Defending Ronald Reagan and the GOP's Brand

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Though I'm a Democrat, there was a lot to like about Reagan during the 1980s. He gave Republicans a positive role model and won the trust of a lot of Democrats.
But he also gave us the habit of deficit spending and the amassing of national debt, and that debt is crushing our ability to deal with the short-term and long-term world economic crisis. Bush I and Clinton did their best to get the deficit down, and even met with success, but the debt has never gone away and in fact has become staggeringly high under Bush II. Much of our national budget goes to servicing that debt and reassuring our debtors.
Now Obama needs to run big deficits for awhile in order to free the credit markets and stimulate economic demand. He truly has no choice in this. But because of Reagan's legacy of debt it is quite possible that we will not escape from the quicksands of this economic morass for years -- even decades -- to come.
The roosters have come home.

Mark Moulton of CA 6:07PM March 25, 2009

obama is trying to use Reagan economic plan to restate the economy,but he has sandwiched so much liberal social programs in to it ,it will probably not work as planned.the democrats always try to use some disaster to further they social engineering program,the stimulus is contaminated with things most people don't want and will have to swallow the bitter pill of socialism in order to get a recovering economy,it will take years to undo the damage the liberals will do to constitutional and bill 0f rights to restore our freedoms they are chiseling away at

reeder of MO 10:54PM March 17, 2009

I am sorry he is the son of Ronald Reagan, the great. This guy does not have a clue, he just play the innocent. What kind of opinion he can have? He is just a dancer! with no brain.

Juan Lopez of AZ 5:54PM March 17, 2009

I see the Savings and Loan debacle,lay offs, fuel price hikes,inflation,corporate restructuring, stock manipulations scandal
"Star wars fantasy" $600.00 dollar hammers, oh man it's deja vu
all over again.
Democrats to the rescue, then the cycle begins again.
When do we learn?

MRD Fla of FL 12:37PM March 17, 2009

I see the fatherly face of Ronald Reagan every day.You just have to look. I see it in the mentally ill homeless man begging for change.I see it in the empty,rotting factories surround by decaying neighborhoods.I see it in the apologetic looks of the medical assistant telling me my insurance no longer covers that procedure. I see it in the tears of the home owner who must abandon his home after losing his job.I hear his voice in the pained wailings of family members in Mexico,thier loved ones butchered in the "War on Drugs".I see it when I cash my unemployment check. Look around you. The results of deregulation,trickel down econmics,tax-cuts for the rich and the war on drugs are all around you.

Ryoki of MI 9:42AM March 17, 2009

Now that's a name that should carry on "the Brand." I saw him on a talk show over the weekend talking about stem cell research and the interviewer (Larry King, I think) said something along the lines that some Republicans have been very harsh toward Mr. Reagan and his mother and how does he feel about that and he answered, "I've never been a Republican so I don't care what they think about me," before admitting it may cause some distress for Nancy. Someone should give Ron Reagan a show on MSNBC following Rachel Maddow.

lmwilker of IN 9:34AM March 17, 2009

When have the Democrats recently "tried to tarnish the Reagan brand name"?
Current events have tarnished Reagan's name. Republicans have a very hard time accepting reality so they blame it on Democrats. If they were as good at running the country as they are at dodging blame or placing blame we wouldn't be in this mess.

Henk of MN 8:34AM March 17, 2009

Reaganomics did more harm to America than anything terrorists could ever hope to do.

WDRussell of OH 8:23AM March 17, 2009

Ronald Reagan was a fake cowboy, and a snake oil salesman! There wasn't one thing that he ever did that wasn't a media invention! His main job while in office, was to create a partnership between government and corporations, and dismantle the middle class!
His involvement in the Iran Contra scandal should have landed him in prison! Instead, the brain dead cool aid drinkers showered him with praise, and named airports, ships, and buildings after him!
He is responsible for most of the deregulation of corporations! We now see the results of that effort! Anyone with a heartbeat knows that if you allow capitalism to go unregulated, the result will be that corporations will run amok! The bottom line is their only consideration! And by the way, who is responsible for corporations having the same rights as a person? That is a really BAD idea! It allows power to reach out from beyond the grave!
His firing of the Air Traffic Controllers, placed the safety of the public in danger, and, all it was, was a mass union busting operation! A favor to the corporations ( GE being on of them ) who put the incompetent fool into office!
All the talk about how he caused the collapse of the Soviet Union, was just more of the worn out talking points, still used by members of the the tarnished Republican brand! In other words, Bull*hit!
We are still feeling the effects of his economic policies! They didn't work then, and they don't work now! Yet, his Republicans apologists even today, are trying to push the same agenda! Even Bush 41, called his economic policies, Voodoo Economics!
I'm surprised that the American People aren't lining up to desecrate his grave! The damage he did to this country is immense, yet his apologists still spew the same worn out talking points in support of his fake legacy!
GOOD GOD! Will anyone ever wake up to reality, and use their own brain to figure things out, instead of lapping up propaganda as if it were honey?
Finally people are feeling the pain to the extent that positive change may happen in America. Obama may be the one to step in, and illuminate the masses, so that that they will take action to improve their lives, and save democracy!

ChingarraSan of CA 12:28AM March 17, 2009

When have the Democrats recently "tried to tarnish the Reagan brand name"? I missed that one.
It seems as though all the press has been about Rush Limbaugh and his determination to lead his party into severe partisanship, which, by the way, was not like Reagan at all.
I understand that the Republicans would prefer to talk about Reagan rather than Limbaugh because Reagan has better positives and really can't offend anyone else from his current position, but this is a desperate reach to claim that Reagan's name is being attacked. This is a bogus Karl Rove misdirection tactic, and people are going to see it for the charade it is.

Brian Ferdman of NY 9:58PM March 16, 2009