S/O from Favorite Prez: Reagan

[Tamzyn]

It's quite interesting to me, someone who is not from the US, to see who's everyones fav prez has been. I guess, because the people who are around me, including my husband, rate Reagan as one of the worst presidents, it's interesting to see that he is such a popular guy! lol! I don't really know enough about him to form my own opinon, but who here liked him and who here didn't?

Again, my husband has very negative views on him and labels him as a racist who hated the poor and only cared about 'certain people' in the USA. Looking on the internet, he is not the only one with those views.

So those who like him, why do you .. and those who don't, why don't you?

[NavyKat]

he doesn't like the Gipper?
it's all good
I am a Reagan Fan, if I wasn't at work right now I'd send
you the paper I did on him for my history class.
Short version is;
Reaganomics, end of the cold war, his personality, attempted assassination survivor, Jelly Beans, etc...

here a little biased but some highlights
http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/pres.../ronaldreagan/

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.

[jennypage]

I don't like Reagan. At all. It surprises me that people like him too, especially since he pretty much eliminated the middle class and made the poor poorer and the rich richer. Trickle down "Reaganomics" didn't work, he was an elitist and a racist, and was just another "old white man" looking out for his own.

[USCsemperfi]

I don't hate him, but he definitely isn't my favorite.

He did much of the same things as George W. Bush. He was the role model for the previous Presidency.

He tried to declare ketchup as a vegetable.
He promoted the assembly of gas guzzling vehicles in Detroit.
The Soviet Union was already failing before he became president. He can't single handedly be credited with that, no matter how many people believe it.
He put mentally ill people on the streets by decreasing public spending, which is still and evident problem.
More appointed officials were convicted of crimes than under any other President (Over 100).
Iran-Contra.
He pretty much ignored the AIDS crisis.
He more than tripled the national debt. (He cut taxes for only the wealthiest of Americans, which put additional burden on the middle class and working poor, and because of this mistake had to increase taxes for 6 additional years.)
He suppressed information that abortion did not cause long term mental of physical effects to a mother who had one.

Just a few tid-bits.

Let the flaming begin. Cringe.
It's just my opinion, and I realize that many people on here love him and are very conservative/republican...whichever. I am not condemning what you believe in. He did good things too.

[Marley]

Reagan had a lot of personal charisma and he really defined conservatism for many at the time. His legacy is disputed. He has his supporters. He has his many critics.

I grew up during the 80s so he is the first real president I remember. I can recall Star Wars, Welfare Queens, constructive engagement with South Africa , trickle down economics and all sorts of social/economic inequities. Many consider him to have presided over a war on the poor.

Also, I know quite a bit about Reagan's role as Governor of California during the 1960s upheavals.

No love lost for him, even though he is interesting from a historical perspective.

[jennypage]

I grew up during the 80's too and I remember him and I remember how ****ty our economy got and how rich the rich got. It was out of control.

[eelo]

Originally Posted by USCsemperfi I don't hate him, but he definitely isn't my favorite. He did much of the same things as George W. Bush. He was the role model for the previous Presidency. He tried to declare ketchup as a vegetable. He promoted the assembly of gas guzzling vehicles in Detroit. The Soviet Union was already failing before he became president. He can't single handedly be credited with that, no matter how many people believe it. He put mentally ill people on the streets by decreasing public spending, which is still and evident problem. More appointed officials were convicted of crimes than under any other President (Over 100). Iran-Contra. He pretty much ignored the AIDS crisis. He more than tripled the national debt. (He cut taxes for only the wealthiest of Americans, which put additional burden on the middle class and working poor, and because of this mistake had to increase taxes for 6 additional years.) He suppressed information that abortion did not cause long term mental of physical effects to a mother who had one. Just a few tid-bits. Let the flaming begin. Cringe. It's just my opinion, and I realize that many people on here love him and are very conservative/republican...whichever. I am not condemning what you believe in. He did good things too.

I love it when people save me time.

Let's not forget that the "hostage crisis" was a scam. The captors were ready to release the hostages earlier but they were told to wait until after Saint Ronnie's inauguration, to give people the idea that he was so strong and powerful and such an anti-Carter that the Iranians were just cringing in their boots at the thought of him being The Most Powerful Man In The World. It was a scam.

[Alexandra]

What was interesting to me was that some people admired Reagan as well as the Roosevelts. To me they are polar opposites.

[jennypage]

Originally Posted by Alexandra What was interesting to me was that some people admired Reagan as well as the Roosevelts. To me they are polar opposites.

I thought the same thing.

[Viva]

Originally Posted by USCsemperfi He tried to declare ketchup as a vegetable.

I completely forgot about that. HILARIOUS. And I agree. I would rate him as one of the worst presidents ever mostly because of his crapinomics legacy. Greed is good, trickle down. That philosophy needs to die.

Remember when Quayle added an "E" when spelling "potato"?