Ronald Reagan And Barack Obama Without Tears

Yesterday I criticized Ronald Reagan and indirectly Barack Obama and in doing so I used an excess of hyperbole... As someone who was in college and grad school during the Reagan phenomenon studying Political Science I feel as if I had a front row seat... I remember remarking in my American Government class that "yahoos voted for Reagan" and one of my fellow students who obviously voted for Reagan took umbrage... The professor intervened and said "Brian didn't say only yahoos voted for Reagan but only that some yahoos voted for Reagan"...I digress...

Ronald Reagan campaigned on the promise to end the welfare state, reduce abortions, beat the Soviet Union's ass, and restore a sense of optimism...IMHO, the latter two promises were laudable, the promise to curb the welfare state was clearly not... I don't think Ronald Reagan was a racist if that means one who thinks one race is superior to another but I do think he definitely was racially insensitive and ignorant to the fact of the struggles that people of color face that white folks don't...

I see some here are now claiming that Senator Obama's invocation of the Reagan legacy will peel off some of Hillary's working class support...I disagree...If those folks wanted to be Republicans they would have left the party already...Most of Hillary's working class supporters are not looking as much for fundamental change as they are looking to ensure that there will be Social Security when they retire, health care if they or their's get sick, and a economy that can provide for them...That's not what Reagan and Reaganism offered...Reaganism offered a form of Social Darwinism where every man was for himself and the strongest or those best able to game the system survived...Again , that's not what working class Democrats are looking for...

Perhaps Lawrence O'Donnell was correct in that Senator Obama will attract some independent votes with seemingly pro-Reagan musings...Perhaps...

I am sure his presidency is studied in Political Science and History classes everywhere...

I also don't think he brought as much change as his devotees suggest...I would argue that in the twentieth century, TR, FDR, and LBJ changed the trajectory of history much more than Ronald Reagan...After all the federal government which he promised to reduce was actually larger when he left than when he arrived...

were too stupid or uneducated to understand the devastation left in Ray-gun's wake.

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20 years ago...trade Democrats for "Reagan democrats" - not sure how smart.
The only protection from massive exodus of his over 18 votes is MSM - who's keeping the little secret hidden (I wonder why - if they allegedly are so pro-Hillary)

Obama digging the knife in their backs with Reagan after what he did in the 80,s, very well.

I know for one, I'd be kicking up a huge bloody fuss. After the Mclurkin thing, he does this.

Thats smart, piss off the democrats and the gay and whoever else.

Could make all the difference in California.

It goes back to my racism remarks... I think he was insensitive or ignorant of the issues that affect gay folks as opposed to hating em...The end result is the same... That's why I called my lil essay "Reagan and Obama Without Tears"...

I also don't think he was changed government all that much...

He is universally hated because he did fuck all to help with Aids, he just sat back and let it happen.

I still know many gay men and women that spit when Reagans name is mentioned.

How many people could have been saved?

I'd dance on Reagans grave and then throw a party.

Reagans america was a nasty nasty place to be black, gay or anything other than white church fearing protestants.

If thats the the sort of change Obama is thinking of bringing, a nice cosy Reagan lite crossover friendly with the republicans type of Presidency. Hear me loud and clear.

He can Fuck Right Off.

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pave the way for the upper class to proclaim that "greed is good" without a tinge of irony and convince working people that those who disagree with that premise are losers. It's still very much alive today.I'm old enough to remember a time when that philosophy would have repelled the middle class.The neocons have managed to convince many blue collar and working poor voters that expecting fair play in society is for suckers.Hopefully,the lie has been exposed and we get our equilibrium back.I resent any Democrat even suggesting Reagans"legacy"is legitimate,no matter what it's being used to promote.

I mean, if you were a union steward or member and your candidate was praising someone who tore unions apart. I'd tend to think some of them hearing this might say "fuck him" tomorrow in Nevada.