Happy Birthday, Ronald Reagan!
Today marks the 99th anniversary of the birth of the greatest American president of the second half on the twentieth century, the greatest of the entire century if we consider just domestic policy. Born in Tampico, Illinois, Ronald Wilson never lost faith in the American nation — or the American people.
Or, as the Gipper himself might put it, he always have faith in the American nation and the American people. He kept his optimism even when times were tough. When, before his economic policies kicked in and his poll numbers took a nosedive, he kept his good humor, quipping to his pollster Richard Wirthlin that he might have to get himself shot again.
He held the line against growth in domestic spending even as he faced a big-government loving Democratic majority House of Representatives for his entire eight years in the White House. By building up the military and standing up to the Soviets, calling theirs an “evil Empire,” he brought it down, winning the Cold War without a shot being fired.
He worked closely with our allies, particularly the Brits, forging a strong partnership with his good friend, the Iron Lady, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. He championed freedom and considered himself the luckiest man alive, not because he got to preside over this great nation and helped restore its stature, but because he had won the love of the former Nancy Davis and got to spend the better part of his life with her.
He knew that while he may have been born good, she made him great.
And that’s one reason he was great; Ronald Reagan was grateful for what he had. And we are grateful for his inspiration and his leadership. And for his lady who gave him comfort on the journey and the strength to stand tall for the ideals and ideas which make this nation what it is.
22 Comments »
RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI
to Daniel…… how poignant yet relevant…. It reminded me of so much from back then…too bad he’s gone, cause we sure could use him now…… thankyou for posting the videos….Happy Birthday Mr. President….
Comment by Spartann — February 6, 2010 @ 5:51 am - February 6, 2010
Now more than ever.
Wish I was old enough, then, to know what was going on.
Comment by ThatGayConservative — February 6, 2010 @ 6:25 am - February 6, 2010
I sure wish I could be at the Library today for the celebration. He truly earned the title Mr. President. He cared about us not himself. Dan, your friend Leah posted a comment about a tour of Berlin she just took. No mention of RR’s part in the fall of the wall.
Comment by PatriotMom — February 6, 2010 @ 7:17 am - February 6, 2010
A good man. A good president. He had his faults but I do miss him.
Comment by John — February 6, 2010 @ 8:21 am - February 6, 2010
I am not a Reagan hater. But to say “the greatest American president of the second half on the twentieth century, the greatest of the entire century if we consider just domestic policy.” Is typically hyperbolistic.
His best accomplishment was outspending the Russians. He did a great job of explaining why it was important to outspend them and of course he granted amnesty to illegal immigrants
He also abandoned Lebanon. Armed Iran, negotiated and gave in to terrorist and on and on. But the greatest disaster of Reagan was his economic policy. He started the conservative policy of tax cuts coupled with high spending in times of economic expansion. He raised the debt to 3 trillion dollars! Thus we are where we are now. His refusal to raise taxes coupled with his love of military spending started spiral to where we are now. All of his government spending did help the economy improve but he lacked the guts to balance the budget when times were good.
Reagan was not a bad president. But your attempts to mythologize Reagan have gone too far. And to even suggest he was better than Roosevelt is ludicrous.
Comment by gillie — February 6, 2010 @ 9:24 am - February 6, 2010
Let’s see, starting off a quarter century of American prosperity versus keeping the country in a depression. Hmmmmmm…….which is better? His tax cuts worked just as Kennedy’s did.
Comment by ThatGayConservative — February 6, 2010 @ 10:22 am - February 6, 2010
I’m curious, ghillie. How do you rationalize bitching about Republican spending and yet circle the wagons around Chairman Obama and defending his outspending?
Comment by ThatGayConservative — February 6, 2010 @ 10:33 am - February 6, 2010
Gillie: Reagan’s helping bring the Soviet Union to its knees is reason enough to tag him as one of our greatest presidents. We can nitpick all the usual greats like Washington, Lincoln, FDR, etc. but like Reagan their biggest accomplishments are not undone by their mistakes.
Comment by John — February 6, 2010 @ 10:53 am - February 6, 2010
Except for the communist FMLN here in El Salvador, Ronald Reagan is revered as a saint. It is said by those who cherish democracy, if it wasn´t for Ronald Reagan, El Salvador would not be free today.¨
Happy Birthday, President Reagan
Comment by Roberto — February 6, 2010 @ 11:00 am - February 6, 2010
That speech is truly awe-inspiring. What a fine speaker he was. And thinker (funny, I was always told he was nothing but a senile old warmonger – thanks, NBC!).
Comment by Charles — February 6, 2010 @ 12:22 pm - February 6, 2010
Just got back from Berlin. Where one guide was happy to point out where Obama spoke to the masses, but was silent when I pointed out the wonderful speech by Reagan given at the Brandenburg Gate.
Comment by Leah — February 6, 2010 @ 12:40 pm - February 6, 2010
A sweet story about RR the man:
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=YTFkZTcyMzFmNjNhZWQ1ZTMwY2NiZTNjNTE0YTAxMGE=
gillie – you’re hopeless.
Comment by SoCalRobert — February 6, 2010 @ 12:41 pm - February 6, 2010
No one freed more of humankind than my hero Ronaldus Magnus. Where communism enslaved millions in the old Soviet union and eastern Europe, Reagan battled to free them from tyranny,
He was great, head and shoulders above most of our other leaders.
He rescued his country from a malayse so deep it was striking. I was 28 when Reagan was first elected. He changed my life. I began to love politics and to see how it affected peoples everyday lives. He wasn’t on TV everyday, probably not every week. He challenged Americans to stand up and do for themselves. because that was where they would get the true joy and satisfaction of a solid and fruitful life. He knew that waiting around for a government to do something for us was a waste of time and the depth of sadness. When energized 250 million people could and did amazing things. It was Ronald Reagan who challenged us to be great again. He saved the shining city on a hill.
Comment by Gene in Pennsylvania — February 6, 2010 @ 1:44 pm - February 6, 2010
Gene from pennsylvania I could not have said it better. Ronald Reagan came to us when we needed him most. As far as I am concerned to compare him to FDR is demeaning to Ronald Reagan. He so far outshone FDR.
And what a class act he was in time of tragedy – just like President Bush driving immediately to Fort Hood when he knew he could comfort his soldiers
Comment by PatriotMom — February 6, 2010 @ 3:30 pm - February 6, 2010
Ronald Reagan…. who fiddled while the AIDS crisis began. Who “made us comfortable with our own prejudices” (as Rosalyn Carter once said). Who climbed into bed with the “Religious Right.” Who set the stage for the destructive policies of George W. Bush. The “best” president? Well, it’s a matter of one’s perspective, isn’t it?
Comment by Lew — February 6, 2010 @ 6:18 pm - February 6, 2010
Lew, citing Jimmy Carter’s wife as an authority on Ronald Reagan is like quoting Jerry Falwell’s widow as an authority on gay people.
Comment by B. Daniel Blatt — February 6, 2010 @ 6:27 pm - February 6, 2010
And just what was he supposed to have done? I don’t think it would have made a whole hell of a lot of difference. AIDS wasn’t identified until 1982 and still few people knew what exactly it was or what to do about it. Money earmarked for AIDS has been included in the budget since 1984.
As Edwin Meese said
So I’d like to know, if you can provide anything useful than liberal urban legends, how exactly Reagan “fiddled”, and what difference it would have made. And you have to do better than “The amount of money earmarked was not enough.” because it never is.
Also, can you point out the “fiddling” here:
http://www.fas.org/spp/civil/crs/96-293.pdf
Do you have actual evidence or just liberal lying points?
Comment by ThatGayConservative — February 6, 2010 @ 7:36 pm - February 6, 2010
I read at NRO that folks have started spontaneously having Reagan Dinners on his birthday to honor his legacy. Apparently, many did this after Lincoln’s death as well.
It’s a capital idea and I will set my calender for next year to do the same – a new February tradition.
Happy birthday, Mr. President! You are sorely missed.
Best wishes,
-MFS
Comment by MFS — February 6, 2010 @ 7:38 pm - February 6, 2010
Lew – you’re just regurgitating talking points without a clue as to what you’re talking about… the Big Lie (as there are many on the left).
If you care to educate yourself, you can look at the following (in addition to TGC’s reading suggestion).
You can read, can’t you?
http://www.indegayforum.org/news/show/26671.html
http://www.nationalreview.com/murdock/murdock200312030913.asp
BTW: what does Rosalyn have to say about Jimmy’s bigotry and unfortunate tendency to suck up to totalitarian tyrants?
Comment by SoCalRobert — February 6, 2010 @ 8:27 pm - February 6, 2010
Is it any wonder why we can’t teach liberals about communism socialism capitalism? When we have to waste time detailing the accomplishments one of Americas greatest statesmen? Liberals are mind numbingly ignorant.
Comment by Gene in Pennsylvania — February 6, 2010 @ 8:57 pm - February 6, 2010
[...] Happy Birthday, Ronald Reagan! [...]
Pingback by GayPatriot » Reagan’s Ideas Resonate: Americans Opposed to Big Government — February 7, 2010 @ 11:45 am - February 7, 2010
I admire both Ronald Reagan and Abraham Lincoln. Both are my personal heroes. Two dinners in the same month can be a little much. I suggest that an annual dinner be held on February 9th as the Reagan/Lincoln Bithday Dinner.
Comment by Roberto — February 7, 2010 @ 3:01 pm - February 7, 2010