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Defense spending boomed during the Reagan years, this is true. It was the largest peace-time buildup in history, and it clearly was aimed at the USSR. All true, and all a testament to Reagan’s brilliance as a leader.

During these same eight years, however, entitlements grew as fast as defense – in some cases, faster.

http://www.heritage.org/research/features/budgetchartbook/charts_P/p9.cfm

That’s from the heritage foundation, folks, about as pro-Reagan as they come.

It doesn’t change the fact that Regan lowered taxes (which kept federal receipts flat) while increasing not only defense spending, but spending on Medicare and Medicaid grew – particularly Medicare.

And this was long, long before the baby boom was looking to retire. No, the baby boom was the “Me Generation” when Reagan was president, so if Medicare soared, it soared because individual coverage levels went way, way up.

I’m not bashing Reagan – Reagan was a great president. Fiscally, however, he could have been better.

On February 3rd, 2008 at 8:02 pm, JHSII said:

…and who didn’t expect lgm to drop into this topic to get in his shots at Reagan too?

Well, it did take until #58 to see lgm chime in.

If McCain truly was a conservative thinker in 1967, he would have been a Goldwater Republican, not a Reagan Republican as he pretends.

Barry Goldwater, my namesake. My father has always been a staunch Republican. Dad always refers to Goldwater as the forerunner to Ronald Reagan, laying the groundwork to make Reagan’s election possible.

I don’t know that Goldwater was that much of a sacraficial lamb but you do make a good point as to why McCain wasn’t a “Goldwater Republican” in the 60’s, Mr. P.

On February 3rd, 2008 at 9:10 am, Jim M. said:

One thing most folks miss about Reagan’s “Massive spending increase” – the spending forced the Soviet Union to try to match it, and that straw finally broke the camel’s back.

It was an absolutely brilliant strategy, based on the knowledge that the Soviet Union was matching the US ante on defense initiatives. The Soviet Union was in no position to match the US stride for stride in terms of spending, and it’s attempts to do so broke an already dysfunctional economy.

Not much is written about the strategy, mainly because it was employed by a Republican President and it worked.

I was wondering when someone would finally make that point, Jim. Part of RReagan’s strategy was to spend the Communist Soviet Union out of existence. Capitalism was in a lot better position to take the battle to Communism in this venue. It was actually a brilliant approach. Yes. Our deficit did increase but look at the historic change it brought about. Had he and his advisors not had such forsight, where would we be now in the fight against Communism?

You know what they say:

If you can’t beat them (and they just can’t beat Regan), beat ‘em down.

I will vote for McCain… as soon as somebody gives me a million dollars.

Takers?

So, what you’re tellin’ us, Soap, is that you’re easy, just not cheap? LOL

He ran on balancing the budget. David Stockman came on board to do just that. It turned out that Reagan had no intention of cutting anything substantial. He just wanted to cut taxes for the rich. Stockman quit in protest.

In response to a terrorist bombing of US forces in Lebanon, Reagan bravely “redeployed” the troops back to America. Bin Laden told reporters that’s what convinced him terrorism against America payed.

He authorized selling arms to our mortal enemies (Iran) to use the money (illegally) to fund terrorists in Nicaragua. He lied about approving the operation, then claimed he hadn’t lied, only forgotten: “what did he know and when did he forget it?”

He told the Israeli Prime Minister that he had visited a concentration camp with a film crew just after it was liberated, but in fact he never left America.

Mister P said:
I also am quite stunned about the arrogance in McCain’s commercial. He says he was a Reagan follower while a POW (1967- 1973). No Way. Reagan just became governor of California in 1966 and he was not a national figure or highly regarded as a conservative thinker.

Maybe McCain DID follow Reagan….maybe John McCain is really “Bonzo”….

Maybe he was talking about his movies or as President of the screen actor’s guild.

I am thinking maybe he listened to Reagan’s baseball replays on the radio

Mister P said:
He says he was a Reagan follower while a POW (1967- 1973). No Way. Reagan just became governor of California in 1966 and he was not a national figure or highly regarded as a conservative thinker

Maybe he was talking about his movies or as President of the screen actor’s guild.

I think Ann Coulter was joking when she said she would- weren’t you Ann?

I assure you she is not joking.

I also am quite stunned about the arrogance in McCain’s commercial. He says he was a Reagan follower while a POW (1967- 1973). No Way. Reagan just became governor of California in 1966 and he was not a national figure or highly regarded as a conservative thinker. If McCain truly was a conservative thinker in 1967, he would have been a Goldwater Republican, not a Reagan Republican as he pretends.
Again he is just pandering.

/sarc off

I was arguing exactly the same way you have been arguing – except that I have been using sarcasm.

At least you admit that you’ve been bashing Reagan.

This is now the unofficial bash Reagan thread!!

Remember, just like the liberals have said Reagan was the focus of evil in the entire world!!

You’re arguing just like a liberal–no attention to substance. Reagan was NOT a true conservative: he was the godfather of liberal shamnesty, when the going got tough in Lebanon, he pulled out, and he gave us two liberal Supreme Justices.

I think overall he was a good president; Bush has been better in substance and results: two conservative Supreme Court Justices, a missile defense shield, high defense spending, and routing our enemies abroad.

You can’t criticize Bush or McCain for being open borders and then at the same time not criticize Reagan. That is my whole point in bashing Reagan.