The Internet is brimming with all things Reagan, but I'm compelled to add to it, instead of just immersing myself in it. I was listening to Drudge interviewing Peggy Noonan on his radio show last night. She was spinning yarns about her days in the Reagan White House, recalling that you could always tell that the Boss was approaching from down the hall by the raucous laughter of his entourage. Later on I thought she hit on a terrific idea, a spur of the moment thing, but I do hope that people are following through on it. (Here's one)
After flying our flags at half-mast all week, when Friday rolls around and the funeral is over, we should coordinate a simultaneous national raising of every American flag, back to the top of the pole, in tribute to Ronald Wilson Reagan. What a beautiful sentiment. It would be inspiring, inexpensive and fitting. Maybe some kids would get a clue. I get a buzz just thinking about it.
Noonan also talked to Drudge about the respectful treatment given Reagan by Democrats and most of the left...so far. She thinks by Friday, they'll be ready to explode, and someone probably will. She notes that the "spin" of the Democrats is to acknowledge the personal charisma of Reagan, appreciate the political art, even admit the "Great Communicator" thing, but they avoid like the plague any admission of the triumph of the man's ideas. The fact that he was so demonstrably right intellectually, on a variety of issues from economics to geopolitics to entitlement reform, is something the Left doesn't want people to notice.
Taranto is on the same case today in BOTW.
"Of course Carter and Mondale are right: Reagan was a great communicator, a politician who was very good at politics. But to leave it at that--to portray Reagan's triumph as one of form over substance--misses his real import. Reagan leaves an enduring legacy because of what he was communicating, namely a belief in the American ideal of freedom, an ideal that looked far less robust in the 1970s, the era of Vietnam, Watergate, stagflation and 70% tax rates, than it does in the post-Reagan era.Reagan didn't accomplish everything he set out to do; in particular, he failed to reduce the size and scope of the federal government. Even so, the GOP of today is unmistakably a Reaganite party: unalterably opposed to higher taxes, committed to promoting American ideals--which are really universal ideals--abroad.
Of the inevitable comparisons to George W. Bush, a half-hearted warning from Democrats, (also from BOTW):
(Times writer) Adam Nagourney tries to find hope for the Democrats: "Some Republicans said the images of a forceful Mr. Reagan giving dramatic speeches on television provided a less-than-welcome contrast with Mr. Bush's own appearances these days, and that it was not in Mr. Bush's interest to encourage such comparisons."Posted by dan at June 7, 2004 09:50 PMWell, maybe. Certainly Bush isn't as eloquent as Reagan was. Then again, neither is John Kerry. When Bush speaks, you often imagine Reagan might have said the same thing better. When Kerry speaks, you imagine Reagan would disagree--assuming he could even figure out what Kerry was saying.
"Raise The Flags On Friday!" - which Friday would that be??? Friday June 11th or Friday June 18th??? I put it up on Saturday morning and have gotten calls that I'm ahead of the time...
Posted by: Eric at June 13, 2004 02:07 PMWhen I posted this I was thinking Friday 6/11, after the funeral ceremony was over. I was kind of surprised myself when all of the flags were still at half-mast this afternoon at the Ohio State Commencement ceremonies.
Posted by: Dan Wismar at June 14, 2004 01:54 AMPresident Ronald Reagan died Saturday, June 5. If I am correct, the 30 days for which we have lowered our flags to honor his life and death will expire July 5.
Wouldn't it be an even greater honor to his life, ideals and public service if we raised our flags to the top of the poles a day early, the morning of July 4, Independence Day.
Posted by: Troy at June 24, 2004 11:31 AMSo when do we raise our flags to the top again? I wish they would have told us all to do it on July 4th that would have been a great thing. The entire country should do it at the same time.
Posted by: Dorothy Adams at July 12, 2004 03:03 PM