The Illusion of Ronald Reagan

Illustration by Barry Blitt from Vanity Fair article

Michael Kinsley in Vanity Fair recently addressed an issue I have often wondered about myself — why does the GOP deify Ronald Reagan's presidency so much when the record shows he actually did little to advance or improve issues of importance to the right during his presidency.

See the article here. As noted in the piece, the Federal government actually expanded during his presidency:

Under President Reagan (1981–89), the size of the federal government increased by any measure. Executive-branch civilian employment, which covers almost everything except the uniformed military and the Postal Service, was 2.109 million in 1981 and 2.129 million in 1989. Total federal-government employment rose during this period from 4.9 million to 5.3 million.

...Reagan inherited a federal budget of $599 billion in revenue, $678 billion in spending, and a deficit of $79 billion. He left office with a federal budget of $909 billion in revenue, a little less than $1.1 trillion in spending, and a deficit of $155 billion.

...If you’re looking for a good bureaucracy slasher, try Bill Clinton. In his eight years, the size of the executive-branch workforce dropped more than 10 percent, from 2.9 million to 2.6 million.

For myself personally, I always noticed that this hero of the Christian right didn't seem to put much emphasis on the issue of abortion. Indeed, as Governor of California, he expanded abortion procedures, and while he courted pro-lifers by paying lip service in support of a Constitutional amendment that would have restricted abortions, he certainly didn't put much energy behind it (see here for source).

I recognize that Reagan's sunny optimism and positive outlook restored the confidence of many Americans and made him a hero to those who believed in American exceptionalism. But talk about a Telfon president! To many on the right, Reagan remains one of the last truly "pure" heroes, which makes it all rather pathetic when one sees much of it is nothing more than self-delusion and wishful thinking.

Guns Don't Kill People...

"...if you look at the major difference between England and United States it’s the access and availability of guns."  —John Landgraf, FX President (Entertainment Weekly)

“As a gun owner and someone who enjoys the sport, I can assure you there is absolutely no reason that civilians need to have or should have access to high-powered assault weapons or mega-magazines.”  — Newtown resident

The Grand Delusion

 "What is best in life? To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women."   —Conan the Barbarian

One of the hallmarks of the right fringe of the GOP — whether it be evolution or global warming — is to simply and willfully disregard any fact or truth that is contrary to their core beliefs. Indeed, this worldview has also formed much of their political strategy: say anything, no matter how blatantly ridiculous or false, and it becomes accepted as truth.

Reality, however, finally caught up with them and kicked them in the ass in this election, as President Obama easily sailed to re-election, shocking a GOP that was convinced — convinced — that the election was in the bag, despite what the polls said. After all, the polls had to be skewed since it didn’t conform with their “gut.”

Up until now, I was sure that the insistence of the leaders of the far right fringe in believing Romney was going to win was simply a ploy to keep the base energized. But by all accounts, it appears that Romney’s camp, Fox News and pundits like Dick Morris and Karl Rove actually and truly did believe their man was going to win! They are indeed more delusional than I thought. That's on them and great for the rest of us.

The Obnoxious Odor of Mendacity

Amidst the GOP's determination to enact tough voter ID laws claiming that such the legislation is needed to combat voter fraud comes this Los Angeles Times report on GOP voter fraud: More problematic GOP voter forms are found in Florida.

And it's not like the GOP didn't know what it was doing:

Strategic Allied is run by an Arizona-based consultant and Republican Party activist named Nathan Sproul, who has been dogged by charges in the past that his employees destroyed Democratic registration forms. No charges were ever filed. But his reputation is such that Sproul said RNC officials requested that he set up a new firm so the party would not be publicly linked to the past allegations. The firm was set up at a Virginia address, and Sproul does not show up on the corporate paperwork.

'Nuff said.

Romney admits contempt for half of America

Finally, Romney's come clean and admitted that he has contempt for half the people in the country he wants to lead and wants nothing to do with them or to help them.

 

Above: Mitt again attempts to dig himself out of a hole.