that is what liberals mean when they talk about pragmatism. Liberals are desperately trying to convince everyone that Reagan was really one of them. When he was around, they hated him. They accused him of stoking the cold war and argued that the west should unilaterally disarm. He did not go for any of that. If he had been in charge on 9/11 he would have done the same as Bush only more effectively because he would not have felt the need to be a nice guy when fighting a war. Nor would he have supported gay marriage. Why all this pretense? Because most americans liked the man and liberals are trying to say how we can be really liberal and can still like Reagan. I would prefer it if liberals stuck to their usual line, Reagan was a dummy, we are all dummies, and liberals are right about everything. That, at least, has the virtue of being honest.

I'm so glad you told me that. I never would have figured it out for myself.

If he had been in charge on 9/11 he would have done the same as Bush only more effectively because he would not have felt the need to be a nice guy when fighting a war.

Reagan was a president who retreated from Beruit with his tail between his legs when a couple hundred Marines were killed in a bombing there. There was never any significant retaliation or price paid by any party for this. He did manage to invade Grenada. What a man.

Reagan is the last guy anyone should have wanted in charge after 9/11.

Isn't the right's mis-memory of Reagan remarkable?

But GOP presidents since 1946 increased the national debt 3 times faster than democratic presidents.

The GOP may be a wing nut party , but it is not fiscally conservative.

WE ALL PAY the inflation tax due to their mismanagement.

With the dollar falling from 1:1 with the Euro to 1.60 : 1 under GWB

we all lose money. Had the dollar held its value $4.00 items would be $2.50.

Fenella:

Liberals are desperately trying to convince everyone that Reagan was really one of them.

Only in your alternate universe.