As I'm sure you're all aware by now, former U.S. President Ronald Reagan passed away over the weekend, following a ten year battle with Alzheimers.
His achievements are well marked, and he'll undoubtedly go down in the history books as a great President.
Now, I've been around to see plenty of rich, powerful and famous people meet Davy Jones, and most times (for example when Diana drove into a tunnel) I couldn't give a stuff.
But Reagan was different; this man literally strode the world like a colossus and between him, Maggie and Gorbie, they made this world a much much safer place; even if he was somewhat prone to Prince-Phillip-esque gaffes.
Anyhow, thought I'd whack this up as my feeble effort to counterbalance the bleeding leftwing fucknuts that are screaming 'good riddance to bad rubbish' and talking of partying when Maggie goes.
Because I wouldn't piss on those sort of folk if they were on fire.
So ner.
Wednesday, 9 June 2004
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Well... the man's dead right, I figure you can cut him a bit of slack in that regard. However I certainly wont be eulogising him in glowing terms any time soon. Still, if anyone cared what I thought of Reagan - I figure they would have asked before he died right?
ReplyDeleteYeah, the guy had alot of faults (very bad time for the American economy under him) but when someone dies it's sentimentally 'correct' to look at the good they've done - and yes, his contribution to the state of the world today was immense.
ReplyDeleteI can't help thinking his 'big achievement' (disarmament and the end of the cold war( was actually a lot more down to Gorbachev than him. Gorby was the bloke who decided the Soviet economy couldn't sustain it any more and decided to call a halt and then did all the work - and nearly got a military coup in his face as a price. All happy Ronny did was nod in agreement and sign the papers.
ReplyDeleteI feel pretty indifferent to Reagan, but Maggie ? Fuck, I'll be pleased when she pops her clogs, might even open a bottle of champagne.
ReplyDeleteWell Lurks takes an honourable position but I'm not bothered about repeating my views which are consistent pre and post death.
ReplyDeleteI have found the widespread eulogising to be absolutely astonishing. I remember this president in detail as his and Thatcher's terms occupied much of my teenage years including studying for Politics A Level and degree. Now I was no raving Afty by a long chalk but there is a HUGE amount of guff being talked about Reagan.
Reagan was not the first but by far the most notable of the modern cartoon presidents. He was largely ridiculed, quite rightly, for an astonishing lack of intellectual presence for the most powerful man of the world. His gaffs but much more importantly his just plain not-understanding and getting facts and figures about the rest of the world wrong was astonishing but in a world that was obsessed in the 70's and 80's with MAD incredibly alarming. Here was the man that in a NSC briefing was recorded as opining that it wouldn't be a problem launching nuclear retaliation against an *as yet unconfirmed* nuclear attack since it would be possible to 'recall' the US nukes if it turned out it was a false alarm. Yes really. No really really. You now begin to see what a great deal of shit is being talked about this man.
Reagan was the George Bush of his era - the similarities are significant indeed. The only difference is luck, time and rose tinted spectacles. He was an idiot vaguely-savant who was most famous in the UK for repeating phrases whispered to him at the lectern when delivering speeches because he didn't understand what the fuck he was talking about.
Maggie? Well that's an interesting topic altogether. But she did one uncontrevertably great thing which was to keep Reagan under control while working with the real architect of the end of the cold war, Gorbachev.
Human beings really do have an amazing capacity for self deception and party politicking readers.
Who was the last great US president? This is a holywood myth from a time when figureheads actually mattered. From the Royals, PM's to US presidents these people are big business puppets by and large. By the time you reach the top office you've sold your soul so many times the ideals you started out with are lost under the slime.Bush Jnr - Regarded as an idiot worldwide.Clinton - Lovable rogue, ruled by his cock.Bush Snr - Intense but dopey, dinosaur.Reagan - Likeable buffonCarter - Hostages, did he do much else?Ford - Probably top contender.Nixon - Probity itself!This is not an office for a man to be in charge, they're glorified figureheads. Not people truly in charge, an icon for the masses to attach themselves to while business carries on.BTW that list takes you back to 1969.
ReplyDeleteCarter watched a helluva lot of films, apparently. He holds the record for number of films watched in the White House cinema during office.
ReplyDeleteSurprisingly Regan wasn't a great movie buff.
This odd article seems surprisingly revealing about the mindset of Presidents.
film.guardian.co.uk,4120,1230823,00.html
How about this from a 'pinko commie' message board I lurk on..
ReplyDelete'In 1987, I found myself stuck in a crappy little town in Nicaragua named Chaguitillo. The people were kind enough, though hungry, except for onesurly young man. His wife had just died of tuberculosis.
People don't die of TB if they get some antibiotics. But Ronald Reagan, big hearted guy that he was, had put a lock-down embargo on medicine to Nicaragua because he didn't like the government that the people there had elected.'
from same bloke..
'..And when Hezbollah terrorists struck and murdered hundreds of American marines in their sleep in Lebanon, the TV warrior ran away like awhipped dog ... then turned around and invaded Grenada. That little Club Med war was a murderous PR stunt so Ronnie could hold parades for gunning down Cubans building an airport.'
It does amaze me, always has, famous or not, that everyone is a saint the second they die. My ma's partner died last year, he was in the union 'business', and a bloke he got fired (offical from tradesmans union) and black listed from big unionised companies as a result and who never really worked again and had therefore been on the dole for 6 years as a result came up to my ma and said what a saint he (dead fella) was, and how he had never hurt anyone.
Death does funny things to people..
To be fair, these sort of micro-atrocities are far removed from the eyes of a president. They are the puppet figureheads that all countries have.
ReplyDeleteI am West Wing addict, I know what goes on in there :D
ReplyDeleteThis puppet figure head stuff seems to get spouted a lot about American presidents. I'm not sure where it comes from, in actual fact the powers retained by the president himself are among the most wide ranging in all of the democratic countries in the world. He has a vast amount of power and they've proven many times, over the years, the willingness to excersize it due to a personal whim.
ReplyDelete