Pania says:
"POHOCOM says:Not really. Presidents are judged by historians based on how well they coped with the problems that they faced left over from the previous administration, as well as problems which arose during their administration. That's why Reagan's considered a great president even by Democrats like Bill and Hillary Clinton (to name a few). He corrected the numerous disasters left by Jimmy Carter, who many see as one of our worst presidents in history. I can't think of ANY president that is beyond criticism, but you have to weigh all of the pros and cons."
Except I'm a historian, and I lived through the Reagan adminstration. I'm sorry, but the worship accorded that man is not proportionate to his performance.
Meanwhile Jimmy Carter is demonized for doing the best he could with an economic crisis that had been brewing since Nixon. While all the Republicans campaigned on "small government" Carter actually did it, reducing the number of gov't offices and employees. He led the country by example during the energy crisis. He attacked pork barrell spending and tried to get a labor reform and consumer protect act through, but that was blocked by congress. He was the few presidents to take a unilateral stand on human rights, took a stand against the U.S.S.R. in the Persian Gulf, organized the Rapid Deployment Force, and headed up the Camp David Accords.
The only major foreign policy screw up of his term was Iran, in which he backed the wrong horse and then reneged on his promises.
Reagan gets the credit for releasing the hostages of the Iranian Hostage crisis, but the fact was the agreement was signed a day before Carter's presidency ended.
Post Edited:2008-04-21 22:29:11"
If claim to be a historian, I will take your word on that. You are the first person I've heard who has professed knowledge of presidential politics with this perspective, so I'm interested in some of your opinions. I like hearing different perspectives because you sometimes learn new information. First, if you feel that Jimmy Carter gets such a bum rap for the sad state of America that existed during his presidency, I'd like to know what, if anything, you believe George Bush is getting a bad rap for right now. Second, I'd like to know why do you believe so many other politicians and historians hold Reagan in such high regard. And lastly, do you give Reagan credit for anything?
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