06-07-2004, 02:31 PM
How can you debate the fact that when Reagan entered office the country's economy was in shambles, the Soviet Union was a superpower, and the rest of the world laughed at us.
Then Reagan came, the economy boomed for 20 years, America became true supreme lord and master of the planet, and was a personality that people truly loved.
Now, there are many who hated him, as well at the time, but by and large, he was an incredibly popular president at the time, was a great speaker, had the witty soundbites that people liked.
The deficts grew, no question. Some blame him, some blame Congress. The rest of the world might not hold us in high regard now, but during the 80s our opinion in the international community skyrocketed, and the economic and technological growth during the 80s and that which grew off the base from the 80s was unprecidented.
To say that he was not a great president is just irrational and not based in any fact.
If you don't measure the greatness of a president by his ability to be loved by the populace, allow the economy to prosper, and have amazing success in foreign policy, then by what measure do you use?
By that argument, many could say that Clinton was a great president, and those three things are exactly what people cling to when saying that Clinton is a great president. It's a realistic statement. I don't know if Clinton was a great president (lying to congress and being in the rite place at the right time mitigate it a bit) but I would never be so foolish and blinded by politics to say he was a horrible president.
There is no rational argument that can be made that he was anything but a great president.
I'm glad he's dead. I get Friday off.
Then Reagan came, the economy boomed for 20 years, America became true supreme lord and master of the planet, and was a personality that people truly loved.
Now, there are many who hated him, as well at the time, but by and large, he was an incredibly popular president at the time, was a great speaker, had the witty soundbites that people liked.
The deficts grew, no question. Some blame him, some blame Congress. The rest of the world might not hold us in high regard now, but during the 80s our opinion in the international community skyrocketed, and the economic and technological growth during the 80s and that which grew off the base from the 80s was unprecidented.
To say that he was not a great president is just irrational and not based in any fact.
If you don't measure the greatness of a president by his ability to be loved by the populace, allow the economy to prosper, and have amazing success in foreign policy, then by what measure do you use?
By that argument, many could say that Clinton was a great president, and those three things are exactly what people cling to when saying that Clinton is a great president. It's a realistic statement. I don't know if Clinton was a great president (lying to congress and being in the rite place at the right time mitigate it a bit) but I would never be so foolish and blinded by politics to say he was a horrible president.
There is no rational argument that can be made that he was anything but a great president.
I'm glad he's dead. I get Friday off.