good-guy, "tear down this wall" paradigm shift was just what the public needed to hear.

Of course, Good ole Gipper fucked it up all over again with Contra...

January 22, 1983; High unemployment. Approval: 42% Disapproval: 54%
April 26, 1986; Libya bombing. Approval: 70% Disapproval: 26%
February 26, 1987; Iran-Contra affair. Approval: 44% Disapproval: 51%

[RedSkunk]

To say that any single person "defeated communism" is meaningless tripe. The Soviet Union collapsed because it was an untenable system. It would have happened whether or not we elected a senile actor.

[Memorize]

At 3/30/07 07:02 PM, Bolo wrote:

I made no comment to the affect of Reagan's political vicotry in '84.

Of course, I could very well bring up 25 presidents who would be worse than him. But then you would come back with "it's all about opinion" just so you can further your point. But that would mean that your arguement here is worthless.

So I may once again refer you to his approval rating as the president. Which was in the mid-50's. Which is... Oh look at that, close to your god, Clinton's approval rating.

Of course, Good ole Gipper fucked it up all over again with Contra...

What's truely sad on your part is that there is no evidence of Reagan having anything to do with the Contra affair. Looks like you fucked up once again bolo. Not much of a suprise considering how very little you know.

[Tancrisism]

At 3/30/07 07:06 PM, RedSkunk wrote: To say that any single person "defeated communism" is meaningless tripe. The Soviet Union collapsed because it was an untenable system. It would have happened whether or not we elected a senile actor.

Not to mention it didn't even fall during his presidency.

[Memorize]

At 3/30/07 07:06 PM, RedSkunk wrote: To say that any single person "defeated communism" is meaningless tripe. The Soviet Union collapsed because it was an untenable system. It would have happened whether or not we elected a senile actor.

This, my friends, is a man's pathetic attempt to be-little the former president because he does not like him. Not that Skunk here is necessarily wrong, but by his logic, Reagan should not be recognized for what he tried time and time again to do. Which was to combat the Soviet Union without sacrificing lives.

This, people, is what it is like in the mind of Skunk. Someone with so much hatred for those who try to do good, they're blinded by it. I urge everyone not become like him, for doing so would cause a drastic fall on our IQ scores.

[Tancrisism]

At 3/30/07 07:21 PM, Memorize wrote: This, my friends, is a man's pathetic attempt to be-little the former president because he does not like him. Not that Skunk here is necessarily wrong, but by his logic, Reagan should not be recognized for what he tried time and time again to do. Which was to combat the Soviet Union without sacrificing lives.

This, people, is what it is like in the mind of Skunk. Someone with so much hatred for those who try to do good, they're blinded by it. I urge everyone not become like him, for doing so would cause a drastic fall on our IQ scores.

That's an odd deduction from his statement. The USA was combatting communism ever since the end of WW2; to say that Reagan, during his 8 years as presidency, single-handedly defeated it is bullshit, and you know it. Skunk never said that Reagan didn't do his share.

[Memorize]

At 3/30/07 07:24 PM, Tancrisism wrote:

Skunk never said that Reagan didn't do his share.

I know that.

But I figured I needed someone to take a rant on considering his tone. "Senile Actor". Haha, what a jackass.

[Bolo]

At 3/30/07 07:16 PM, Memorize wrote:

At 3/30/07 07:02 PM, Bolo wrote:

I made no comment to the affect of Reagan's political vicotry in '84.

Of course, I could very well bring up 25 presidents who would be worse than him. But then you would come back with "it's all about opinion" just so you can further your point. But that would mean that your arguement here is worthless.

Eh? So you're admitting defeat, then.

So I may once again refer you to his approval rating as the president. Which was in the mid-50's. Which is... Oh look at that, close to your god, Clinton's approval rating.

"his job approval rating consistently ranged from the high-50s to the high-60s in his second term. Clinton's approval rating reached its highest point at 73 percent approval in the aftermath of the impeachment proceedings in 1998 and 1999"

Funny how at Clinton's supposed "lowest point"—impeachment & scandal—his approval ratign was the highest of his presidency!

Of course, Good ole Gipper fucked it up all over again with Contra...

What's truely sad on your part is that there is no evidence of Reagan having anything to do with the Contra affair. Looks like you fucked up once again bolo. Not much of a suprise considering how very little you know.

"After the arms sales were revealed in November 1986, President Ronald Reagan appeared on national television and denied that they had occurred.[4] However, a week later, on November 13, he returned to the airwaves to affirm that weapons were indeed transferred to Iran. He denied that they were part of an exchange for hostages."

"President Reagan appeared before the Tower Commission on December 2, 1986, to answer questions. His answers were not entirely consistent, and he was (allegedly) plagued with poor memory, because the questions were regarding details that occurred months and years prior. [13]"

"Faced with undeniable evidence of his involvement in the scandal, Reagan expressed regret regarding the situation at a nationally televised White House press conference on Ash Wednesday, March 4, 1987. Responding to questions, Reagan stated that his previous assertions that the U.S. did not trade arms for hostages were incorrect. He also stated that the Vice President knew of the plan."

[Memorize]

At 3/30/07 07:28 PM, Bolo wrote:

Eh? So you're admitting defeat, then.

Yo would think that, knowing your pitiful self.

"his job approval rating consistently ranged from the high-50s to the high-60s in his second term. Clinton's approval rating reached its highest point at 73 percent approval in the aftermath of the impeachment proceedings in 1998 and 1999"

Because no one cares about his breaking the law. But that wasn't the point.

Funny how at Clinton's supposed "lowest point"—impeachment & scandal—his approval ratign was the highest of his presidency!

And yet he left with it in the mid 50's.

Bunch of useless crap.

What's truely funny, is how you proved absolutely nothing with all that. If you want, go ahead and ask your history teacher when you can.

If you watched the video of him speech, you'd notice how he "sort of" accepted responsibility. That he shouldn't have let it happen, but that he didn't have anything to do with it. My history teacher put it like this: Because of his hands-off policy when it came to running the government, many people believed him when he said he had nothing to do with it.

So unless you can prove he did have anything to do with it. I don't want hear your stupidity again.

CNN

"The president's closest aides maintain that Reagan did not fully know, and only reluctantly came to accept, the circumstances in what became known as the Iran-Contra affair."

[Bolo]

At 3/30/07 07:36 PM, Memorize wrote:

At 3/30/07 07:28 PM, Bolo wrote: Bunch of useless crap.

What's truely funny, is how you proved absolutely nothing with all that. If you want, go ahead and ask your history teacher when you can.

If you watched the video of him speech, you'd notice how he "sort of" accepted responsibility. That he shouldn't have let it happen, but that he didn't have anything to do with it. My history teacher put it like this: Because of his hands-off policy when it came to running the government, many people believed him when he said he had nothing to do with it.

So unless you can prove he did have anything to do with it. I don't want hear your stupidity again.

CNN

"The president's closest aides maintain that Reagan did not fully know, and only reluctantly came to accept, the circumstances in what became known as the Iran-Contra affair."

This is the official government report, filed after the Scandal was played out in court—among the conclusions of the investigators involved with the case:

-- the provision and coordination of support to the contras violated the Boland Amendment ban on aid to military activities in Nicaragua;

-- the policies behind both the Iran and contra operations were fully reviewed and developed at the highest levels of the Reagan Administration;

-- although there was little evidence of National Security Council level knowledge of most of the actual contra-support operations, there was no evidence that any NSC member dissented from the underlying policy -- keeping the contras alive despite congressional limitations on contra support;

-- the Iran operations were carried out with the knowledge of, among others, President Ronald Reagan, Vice President George Bush, Secretary of State George P. Shultz, Secretary of Defense Caspar W. Weinberger, Director of Central Intelligence William J. Casey, and national security advisers Robert C. McFarlane and John M. Poindexter; of these officials, only Weinberger and Shultz dissented from the policy decision, and Weinberger eventually acquiesced by ordering the Department of Defense to provide the necessary arms; and

-- large volumes of highly relevant, contemporaneously created documents were systematically and willfully withheld from investigators by several Reagan Administration officials.

-- following the revelation of these operations in October and November 1986, Reagan Administration officials deliberately deceived the Congress and the public about the level and extent of official knowledge of and support for these operations.

Obligatory Link

[fahrenheit]

Hey Memorize you might want to get that sand out of your vagina, its making you all bitchy.

[uhnoesanoob]

At 3/30/07 07:48 PM, fahrenheit wrote: Hey Memorize you might want to get that sand out of your vagina, its making you all bitchy.

Please, ADD something to the discussion rather then trying to slander him.

[Memorize]

At 3/30/07 07:47 PM, Bolo wrote:

This is the official government report, filed after the Scandal was played out in court—among the conclusions of the investigators involved with the case:

And yet you still fail to connect Reagan himself, with the affair.

At 3/30/07 07:48 PM, fahrenheit wrote: Hey Memorize you might want to get that sand out of your vagina, its making you all bitchy.

I think what got in my pants was you.

At 3/30/07 07:53 PM, uhnoesanoob wrote:

Please, ADD something to the discussion rather then trying to slander him.

No! I LUV it.

[uhnoesanoob]

At 3/30/07 07:55 PM, Memorize wrote:

No! I LUV it.

I am gonna walk away now.....Memorize is going insane....or love-drunk on bad attempts to slander him....or both. See ya! "runs like hell."

[Freemind]

At 3/30/07 07:36 PM, Memorize wrote:

Funny how at Clinton's supposed "lowest point"—impeachment & scandal—his approval ratign was the highest of his presidency!

And yet he left with it in the mid 50's.

Actually, he left with an approval rating of 65-66%.

[fahrenheit]

At 3/30/07 07:53 PM, uhnoesanoob wrote: Please, ADD something to the discussion rather then trying to slander him.

Yeah, because a discussion about whether or not Reagon single handedly defeated communsim is such a thralling conversation.

I think what got in my pants was you.

Maybe if I was egyptian, and I left some sand.

[Memorize]

At 3/30/07 08:20 PM, Freemind wrote:

Actually, he left with an approval rating of 65-66%.

Whatever. Americans were still stupid enough to elect him. Can't wait for another 20-30 years to pass when the hippy generation is dead.

[Freemind]

At 3/30/07 06:29 PM, anime-man10 wrote: In my opinion, Ronald Reagan was the greatest president in U.S History. He single handedly defeated communisim and made the economy better than ever. I have started this forum to see what all other people have to say about Ronald Reagan.

Ronald Reagan was a pretty good president. His acceleration of the arms race helped win the cold war. The economy did well under him. I do not think he was the greatest president ever but he did better than most.

[StigmataMartyr]

reagan defeated communism?, i dont think so. the soviet union fallen from internal problems. and the soviet system was never true communism anyway.

[MortifiedPenguins]

Reagan was a competent president, a hippocrite but a competent president.

Definately not top ten material.

[Memorize]

At 3/30/07 09:32 PM, MortifiedPenguins wrote: Reagan was a competent president, a hippocrite but a competent president.

Definately not top ten material.

It astounds me when no one gives examples.

[Karzand]

Yeah Reagan was a pretty good president but my number one is William Henry Harrison

[MortifiedPenguins]

At 3/30/07 09:37 PM, Memorize wrote:

At 3/30/07 09:32 PM, MortifiedPenguins wrote:

It astounds me when no one gives examples.

Reagen ran on economic conservative policies. Less government spending, a decrease and management of the deficit and a smaller government, all things that I would have voted for If I was alive back then.

During his presidency, Reagen used the great idea of Deficity Spending with his theory of Peace through Strength, the national deficit increased, and the size of government also increased, he helped to strengthen Social security and declared the war on drugs.

And then the whole Iran problem.

What I did like about Reagan was his Reaganomics(it cut income tax costs, tax reform and deregulation, but helped to increase the deficity, so I'm split kinda), his support of the free market, the INF treaty, the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, and putting Alan Greenspan and Paul Vocker(sp) in thier positions as charmen of the federal reserve.

Thats why I said, competent, slightly hippocritcal but not to bad of a president.

[lordofchaos789]

Go Reagan

[anime-man10]

Although Reagan Didn't defeat Communisim, he improved relations with the Soviet Union to amazing levels. Plus, he put the money into Star Wars (the anti-nuke device, not the movie) which would have kept us safe from nuclear attack. I love Reaganomics because although we did have immense debt after his persidency, the economy was still better than it had been in years, and as for the Iran-Contra Scandal, there was never any real proof that he was in any way involved. It was all his crooked cabinent members doing. Plus, he nominated the first woman Supreme Court justice and although I don't pay that much thought, that proves that he was willing to be equal.

[Madeupfred]

He...made fun of Russia? (not that I care...)

[Bolo]

At 3/30/07 07:55 PM, Memorize wrote:

At 3/30/07 07:47 PM, Bolo wrote:

This is the official government report, filed after the Scandal was played out in court—among the conclusions of the investigators involved with the case:

And yet you still fail to connect Reagan himself, with the affair.

Newspaper article Timeline:

July 1985 "An Israeli official suggests a deal with Iran to then- National Security advisor Robert MacFarlane, saying the transfer of arms could lead to a release of US hostages being held in Lebanon. MacFarlane takes the message to President Reagan"

December 1985 "Reagan secretly signs a presidential "finding" which describes all operations with Iran as an arms-for-hostages deal.

January 1986 "Reagans signs a secret Inteligence Finding in which he authorizes CIA participation in the sales, and ordering the process to be kept secret from congress."

October 1986 "[Oliver] North flies to West Germany to meet with an Iranian contact who says he can obtain the release of one hostage for the price of 500 TOW missiles.

November 1986 "American hostage David Jacobsen is released."

November 1986 "The White house admits to selling arms to Iran. Reagan denies the administration has bargained with terrorists or sold arms for hostages."

Also, regarding the myth of Reagan's Oh, so popular presidency.

It's also worth noting that on Christmas Eve 1992, President Bush issued presidential pardons to all indicted in the scandal. The Iran-Contra Affair was ended.