GOP Needs to Forget Reagan: Wall Street Journal Op-Ed

wsj.com:

The Republican Party's unending tale of woe sounds like a friend's account of sitting through the New York Yankees' 22-4 loss to the Cleveland Indians at the new Yankee Stadium April 18.

In the 14-run second inning, three Indians hit home runs into the right-field seats, including a grand-slam. One ball hit a woman in the head because the fans had stopped watching the game. A nasty fight broke out in the stands. After the fourth inning (16-2), the subway trains taking Yankee faithful back to Manhattan were packed. Republicans know the feeling.

Read the whole story: wsj.com

Comments

[lapdogs]

The Republicans have already forgotten about Ronald Reagan as the man they look up to. They have a "New Master" now, named El Rushbo.

If you don't want to make a 180 degree turn from what you believe in and apologize with your head between your legs, you had better OBEY every single word that Limbaugh demands of you through his tinfoil microphone. Or Else!!!

Don't believe me? Just get out an egg timer the next time a Republican says something that Limbaugh disagrees with or that criticizes Limbaugh.

And I always thought it was just the Democrats who were spineless and couldn't stand up for their beliefs. Welcome aboard Republicans! Welcome aboard!!

[GrowBag]

Reagan was a special needs president.

[white mende man]

Not comparing Reagan to christ but the Republican Party uses anyone and anything to further their cause whether right or wrong.

[SammyD]

I kinda like remembering the man who brought down The Wall that no one else did. I'm certain there are millions of people who would thank him for opening opportunities even they're not American.

[theclosetconservative2]

It's amazing that a bunch of effete elitist liberals from the northeast and the left coast hate their own country. People from the old Warsaw Pact countries are greatful for how America helped free them. http://theclosetconservative.com

[3dtrix]

Did you say EFFETE? Really? Haven't heard that one in ages - really hurts my feelings. Sheesh - that word lost its currency before Gilligan was in re-runs...

[Jackalheadedgod]

I'd say he was present for the collapse of the Soviet Union. Their collapse cannot be solely attributed to saint ronnie (and mommy).

Cheers,
Jack

[Puffin16]

I agree 100%.

[Connolly1916]

Even if you admire his foreign policy achievements, which I don't, you cannot deny the fact that policies Reagan enacted set forces in motion that have weakened the middle class and concentrated much of the country's wealth in too few hands.

[greatlardini]

Giving Genghis Ron credit for the fall of communism is like giving a ballplayer who hits a three run homer in the ninth inning of a 13-0 ballgame credit for the game winning hit. Knowledgable people know better.

[Mikeeee]

On what basis do you think raygun brought the wall down? Most historians (please exclude the repub breast beating sycophants) have attributed it to a convergence of many things, the biggest being the election of a Polish Pope who turned out to be an activist in the Eastern Block. If ronnie had anything it do with it, it's not readily apparent.

[Kristopher Wright]

The wall came down under Bush I. Just sayin'...

[Bobzmcishl]

Huffpo once again put out a misleading headline: the WSJ asked the question, "Should the GOP forget Reagan?" and then answered in an oblique way no. They believe his philosophy of incentives for work, saving, and investing are still sound. A very simplistic message to be sure, and the Journal to be expected papered over all of the downsides of Reagan, which have hurt almost all of the middle class to this day. The GOP will continue to fawn over Reagan to their detriment - it prevents them from focusing on new leadership instead of relying on the rants of a radio talk show host. In hindsight the GOP would have been better off electing McCain over Bush in 2000. McCain was more in the libertarian Goldwater mold, and would have actually tried to reduce the size of government. And at the same time, McCain is much more compassionate than Bush, more in the mold of a Jack Kemp. Bush, even in his own family was not considered much. He let the country down big time - a sad commentary on how someone so ill equipped to govern could get so far in politics. What does that say about us?

[3dtrix]

A lie is a lie is a lie is a lie - it doesn't matter how many time one repeats a lie - it still isn't true. The supposed "greatness" of Ronald Reagan is a lie on the face of it - always was - and the US will never regain moral, social, or economic pre-eminence among nations until the lie has been refuted and recanted.

To our "conservative" fellow citizens - understand that this cult of Reagan is the very line of demarcation for those of us on the other side of the philosophical divide; the minute you announce your membership in the cult, nothing you say after that has any credibility whatsoever, no matter how many time you repeat the talking points. See above.

Death squads, anyone? Would you like some deregulation with that? How about some sweet decimation of the middle class with aids denial sauce? Yummmmm....

[gladiator777]

You are a funny man, you have good comedy!

[theclosetconservative2]

Then you're going to miss out on some great history and relevent information that may lead to you not being so angry. You can't be taken seriously if you decide what you wish to be true and then simply declare that it is. You say Reagan messed up the country. How do you back that up beyond your own personal anger? Where are your facts and figures on how the middle class was decimated. How do you substantiate any of this? http://theclosetconservative.com

[3dtrix]

Hey - you just spilled some of your trickle-down on me! I know it's just a reflex, but you could at least apologize...

[Icantbelieveher]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/21/opinion/21krugman.html

http://hnn.us/articles/8301.html

All Americans do much better economically under democrats!

[TheImpaler]

You are right! Regan's legacy should be exposed for what it was!

[Mikeeee]

It still amazes me that every repub president from nixon to bush should have been impeached and yet the US voter kept electing repubs.
So when you're talking about reagan, make sure you look hard at your parents, brothers, sisters or maybe yourself and ask "What were you thinking"?

[kasinca]

Look at the final months and the dirty tricks, Willie Horton, Bush vs. Gore, OH close votes, etc. They steal and lie very well and the American dunces fall for it.

[gladiator777]

Reagan was also a uniter not a divider as the democrats are, thats why he was so good at getting democratic votes too, because he explained to them so well why big gov't and big taxes is sooooo stupid and dumb.

[gladiator777]

You guys are hilarious. Was he an actor? Yes. He also was governor twice, he had so much more experience than Obama prior to becoming president its not even funny. What does Obama have on his resume? Community organizer, ya those some real credentials there!

[TigerShoes]

Bad actor. See "Bedtime for Bonzo."

Bad president. See "the 1980s."

[gladiator777]

Ya, the economy took off under his leadership, what a horrible president! He also helped bring about the end of the USSR, ahahahahah, obama is nothing compared to all that!

[white mende man]

Reagan was one of the greatest American presidents as George W. Bush was one of the worst. No point in being blinded by emotions. Be an American first before before being a party loyalist.

[Cookie100]

IT'S 21% !!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!

These trolls never get anything right!

[GeoLee]

Rather than forgetting Reagan, they should open their eyes and realize that all the real trouble in our economy started when Ronald Reagan came in and started deregulating everything from the HealthCare Industry (whose costs have far exceeded that of every other sector since and have directly led to the demise of American based companies who can go overseas where there is universal health care as a right) bank regulations and the like all in the name of free market economy. he ws the father of the largest change in quintiles of wealth in 100 years leaving us with a country now run by a very small economic aristocracy that controls well over 60% of all income in this country. thanks to Ronal Reagan, our country and Saudia Arabia mirror each other inthat a small family of people yield a huge amount of financial and political power at the expese of the rest of the citizens..­.Democracy­? hell no! Aristocracy is now our form of government thanks to Ronald Reagan.

[gladiator777]

Ya, look at all those democratic nobles telling us to pay taxes while they don't. Good dog, ruff ruff!

[ywcachieve]

Reagan started the destruction of the middle-class, he was a disaster to anyone who was not rich.

They liked Reagan so much because he handily transferred the wealth of the nation to the bank accounts of the rich, making them richer, and sending the middle-class on a downward spiral.

I never will forget how Reagan effed-up California, when he was governor.

[lornejl]

He wanted to cut down the redwoods and drill giant holes in the mountains to let the smog out.

[Jackalheadedgod]

He emptied out the mental hospitals - opened the doors that led out the street.

Cheers,
Jack

[wordvarc]

Maybe the GOP should follow Reagan's gracious lead.
Ronald Reagan forgot Ronald Reagan in his second term.
His handlers were careful who to let see him as he kindly agreed with and promised to help any person or cause presented to him.

[Dbos]

Key words forgot and handlers .

[wordvarc]

Stage 2 Alxheimers...

[Phideaux]

What I find hilarious is that Ray-guns was merely a useful front man on par with W. Shrub, but the GOP faithful never figured either one of them out. A smiling affable face for the crowds to see and not be alarmed while their pockets were being picked. "Trickle Down Economics"... yeah, right. We're witnessing now how that worked out.

It's nearly 30 years since Ron was elected and he's still adored by the mainstream repubs. Folks, the man was an actor... and not a particularly good one at that. He delivered his lines and got the crowds all fired up, but if anyone really thinks Ron was in charge of anything they're sadly mistaken. Ron had the LOOK of a leader, nothing more; form over substance. His handlers made sure he said and did all the right stuff, while in the smoke filled back rooms, our National piggy bank was being plundered.

[AuntWilma]

I sure wish we could forget about that %&@# phony. It turns my stomach every time I have to drive on the street they named after him.