Reader surprised by results
Recently I was channel surfing on TV and discovered a news piece on Fox News that mentioned 36 percent of people polled would rather have Ronald Reagan as president over Franklin Roosevelt. Although I was shocked that I lingered and watched that piece, as I generally avoid fiction TV, and Fox News is as fictional as it gets, I really wonder how many of those polled really remembered Ronald Reagan.
Republicans seeking their party's presidential nomination are currently invoking Ronald Reagan, when conveying their message of small government and less taxes. It's doubtful many of those polled remembered that Ronald Reagan tripled our deficit and from Jan. 1981 through Jan. 1989, he raised taxes 11 times. Yes, 11 times. Do those people remember the Iran Contra scandal? Or the Marines left to die in Beirut - unarmed as peace keepers in the middle of a war zone?
Do those polled remember that he gave amnesty to 3 million undocumented immigrants under a new bill that was sold as a crackdown on employers hiring them but provisions punishing employers were removed prior to the bill passing. What about the 138 indicted in his administration, making his administration the most corrupt ever. I wonder how many polled really remembered Ronald Reagan. I heard, "He was good looking," I heard, "He was charismatic," and the popular consensus is he "was a great speaker."
Adolph Hitler, Idi Admin and Ted Bundy are all shining examples of charismatic, attractive and good-speaking personalities. So, I guess I look for substance instead of style with my leaders. My favorite conservative letter-writer recently mentioned a book called "Arguing with Idiots" but it is doubtful I could have used it with those poll takers. I found that book to be intellectually on par with "Horton Hears a Hoo." Don't bother reading it.
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