"I hated him when he was President. Now I'm a 38 year-old man who can't stop crying. And that's the truth." -- Dean Esmay at Dean's World

"It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly ten years since Reagan left the public scene with his announcement that he had Alzheimers. He’s had such a profound impact on my life and has been the best President of my lifetime. The country was a mess when he tookover – interest rates in the low teens, inflation high and unemployment high – and when he left office the country had been transformed. I’ve missed him for the last decade or so and I’ll continue to miss him." -- Robert Prather from Insults Unpunished

"I didn’t vote for him (I was still a Democrat), but enjoyed (and enjoy) the benefits of his presidency and its after-effects. It’s a sad day, but he’s been released from his purgatory of Alzheimer’s disease. God rest your soul, Mister President." -- Baldilocks

"I don’t know what to say. I grew up with Ronald Reagan in the Oval Office. I remember the day in fourth grade, sitting at home after school, watching coverage of the Challenger disaster and seeing the president’s response. I remember seeing him behind that desk, telling us about an air strike launched against Libya. I remember him saying, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.” I remember watching as the Soviet Union collapsed. I remember watching that wall come down. I remember thinking it was his work that allowed it to happen. I remember watching the 84 election on television and being giddy as I watched state after state blink blue in landslide victories. I remember how just listening to him made me feel good to be an American. That it was OK to be proud – that it was right. I remember thinking that he was winning so easily because other people felt the same way. I remember him." -- Zygote-Design

"The announcement of Reagan’s passing left me with a lump in my throat as well. Regardless of what others may say of him and his life, he was a man who embodied statesmanship when America needed it. I will miss him." -- D.C. Thornton

"Of President Reagan I can only say this: I loved him because he taught me to love my country. I don't mean he made me love the Laffer Curve or Peace Through Strength or the Idea that Reagan Beat Communism -- although these are things I all believe in, in one way or another. Ronald Reagan made be believe that you could believe in something at once both earthly and beyond yourself. He made me believe that the world need not be cynical and power mad, but could be decent and free. He made me believe in a political enterprise -- the American enterprise -- which could deliver that message to the world." -- Andrew at Pathetic Earthlings

"Maybe it's because I lost my father recently, but I have been quite upset by Reagan's passing today. He was a larger-then-life figure, and a personal hero not only to me but to countless other people. He was our last truly great president. He was the first president I really remember, and during my teenage years he exemplified everything that I currently love about America. I think that's one of the reasons that this has affected me so deeply—Reagan was America, and with his death it's as if a little piece of America died with him. He wouldn't agree with that sentiment, of course; he understood that the American experiment is bigger than any one man. But it's fair to say that the world is a drastically different and far better place because of Reagan's influence, wisdom, ideas, and steely resolve in the face of right and wrong." -- Lee from Right-Thinking From The Left Coast

Since today is Ronald Reagan's 92nd birthday, I thought it would be a good time to remind people of what Reagan accomplished during his eight years in office. That shouldn't be necessary, but Reagan's critics continually harp upon the faults of his administration (increasing the debt, Iran Contra) & regularly attempt to distort his record in an attempt to deny him the credit he deserves.

To begin with, to fully appreciate what Reagan accomplished, you must consider the terrible condition America was in when he arrived. America's military was in sad shape, the economy was gripped in the most severe meltdown that America had experienced since the great depression, & Vietnam, Watergate, & four years of last century's worst President (Jimmy Carter), had led many Americans and much of the world to wonder if America had passed it's peak and was beginning to decline.

Ronald Reagan was responsible for changing all of that. Here are Reagan's biggest accomplishments...

Taxes: Reagan slashed taxes from a 70% top bracket in 1981 to 28% in 1986. That resulted in 20 million jobs being created between 1983 - 1989, a doubling of the amount of revenue going into government coffers, and a wave of prosperity that America rode from 1983 until 2001 with only a small pause at the end of the George Bush Sr.'s term.

Rebuilding America's Military: If you want to know why America is such a military powerhouse today, then you need look no further than Reagan. Reagan's funding increases and dedication to strengthening our military are what allowed us to be so successful in the Gulf War and beyond. If Reagan hadn't come along, our military capabilities would be only a shadow of what of they are today.

SDI: Reagan's much derided "Star Wars program" not only helped convince the Soviets that they couldn't compete with America, but the missile defense system we're going to have working (at least in a rudimentary form) possibly as early as 2004, is an outgrowth of the program Reagan promoted.

Defeating The Soviet Union: When Reagan came into office, détente was the policy of the day. Reagan abandoned détente and made no secret of the fact that considered the Soviet Union to be an, "evil empire." Instead of cooperating with the Soviets, Reagan forced them to try to keep up with America's massive military budget when they could barely feed their own people. Eventually Gorbachev, who was an avowed Communist, realized that the Soviets had no hope of keeping up with the US, and he started trying to implement reforms. Things soon spiraled out of his control and the death of the Soviet Union occurred withina few years. Had Reagan never been in office and had the policy of détente continued to the present day, the Soviet Union would probably still exist.

Rebuilding the Republican party: Just as Babe Ruth "saved" baseball after the, "Black Sox scandal", Ronald Reagan "saved" the Republican party after Nixon. Reagan's incredible popularity (1980: Reagan 489 electoral votes -- Carter 49 & 1984: Reagan 525 electoral votes -- Mondale 13) forever altered the way the public viewed the Republican Party and the way the GOP viewed itself. Had Reagan lost 1980 or 1984, it's doubtful that we'd see the GOP controlling both Congress and the Presidency today.

Those are what I consider to be Reagan's "big five accomplishments." Of course, Reagan is also fondly remembered for his patriotism & optimism, which you can get a feel for by reading the final paragraph of a letter Reagan wrote to the American people to announce that he had Alzheimer's Disease....

"In closing, let me thank you, the American people, for giving me the great honor of allowing me to serve as your president. When the Lord calls me home, whenever that day may be, I will leave with the greatest love for this country of ours and eternal optimism for its future. I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life. I know that for America there will always be a bright dawn ahead."

Is it any wonder that so many Conservatives love & respect the Gipper?

This article was originally posted at RWN on Feb 6, 2003

10) The ultimate determinate in the struggle now going on for the world will not be bombs and rockets but a test of wills and ideas - a trial of spiritual resolve; the values we hold, the beliefs we cherish and the ideas to which we are dedicated.

9) I hope that when you're my age you'll be able to say, as I have been able to say: we lived in freedom, we lived lives that were a statement, not an apology.

8) Today we did what we had to do. They counted on America to be passive. They counted wrong.

7) I have seen the rise and fall of Nazi tyranny, the subsequent cold war and the nuclear nightmare that for fifty years haunted the dreams of children everywhere. During that time my generation defeated totalitarianism. As a result, your world is poised for better tomorrows. What will you do on your journey?

6) We will always remember. We will always be proud. We will always be prepared, so we may always be free.

5) You and I have a rendezvous with destiny. We will preserve for our children this, the last best hope of man on earth, or we will sentence them to take the first step into a thousand years of darkness. If we fail, at least let our children and our children's children say of us we justified our brief moment here. We did all that could be done.

4) Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.

3) And how stands (America) on this winter night? More prosperous, more secure, and happier than it was 8 years ago. But more than that: After 200 years, two centuries, she still stands strong and true on the granite ridge, and her glow has held steady no matter what storm. And she's still a beacon, still a magnet for all who must have freedom, for all the pilgrims from all the lost places who are hurtling through the darkness, toward home.

2) We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them -- this morning, as they prepared for their journey, and waved good-bye, and "slipped the surly bonds of earth" to "touch the face of God". (Speech about the Challenger disaster).

1) General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall. (Speech at the Berlin Wall)

The text of Ronald Reagan's November, 1994 farewell letter to the American people after he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease...

My Fellow Americans,

I have recently been told that I am one of the millions of Americans who will be afflicted with Alzheimer’s Disease.

Upon learning this news, Nancy and I had to decide whether as private citizens we would keep this a private matter or whether we would make this news known in a public way.

In the past Nancy suffered from breast cancer and I had my cancer surgeries. We found through our open disclosures we were able to raise public awareness. We were happy that as a result many more people underwent testing.

They were treated in early stages and able to return to normal, healthy lives.

So now, we feel it is important to share it with you. In opening our hearts, we hope this might promote greater awareness of this condition. Perhaps it will encourage a clearer understanding of the individuals and families who are affected by it.

At the moment I feel just fine. I intend to live the remainder of the years God gives me on this earth doing the things I have always done. I will continue to share life’s journey with my beloved Nancy and my family. I plan to enjoy the great outdoors and stay in touch with my friends and supporters.

Unfortunately, as Alzheimer’s Disease progresses, the family often bears a heavy burden. I only wish there was some way I could spare Nancy from this painful experience. When the time comes I am confident that with your help she will face it with faith and courage.

In closing let me thank you, the American people for giving me the great honor of allowing me to serve as your President. When the Lord calls me home, whenever that may be, I will leave with the greatest love for this country of ours and eternal optimism for its future.

I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life. I know that for America there will always be a bright dawn ahead.

Thank you, my friends. May God always bless you.

Sincerely,

Ronald Reagan

For those of you who are unaware, Ronald Reagan has passed away at his home in California.

To be honest, I don't really have the words to talk about this. When I heard the news, I could hardly stand up, I had trouble breathing. It felt like one of my parents died. I'm still so choked up, I'm having difficulty typing this.

But, I feel like I owe to the Gipper to do my best to send him off right. So, I'm going to spend the next couple days doing what I can to pay tribute to one of the greatest figures of the 20th century and a better man than I'll ever be.

Everything I write this week-end, will remain up on Monday, which will be entirely dedicated to Ronald Reagan's memory.

Godspeed Gipper, Godspeed.