# 10 things I hate about Ronald Reagan **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 5, 2004, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-things-i-hate-about-ronald-reagan/248840 "2004-06-05T19:06:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2004, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-things-i-hate-about-ronald-reagan/248840/81 "2004-06-05T23:28:34Z")
> [@This Year's Model](#): > > My favorite, though maybe it doesn’t belong on a top ten list, is his taking credit for the inevitable implosion of the U.S.S.R. just because he happened to be in office at the time. Bullshit. He actively worked for it. SDI, support for Afghanistan, support for Margaret Thatcher, any number of smaller anti-communist wars. Who was it who said, “Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”? He stood up to Communism and showed that the Soviet bear was not unbeatable. Reagan will go down in history as one of the three people who brought about the real end of WW2. The others being Pope John Paul II and Margaret Thatcher. RIP. Is there an online Book of Condolence? ---
**Author:** ![milroyj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@milroyj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milroyj)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2004, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-things-i-hate-about-ronald-reagan/248840/82 "2004-06-05T23:30:45Z")
> [@gobear](#): > > C’mon, **Milroyj** , you’re just annoyed that every Doper isn’t weeping for your fallen Christ–if a truck took out Bill Clinton, the board would be drenched with your estactic spooge. Don’t ask others to show class that you yourself don’t possess. > > As for me, like I said, Reagan was a patriot who served his country the best he knew how. I never liked his politics, but we can put that aside for a day to honor his passing. You have me pegged totally wrong. Yes, we should honor Reagan’s passing, as we should and will do when President Clinton passes, long may he live. The disrespect of President Reagan bugs me though, and I don’t know why SDMB’ers are engaging in it. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2004, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-things-i-hate-about-ronald-reagan/248840/83 "2004-06-05T23:31:02Z")
> [@lexi](#): > > 10.) Not dying in your first term when Jodie Foster’s fan shot at him. This is utterly beyond the pale. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2004, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-things-i-hate-about-ronald-reagan/248840/84 "2004-06-05T23:31:13Z")
> [@GLWasteful](#): > > Slow the hell down there, Ace. How many US citizens were being held hostage in Grenada? When citizens have been taken hostage, there’s a whole helluva lot that I expect, and Desert One I expected. Damned shame that it didn’t work. And yes, Jimmy Carter pulled the trigger. Again, I fully expected him to. Weren’t we talking about Reagan? Indeed, but she made a point of chastising me for illegal invasions. OK, I did some research on Grenada, and it appears that I have some crow to eat, proving once again that I am not unreasonable or unwavering in my opinions. To wit (from [here](http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/article_1098.shtml)): > [@](#): > > Under the pretense of protecting about 700 U.S. medical students there—students who, by most accounts, were never in any real danger—Mr. Reagan ordered the U.S. military invasion of the small island on Oct. 25, 1983. Many analysts argue that Mr. Reagan used the invasion of the militarily weak West Indian nation to deflect public outrage from the bombing of the U.S. Marine Corps barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, just two days before, on Oct. 23, in which 241 U.S. personnel were killed. That seems to be the overriding sentiment among the stuff I saw, so I’ll accept that and concede that the invasion of Grenada was extremely shady, but not quite of recent proportions. Accordingly, I extend an apology to **This Year’s Model** for getting up on her shit, although the remark that set me off was uncalled for in my opinion. > [@](#): > > Well, see, when one sees a spade, one is quite likely to refer to it as a spade. Was Desert One illegal? Ayup, and it happened for all the right reasons. And as to why missions are undertaken, enlighten, please. Unless you’re just talking outta your ass and trying to burnish a severely tarnished presidential rep. I’m not trying to salvage any President’s rep. It lives and dies on its own merits. Missions are undertaken out of either national interest or international interest. In the case of Panama it was a bit of both, but I’ll grant you that it was a certainty that the United States had more at stake than anyone else. ---
**Author:** ![milroyj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@milroyj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milroyj)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2004, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-things-i-hate-about-ronald-reagan/248840/85 "2004-06-05T23:40:18Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > So long as you find me disgusting, I know I must be right. So it’s OK to wish that someone should have died 20 years ago. That’s nice, :wally :rolleyes: :smack: :mad: ---
**Author:** ![milroyj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@milroyj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milroyj)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2004, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-things-i-hate-about-ronald-reagan/248840/86 "2004-06-05T23:41:55Z")
> [@qts](#): > > This is utterly beyond the pale. I agree completely. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@Dead\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Badger)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2004, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-things-i-hate-about-ronald-reagan/248840/87 "2004-06-05T23:51:27Z")
> [@gobear](#): > > C’mon, **Milroyj** , you’re just annoyed that every Doper isn’t weeping for your fallen Christ–if a truck took out Bill Clinton, the board would be drenched with your estactic spooge. Don’t ask others to show class that you yourself don’t possess. Look, I hate to agree with milroyj, who if memory serves correctly is the sort to blame a father in Iraq for “having too many kids” when one of them gets blown up in a war, but there is far more than a lack of weeping going on here - some people are actively wishing the guy had died earlier. It’s pretty sick, given that to all intents and purposes, he did. Anyway, the rest of your post is bang on. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2004, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-things-i-hate-about-ronald-reagan/248840/88 "2004-06-05T23:59:31Z")
Reagan sucked. His death is not a loss. Reagan gave us the Taliban, Saddam Hussein, the crack epidemic, the AIDS epidemic ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2004, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-things-i-hate-about-ronald-reagan/248840/89 "2004-06-06T00:01:13Z")
> [@](#): > > On the other hand, I already find myself disgusted thinking of the ways in which some (certainly not all) elements of the Right has, and will, seek to exploit him and his memory by deifying him and whitewashing all of his bad points. And of course, the Democrats wouldn’t dream of hitching their coattails to Reagan now in an effort to make them more palatable to the center, right? Reagan was a beloved figure. Politicians on both sides are going to take advantage of that. That’s politics. And this thread is a perfect example of how twisted the SDMB has become. **Airman Doors** : You should do a little more research on Grenada. It was essentially a communist coup. The ‘construction workers’ working on that huge airport happened to be Cuban, and happened to have heavy weapons to aid in their ‘construction’. Grenada was a litmus test, and one of many events that helped bring down the fall of the Soviet Union. Until Reagan was elected, the Soviet Bear was on the move, expanding its sphere of influence throughout the world. After Reagan took power, he drew a line in the sand and he defended it. Had that invasion not taken place, Grenada today would be Cuba II. ---
**Author:** ![rfgdxm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c0e974/32.png) [@rfgdxm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rfgdxm)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2004, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-things-i-hate-about-ronald-reagan/248840/90 "2004-06-06T00:01:22Z")
> [@Dead Badger](#): > > Look, I hate to agree with milroyj, who if memory serves correctly is the sort to blame a father in Iraq for “having too many kids” when one of them gets blown up in a war, but there is far more than a lack of weeping going on here - some people are actively wishing the guy had died earlier. It’s pretty sick, given that to all intents and purposes, he did. Anyway, the rest of your post is bang on. Interestingly enough, an argument could be made that those who hated Reagan should have hoped he lived longer. Basically, his death today just ended what I presume was a miserable existence for him. Now, Reagan no longer suffers. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2004, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-things-i-hate-about-ronald-reagan/248840/91 "2004-06-06T00:05:11Z")
> [@Airman Doors](#): > > Accordingly, I extend an apology to **This Year’s Model** for getting up on her shit, although the remark that set me off was uncalled for in my opinion. I’ll accept your apology, though you may not accept my acceptance, as I do not believe my remark was uncalled for. I would like to point out that I am a he. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2004, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-things-i-hate-about-ronald-reagan/248840/92 "2004-06-06T00:08:59Z")
> [@Airman Doors](#): > > Repeat, so we’ll go with Grenada and Panama. He did Grenada because he was protecting US citizens, much like Carter did at Desert One. The difference? Reagan was successful. Panama? Well, he protected US (and world) interests by getting rid of Noriega, who was a drug runner, despot, and was in control of the country with that most vital sealane, the Panama Canal. However, the US DID support Noriega early on, so for that mistake I’ll be charitable and give you a half a point for that one. Um, you did know that Panama was invaded in 1989, which was after Reagan’s term had expired, right? You also knew that the supposed “threat” to Americans in Grenada was pretty much non-existent, right? ---
**Author:** ![lexi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lexi/32/6806_2.png) [@lexi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lexi)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2004, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-things-i-hate-about-ronald-reagan/248840/93 "2004-06-06T00:09:53Z")
Right now I am listening to a classic 80’s tune - **Hinkley had a vision by the Crucifuck** There are people who share my sentiment. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2004, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-things-i-hate-about-ronald-reagan/248840/94 "2004-06-06T00:10:16Z")
Shit, I submitted too soon. As I was saying, Reagan gave us the Taliban, Osama, Saddam, crack, AIDS, a record national debt, an secret war, arms for hostages, Ed Meece, the stupidity of his impossible Star Wars program and the war on drugs. I can’t think of a single positive thing he contributed as a POTUS. The guy fucking blew almost as hard as Dubya does. His death is not a loss but he will doubtlessly be canonized by the media regardless. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2004, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-things-i-hate-about-ronald-reagan/248840/95 "2004-06-06T00:10:43Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > Um, you did know that Panama was invaded in 1989, which was after Reagan’s term had expired, right? > > You also knew that the supposed “threat” to Americans in Grenada was pretty much non-existent, right? Well, I can tell that you didn’t read the rest of the thread. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2004, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-things-i-hate-about-ronald-reagan/248840/96 "2004-06-06T00:11:05Z")
> [@Sam Stone](#): > > And of course, the Democrats wouldn’t dream of hitching their coattails to Reagan now in an effort to make them more palatable to the center, right? Of course they will. A President who is well-loved by the other side has just died; it’d be tacky and classless to insult him at this point (_cough_). I’m just saying that, unless I’m mistaken, they’re not the ones who wanted him on the dime or Mount Rushmore, either. Plus, I never saw Reagan as a President who appealed THAT much to “the center,” although his popularity might show otherwise. I guess I just don’t see anyone attempting, or being fooled by, such a transparent maneuver as liberal politicians trying to align themselves with, or trying to claim they’re carrying on the legacy of, or trying to push the views of, such a conservative President. As for this place “becoming twisted,” well, I’ll have to think about that one for a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2004, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-things-i-hate-about-ronald-reagan/248840/97 "2004-06-06T00:15:12Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > I was glad to hear that his family has come together. CNN is reporting that all three children are now at the home. Something about this statement bothered me. Then I realized what it was: one of those children died years ago. Are you sure this is what CNN said? ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2004, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-things-i-hate-about-ronald-reagan/248840/98 "2004-06-06T00:15:14Z")
> [@The Man With The Golden Gun](#): > > I think Otto is celebrating because he has proven to me at least, that he is out of his fucking mind. Why? Because I’m not rending my garments in calamatous grief over the death of a man who I consider to have done lasting if not irreparable harm to the nation through his acts, his decisions not to act and the furtherance of his political philosophy? Saint Ron’s started his dirt nap. Boo-fucking-hoo. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2004, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-things-i-hate-about-ronald-reagan/248840/99 "2004-06-06T00:15:36Z")
> [@Sam Stone](#): > > Reagan was a beloved figure. as this thread attests, not to all. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2004, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-things-i-hate-about-ronald-reagan/248840/100 "2004-06-06T00:16:31Z")
> [@Apos](#): > > Something about this statement bothered me. Then I realized what it was: one of those children died years ago. Are you sure this is what CNN said? There are three surviving children: Michael, Ron and Patti Davis. Maureen is the one who died. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-things-i-hate-about-ronald-reagan/248840.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-things-i-hate-about-ronald-reagan/248840.md?page=6)