If you want to attack Reagan, only bringing up his time in the Presidential office is hilarious.
Reagan was head of the actors guild. Well, I guess I should back-up, for those of you who dont know, Reagan was a A-list hollywood actor. And a democrat. He eventually became head of the actors guild (union). Now, what most dont know, at this time in history there were communists who had infiltrated hollywood and were planning on using it as a source of propanda. Reagan waged a one man war, as head of the actors guild and squashed the communist takeover. HICCASP (hollywood independent committe of the arts, sciences, and professions) executive board was compeletely taken over by communists. Thats how close they came. This is what started Reagan in politics. After he beat back the attempted communist takeover, he started giving speeches to the guild and eventually was paid by ge which we all know about.
Then he became govenor of a state that was bankrupt (like his presidency), California.
Reagan made huge steps in cleaning up welfare abuse as governor of Cali. Under his direction, monthly welfare caseloads went from increasing 40,000/month to DECREASING by 8,000/month....saving millions.
Reagan used his line-item-veto authority 943 times as governor, saving millions.
Reagan promised to give the people their money back once he raised taxes as governor and cut spending(not increase spending when times are bleak).
Ever heard of a Reagan raider? Of course not, your a zeolot. This team of BUSINESS (not Obama appointed professors) people identified where California's state government could be run more efficiently, saving the state hundred of millions of dollars. And not only talk about it, Reagan implemented these ideas.
Reagan ran surpluses as Governor. Instead of spending this money, he went on television BEFORE democrats new about the surplus and told the citizens of Cali about it....and explained how he wanted to give them a tax rebate as promised. That forced the democrats to go along with him in giving the people THEIR money back.
Similar to OWS, students at UC Berkley decided they would riot. Reagan called in the National guard and squashed the unrest.
Then the man took this stellar conservative performance to the white house.
Reagan inherited a 21% interest rate, double digit inflation, and rediciculous unemployment.
Reagan went to battle again against communists. This time it was in the form of a arms race with the soviets. He KNEW the only way to negotiate with communists was from a position of strength. Since Carter has slashed the defense budget, our standing in the world was loosing importance linear to how fast the communists caught up militarily. Reagan INCREASED military spending....which is benefiting us today, we gained the stealth bomber and he was right....after we were far superior to the soviets they agreed to start negotiating which again.....benefits us still to today as we lower our nuclear weapons cache. ***2nd time - Reagan did this by INCREASING military spending.
When Qaddafi claimed the gulf was his (international water) Reagan did not negotiate with this terrorist. He moved our navy, into this international waterway, and instructed our military to defend itself if fired upon by Qaddafi's airforce. When asked by our commanders how far we should follow Qaddafi's fighter jets if we werer fired upon Reagan responded "All the way into the hanger". And he did just that. Two of Qaddafi's fighter jets fired upon an American Warship and our jets went airborn and destroyed both. This sent a clear message to the entire world. Terrorism will not be tolerated.
Understand the position from which Reagan was negotiating. Carter had just increased spending by 17% (thats what liberals believe in doing when we dont have money, spend more of what we dont have). Reagan was able to convince enough democrats to lower this 17% down to 9%. It was the largest deficit reduction in history at that time and was considered radical.
He also lowered the federal income tax rate because he believe this would generate more income, which it did.
Reagan put forward his budget containing a balanced budget amendment the democratic house rejected this and funded government with continuing resolutions. This gave Reagan 2 options. 1 accept the continuing resolutions or 2 shut down government.
Reagans was at a gunfight without his trusty pistol which he was quick with a govenor: line item veto.
There was no real option. He did what any patriot would do. He negotiated for the best deal he could get, and took it.
Of course there were many other great things Reagan did as president. The grace commission, deregulate oil companies, lowered farm subsidies, etc.
Until presidents have a line-item veto and there is a constituional amendment mandating a balanced budget, I think the country is likely to face never-ending deficits piled up by a profligate congress unable or unwilling to make the hard-nosed decisions necessary to bring down spending to a level the country can afford. - Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan was the greatest president, and one of the best people, of my lifetime BY LEAP YEARS.