The Death of a Mediocre President

[sdelmonte]

Kind of surprised that few have posted about this yet. But I am still a political beast, and one who will spned the next week cringing at the coverage of Reagan's death, so here are some (edited) thoughts I composed for another board...

I do offer sincere condolences to RR's family, who have suffered for many years as they watched a man they care for decline and essentially vanish. I also offer condolences to those who admired the man.

That said, while compared to Dubya RR seems a lot better, I consider him a mediocre (if successful) president who gets credit for keeping most of his promises and for helping to end to Cold War, but who for the most part stood for all the wrong things. He ended the New Deal era of social welfare, increased the deficit greatly, turned his back on the cities, dealt a blow to the labor unions, and paved the way for the excesses of the curent regime. He presided over the sometimes absurd, sometimes dangerous Iran-Contra mess, confused reality with the movies, surrounded himself with increasingly corrupt aides, and left this nation in worse shape than he found it in, though few seemed to notice.

Never mind that I never understood why he was called the Great Communicator. (Give me Bill Clinton's speechifying any day.)

I say all this now simply because it will be whitewsahed away till the funeral. I remember the utter crap we got when Nixon died. It was as if Wategate never happened. Dead celebrities get free rides, even dead disgraced politicians. I do not want to stop the millions who disagree with my assessment of Reagan from mourning him. I just don't want to see the media's iconography.

(Of course, I would bet than when Jimmy Carter passes on, he doesn't get the same Get Out of Jail card, even though I have long admired and respected him far more than any other ex-president.)

Between RR and the almost-sacred tones that the anniversary of D-Day is now receiving, I think I will skip the news today.

Comments

What if...

[mannoftalent.livejournal.com]

I keep wondering what the world would have been like if Reagan had beaten out Bogart for Casablanca... Perhaps Reagan's film career would have taken off and he wouldn't have gone into politics. Then again, we could have also ended up with Pres. Marion Michael Morrison aka John Wayne

Re: What if...

[sdelmonte]

I've long felt that Reagan would simply have torpedoed the success of "Casablanca," much as just about any other reputed alternate casting might have. The real castof that film was a series of lucky breaks.

As for a President Wayne, he was very polticial, and it's a bit of a wonder that he didn't run for office. He probably would have been very much like Reagan.

[dotsomething.livejournal.com]

Some of the tv coverage I saw actually mentioned he put in his efforts to "fight communism" during the McCarthy hearings. It hasn't been mentioned anywhere I've come across since. I wish it would get discussed--that was a dark time of american history and we're doomed unless we shine a light on such things.

I think he didn't do a terrible job. Maybe it's just in contrast to what we have now. I feel sort of sad because he was such a familiar figure during my younger teen years, and he was a comforting speaker. However, I didn't agree with his policies and you're right, there's going to be whitewashing, and yes, I think Carter won't get the same gentle treatment, which is unfair but that's how things have been lately.

I wonder

[mannoftalent.livejournal.com]

I wonder if by fighting communism that meant that in his role as President of the Screen Actors Guild he was part of the blacklisting of writers and actors that took place during the McCarthy years

Re: I wonder

[dotsomething.livejournal.com]

I googled "Ronald Reagan Joseph McCarthy" & from what I read, he cooperated with HUAC and turned in some fellow Hollywood creative types. I'm not sure how deeply his association with HUAC ran and I read somewhere he balked at some more stringent efforts of the McCarthy regime.

[jcthe3rdsmom.livejournal.com]

I'm trying ot make a LJ for my boyfriend so if you or anyone else have one I would greatly appreciate it my email address is MOMMYHEATHER@AOL.COM

[penguinonthelam.livejournal.com]

This may sound a bit callous, but I'm really grateful this didn't happen in October or November!

I really hope they don't start erecting a bunch of monuments and naming places/streets after him!

(By the way, I happened upon your journal randomly, and am very pleased to find one that makes me nod my head and smile instead of grimace!!!)

[sdelmonte]

Pleased to make your acquaitance.