Resolute in Rhetoric, Reagan and Bush Part Ways in Deed

[papau]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-outlook14jun14.story

Resolute in Rhetoric, Reagan and Bush Part Ways in Deed


Of all the comparisons between Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush last week, probably the most intriguing — and politically relevant — pivots on their style of leadership.<snip>

It's here that the dispute over Reagan's legacy begins. Bush supporters point to Reagan's rhetorical clarity and ideological consistency as the keys to his success. Reagan, they argue, showed that a crucial — perhaps the crucial — power of the president is establishing bright-line goals and shifting the terms of debate at home and around the world.<snip>

Although Reagan never abandoned his criticism of "big government," he did agree to significantly raise taxes one year after his 1981 tax cuts helped open the largest federal deficits ever.

And for all his denunciations of the Soviet Union, Reagan ultimately engaged in historic, high-stakes negotiations with Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev.

In all these ways, Bush's critics argue that Reagan demonstrated a more sophisticated outlook and a greater willingness to transcend his ideology than conventional wisdom assumes. They see Bush failing to meet Reagan's standard by implementing more tax cuts amid massive deficits and invading Iraq despite broad international opposition.<snip>

Reagan's real lesson is that every successful president must do both. He was sometimes stubborn and sometimes so flexible that conservative allies accused him of flip-flopping. He liked to look over the horizon, but he also knew enough to come in out of the rain. It shouldn't be too much to ask for both in a president.

[Frances]

1. The good news in this assessment

is that it's OK if people see Kerry as a man who flip-flops if they also see that being able to flip-flop can be a good thing.

[papau]

2. I agree - and Bush/Reagan anti-poor/minority talking through symbols

- compassionate means never saying you will screw the poor and minorities - but with a wink that tells every one you will.

Who can forget Reagans wink and a nod to racist GOPers when he chose in kick off his campaign for the 1980 Presidency by talking about "states' rights" in Philadelphia, Miss., where three civil rights workers were slain in the 1960s?


:-)