Ronald Reagan on Socialism & Liberalism

I found this piece while suring the met on the day after Christmas (2009).

Ronald Reagan made sense even back them. We sure could use his wisdom today.

Below is a brief discurption which sets up the clip.

Back in 1927, an American socialist, Norman Thomas, six times candidate for president on the Socialist Party ticket, said the American people would never vote for socialism. But he said under the name of liberalism the American people would adopt every fragment of the socialist program.

There are many ways in which our government has invaded the free precincts of private citizens, method of earning a living; our government is in business to the extent of owning more than 19,000 businesses covering 47 different lines of activity. This amounts to 1/5th of the total industrial capacity of the United States.

The Humor of Ronald Reagan

Below is a montage of President Ronald Reagan at his comedic best. He could turn a dig at him into a positive spin and have people laughing. He never let a chance go by to win over someone by his humor. Never dirty, never profane; just good clean humor presented with the timing of an expert.

We were and are very fortunate to have had him lead our great country for eight years. His influence on our country remains to this day.

"I have left orders to be awakened at any time in case of national emergency, even if I'm in a cabinet meeting." - Ronald Reagan

Reagan Handles A Heckler

Ronald Reagan was my favorite President. He make everyone feel secure and that we could be proud to be an American. He brought down the Iron Curtain, defeated Communism, and overall made the United States a force to be respected and reconded with.

Below is a clip of a campaign speech he made towards the end of the campaign on November 3, 1980 in San Diego.

Watch the clip and see Ronald Reagan in the form that made him stand up to the liberals and the Soviets. This clip made me proud I voted for him twice and that he lead our country for eight years. We sure could someone like him in the current election.

On a personal note, I wish I could say the same thing to some of my students. After all, if a President can do it, why cannot a teacher.

"Before I refuse to take your questions, I have an opening statement. " - Ronald Reagan

A Belated Birthday Wish to Ronald Reagan (Thanks to Buckhorn Road)

As I sit here in my overstuffed chair, recovering from the flu and watching Die Hard 2 on television, I am trying to catch up on my blog reading.

Being ill the past three days has taken its toll on me and some things have gotten under my radar. The time spent home has made me think about a great deal of things. I will post about what came to my mind in future posts, but for now, I must rectify a lapse in my posts for which I am sorely sorry.

As I was reading some of my fellow bloggers, I came across a post of one of my favorite fellow education bloggers. He blogs as Chanman and his blog is Buckhorn Road. I recommend his blog to everyone. He has a very unique way of expressing his opinions and is outlook and posts on various subjects are exceptional.

I feel he is a kindred sprint in the blogosphere. Being a fellow educator, I think we feel alike on many things and if we every had the chance to meet, would become fast friends and possible share a six pack while telling war stories about our time in education.

Anyway, back to my current post. I wish to thank Chanman for reminding be of a birthday that occurred this week

This past Wednesday was President Ronald Reagan’s birthday. He would have been 97 years old.

I feel he was the best President of the 20th century, if not of the entire history of the United States. When he died, I cried. Yes, I admit it, I cried. Not as much as when my mother and father passed, but it did stir emotions in me.

Reagan made this country great again. He “toed the line” with the Russians and dared them to act. He made the United States again a power to be feared and respected. Heck, even my Democratic father-in-law voted for him.

We need another Reagan NOW!!!

Not a Clinton, not a Obama, and not a McCain. We need some who actually was a foot soldier in the Reagan Army, not someone who claims to be.

I want to again thank Chanman for reminding me of Reagan’s birthday.

We should never forget the birthdays of the truly great Americans. By remembering their values, beliefs, and all the good they did for our country, their memory will never die.

Happy "Belated" Birthday Mr. President.

What The Country Needs Is Ronald Reagan

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.

AMERIKA: A Mini Series from 1987

On my many nights of insomnia, like tonight, I sometimes find myself surfing the net and looking for anything that appears interesting.

For some reason, I remembered a television mini series from the late 1980s called "Amerika." It was about the Soviet Union taking over the United States.

It had many story lines, but I remember Kris Kristofferson was the star. I went to the Internet Movie Database and looked it up.

It brought back some thoughts from 20 years ago, and it made me think.

If John Kerry had been elected, the United States could have ended up like it was depicted in the movie.

I am very afraid if Hillary or Obama get elected, we could be looking at the same thing. The tag line for the movie was:

1997. The world is different. The dream is the same. Let freedom ring.

I shutter to think that we could end up like that.

We need Ronald Reagan back, or at least someone who will have his ideals and leadership.

The GOP Presidential Candidates Debate TONIGHT

I have been watching the GOP Debate on MSNBC this evening.

Much is being said and I am becoming more knowledgable about each of their platforms and views.

There is one thing I realy like about the debate. That one thing is where it is being held, The Ronald Reagan Library.

It is the perfect place to hold the debate, in the library of Ronald Reagan, IMHO the BEST President of the United States in my lifetime and perhaps of all time.

The good Lord knows we could sure use him now.