Some of the Republican candidates for President are trying to align themselves with the legacy of Ronald Reagan. They are attempting to portray their platforms as similar to Reagan’s during his eight wonderful years as President.They want us to believe that they can take our country back to the times of Reagan, where the United States was respected and feared in the same sentence. Back to the times when Reagan stood eye to eye with the Soviet Union; daring them to blink.
I remember the Reagan Presidency. He was like your wise old grandfather, taking about how we could be great again after the four-year debacle know as the Jimmy Carter Administration.
When terrorists blew up a discothèque, frequented by American troops in Berlin, Reagan stated when he found out who was behind it; he would take severe and decisive action against them.
Muammar Quaddafi of Libya was behind the attack. When that fact was found out, Reagan sent planes to bomb Libya. If memory serves me, he attacked one of the known locations of Quaddafi headquarters. Quaddafi was not there, but one of his young sons was. He died in the attack. After that, we heard nothing out of him. Quaddafi did absolutely nothing. Why? Because he knew, Reagan was serious.
When Reagan came up with the idea of building the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), the Soviets shook in their boots. They complained that it would upset the balance of power and would give the USA a first strike weapon.
Reagan responded after the technology was developed, he would share it with them. Its existence would make conventions atomic and nuclear weapons obsolete.
The Soviets were afraid of Reagan. They knew he was serious and would not allow the United States to take a back seat to anyone when it came to being a super power and defending the world against the evils of Communism.
Many chastised Reagan at the time and some to this day hate his memory. They cannot find one good thing to say about him and his administration.
So why it is that the candidates of today want to align themselves with his image? I see it as an attempt to gain support for their Presidential bid. The question I have is “Do they really think people will believe that they can be the kind of President Reagan was?”
Growing up, I remember how my parents revered John F. Kennedy. They though he was the best thing to come around since sliced bread. I, too, was caught up in the Kennedy mystic. I event had a bust relief picture of his in my room.
As I got older, I studied, read and found out how the Kennedy Presidency was not very memorable. It was a group of people who were caught up in this handsome young man and his wife’s run for the White House. It sort of sounds like the Clintons and the Obamas.
I equate Kennedy’s run in 1960 with the Obama run today and the Clinton’s run in 1992, 1996 and today. All talk and no substance. They talk of change without telling anyone what that change is.
The Republicans need a candidate who truly is a pupil of Reagan. The Republicans need a person who emulates the best traits and insights of The Great Communicator. Not only do the Republicans need it, the United States of America need it.
