Sail on Ronald Reagan

SchoolGirlHeart · Post by **SchoolGirlHeart** » June 10, 2004 12:14 am

Ronald Reagan wrote:Whatever else history may say about me when I'm gone, I hope it will report that I appeal to your best hopes not your worst fears, to your confidence rather than your doubts, and may all of you as Americans never forget your heroic origins, never fail to seek divine guidance, and never, never lose your natural, god-given optimism.

Brown Eyed Girl · Post by **Brown Eyed Girl** » June 10, 2004 1:08 am

SchoolGirlHeart wrote:
Ronald Reagan wrote:Whatever else history may say about me when I'm gone, I hope it will report that I appeal to your best hopes not your worst fears, to your confidence rather than your doubts, and may all of you as Americans never forget your heroic origins, never fail to seek divine guidance, and never, never lose your natural, god-given optimism.

Amen, and thanks SGH.

Sail on, Ronnie, it's been a lovely cruise

springparrot · Post by **springparrot** » June 10, 2004 1:14 am

SchoolGirlHeart wrote:I'm going to ramble for a minute, too.

A couple of things about Reagan's presidency stand out for me. First of all, I'll never forget sitting in class at the U.S. Naval Academy, knowing that Reagan's inauguration was going on just a few miles down the road, but all on the edge of our seats waiting for more important news. That morning, our classmate had been whisked away and put on a plane for Germany. His father was one of the hostages in Tehran....... We knew the fact that he'd been sent to Germany probably meant that the hostages were about to be released. And sure enough....

Ronald Reagan had an awful lot to do with restoring pride in our country. It felt good to be an American again.

Then, in March of 81...... Our coach had a new puppy.... She had named him "Reagan." We were walking back from practice when word spread across campus: "Reagan's been shot!" One girl, thinking only about our little world, asked, "Who would shoot a little puppy????" Well, not exactly.....

Ronald Reagan was supposed to be our graduation speaker, but there were credible threats against his life at the time, and the Secret Service couldn't secure the stadium well enough, so they decided it wasn't safe for him to be there.....

Just rambling, here....

Thank you Jen.....I appreciate your ramblings.....

SchoolGirlHeart · Post by **SchoolGirlHeart** » June 10, 2004 1:33 am

Brown Eyed Girl wrote:Sail on, Ronnie, it's been a lovely cruise

It's funny.... I see no disrespect in other people referring to him as "Ronnie," but I can't.

He was my Commander-in-Chief. If he'd ordered me into harm's way, I wouldn't have had a second's hesitation. To me, he'll always be "Mr. President," or "Sir," or "Ronald Reagan" or even "RWR," but never "Ronnie"...

TheSecretsInTheCrust · Post by **TheSecretsInTheCrust** » June 10, 2004 5:02 am

SchoolGirlHeart wrote:
Brown Eyed Girl wrote:Sail on, Ronnie, it's been a lovely cruise
It's funny.... I see no disrespect in other people referring to him as "Ronnie," but I can't.

He was my Commander-in-Chief. If he'd ordered me into harm's way, I wouldn't have had a second's hesitation. To me, he'll always be "Mr. President," or "Sir," or "Ronald Reagan" or even "RWR," but never "Ronnie"...

Same with me Jen...He was THE Commander-in-Chief. I can think of only one way to send off such a great leader.

2

Key Lime Lee · Post by **Key Lime Lee** » June 10, 2004 7:25 am

It's so odd because, as someone who became politically aware during the Reagan Administration my impressions of the man and the leader are so completely opposite to everything that's been said here.

Regardless, alzheimers is a brutal disease and whether I respected the man or not, no one should have to go that way.

I certainly feel for his family and my thoughts are with those of you to whom he was a hero.

iuparrothead · Post by **iuparrothead** » June 10, 2004 11:25 am

Key Lime Lee wrote:It's so odd because, as someone who became politically aware during the Reagan Administration my impressions of the man and the leader are so completely opposite to everything that's been said here.

It's nostalgia... for a time that wasn't necessarily perfect, but a lot different (and many think better) than now. I liked his ideology... I wish our politicians today could work in the same manner he did. He wasn't perfect either, but I'd take a million Reagans over a single Clinton.

As I watched the funeral procession last night in the Capital rotunda, Peter Jennings reminded the audience that Nancy is 82 years old. God bless her for the strength she's showing right now. I hope to have half the courage she has when I'm her age. She amazes and astounds me.

ejr · Post by **ejr** » June 10, 2004 11:36 am

wKLLs

diamonddan · Post by **diamonddan** » June 10, 2004 11:53 am

It was an outstanding service to a great American.

I almost lost it when Mrs Reagan reached out and touched the flag.

Hoosier PH · Post by **Hoosier PH** » June 10, 2004 11:55 am

Key Lime Lee wrote:It's so odd because, as someone who became politically aware during the Reagan Administration my impressions of the man and the leader are so completely opposite to everything that's been said here.

Don't you have a bad impression of every conservative?

Key Lime Lee · Post by **Key Lime Lee** » June 10, 2004 12:06 pm

Hoosier PH wrote:
Don't you have a bad impression of every conservative?

Haven't met or heard them all so... no. I form my impressions one at a time based on words and actions, not on generalizations.

ccabsolut01 · Post by **ccabsolut01** » June 10, 2004 12:49 pm

Sail on, Mr President...

You will be missed..

brettsky · Post by **brettsky** » June 10, 2004 2:50 pm

He made most of our country proud again.

Thanks Mr. president

Caribbean Soul Man · Post by **Caribbean Soul Man** » June 10, 2004 3:03 pm

Key Lime Lee wrote:
Hoosier PH wrote:
Don't you have a bad impression of every conservative?
Haven't met or heard them all so... no. I form my impressions one at a time based on words and actions, not on generalizations.

Actions? - I don't have any idea how old you are so I don't want to make assumptions about your perspective, but I know my kids don't go to bed at night worrying about Soviet missiles or Soviet leaders or Soviet ANYTHING the way I sometimes did during the later days of the Cold War. You can thank President Reagan for that. Some scholars would argue that the fall of Soviet communism and the eastern block was inevitable. Perhaps, but one thing is for sure, President Reagan and his steadfast will not to simply "contain" the Soviets but to defeat them certainly accelerated their demise dramatically. He won the Cold War without firing a shot.

He changed the whole mindset for the positive, not just in America but all over the world. He pulled us out of the dark hole we were in following Viet Nam, Nixon / Watergate, the Carter years of recession with 13% inflation rates, 18% interest rates, a fictitious energy crisis, etc. Yes, I remember 18% interest rates. He brought respect back to the US Military, integrity back to the Whitehouse, and revived our Nation's economy by passing tax relief much the way JFK did it in the early '60s.

He did all this while his political opponents were in control of both the House and the Senate! By reducing taxes, the frequency of transactions which generate tax revenue went up tremendously and tax revenues doubled. The budget deficits during the Reagan years resulted from Congress increasing spending faster than revenues were growing. Remember, Congress is the government body which appropriates spending, not the President.

When he ran for re-election in 1984, he asked one simple question - "Are you better off than you were 4 years ago?" If not, he said, then I've obviously failed you and you should seek a new leader. But if you are, I ask you to vote for me and together, we'll continue to make this country as great as we all know it can be. The result was a complete landslide with all but one state voting overwhelmingly to give President Reagan 4 more years.

I've intentionally tried to avoid partisan sounding comments here and stick to historical facts. Most people who are old enough to remember the America that President Reagan inherited and the America that he handed back over after 8 years of his leadership will agree that he left it in tremendously better shape. Whether we know it or not, all of us are beneficiaries of this great man.

Key Lime Lee · Post by **Key Lime Lee** » June 10, 2004 3:15 pm

Caribbean Soul Man wrote:Whether we know it or not, all of us are beneficiaries of this great man.

On that we clearly disagree.

My perspective is not partisan and is also based on facts and first-hand experience. But this is not the time for that discussion.

SchoolGirlHeart · Post by **SchoolGirlHeart** » June 10, 2004 3:34 pm

Key Lime Lee wrote:
Caribbean Soul Man wrote:Whether we know it or not, all of us are beneficiaries of this great man.
On that we clearly disagree.

My perspective is not partisan and is also based on facts and first-hand experience. But this is not the time for that discussion.

Thank you, Lee!!!

If y'all want to have a political discussion, have at it. But please start a different thread, and leave this thread as a tribute to an American who loved his country and bore a *horrible* disease with dignity.

Thanks!

Caribbean Soul Man · Post by **Caribbean Soul Man** » June 10, 2004 4:06 pm

SchoolGirlHeart wrote:Thank you, Lee!!!

If y'all want to have a political discussion, have at it. But please start a different thread, and leave this thread as a tribute to an American who loved his country and bore a *horrible* disease with dignity.

Thanks!

Did I miss something SGH? I see no political discussion here. Just a simple reply summarizing some of President Reagan's many accomplishments (actions). I am in agreement with you that this is a tribute thread and that is the purpose of my posting...to pay tribute to a great leader and to keep it positive

Sidew13 · Post by **Sidew13** » June 10, 2004 4:30 pm

I agree with Jen. Leave this thread as a rememberance thread to President Ronald W. Reagan.

Even I could see the political debate starting.
Thank you KLL for being reserve.

MojosMama · Post by **MojosMama** » June 10, 2004 4:36 pm

My daughter was adopted from Russia. Thank you President Reagan. Sail on..........you are whole again.......

diamonddan · Post by **diamonddan** » June 11, 2004 12:18 pm

For those of you at work (like me) yahoo.com has free live video of today's services.