# "Less than Cosmic?" ...Reagan **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 5, 2003, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/less-than-cosmic-reagan/217208 "2003-12-05T18:39:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![teacherpavel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@teacherpavel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teacherpavel)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/less-than-cosmic-reagan/217208/1 "2003-12-05T18:39:52Z")
Anybody want to bet that I’m posting this in the wrong place? Am I just crazy, or was naming an aircraft carrier after the nut while the drool still runs down his chin pushing things a little too far? Then, today I open up my news and see that an Indiana Republican wants to replace FDR with the Gipper. He’s got an airport, too, doesn’t he? Hell, that’s ok. John Lennon has an airport. What’s next? ELVIS STAMPS? ---
**Author:** ![imperfectionist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e99b99/32.png) [@imperfectionist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/imperfectionist)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/less-than-cosmic-reagan/217208/2 "2003-12-05T19:47:18Z")
We only have so many 2-term presidents to honor, after all. I think he was a jerk, and his big ego: He thought his Star Wars sham split up the USSR? And he thought he should be added to Mt. Rushmore? Ugh. But since we have no born royalty, we have to scrounge the history books for faces to put on our money. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/less-than-cosmic-reagan/217208/3 "2003-12-05T20:06:17Z")
There was an article on the news radio today about how some Republican Congresscritters want to bump Roosevelt off the dime and replace him with Reagan. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/less-than-cosmic-reagan/217208/4 "2003-12-05T20:41:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by imperfectionist \* > \*\*But since we have no born royalty, we have to scrounge the history books for faces to put on our money. \*\* Why can’t we be like many other nations, and for our currency use the portraits of scientists, artists, writers, composers, and the like, instead of politicians? Anyway, as a someone who was once A LOT more sympathetic to the Republican Party than I presently am, the ubiquitous adoration of Reagan is utterly baffling. Crediting him with the collapse of the Soviet Union is beyond ludicrous, and I abhor the way the Iran-Contra Scandal has been whitewashed. In addition, Reagan is arguable the second most fiscally irresponsible president ever. The legacy Reagan’s presidency has many other problems, even from a conservative point of view. Knorf ---
**Author:** ![Siegfried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@Siegfried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siegfried)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/less-than-cosmic-reagan/217208/5 "2003-12-05T22:59:17Z")
I can understand having an aircraft carrier named after Ronald Reagan. Military spending was quite high during his administration, plus a lot of the population still sees him as a beloved figure. Look at the names of many of the current active carriers, and you see that, when named after a president, they are named for ones that are fondly remembered for the most part or had an impact on the military: George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Theodure Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and John F. Kennedy. An older carrier that served from 1945 to 1977 was the Franklin D. Roosevelt. All of the aforementioned presidents are still pretty fondly remembered, although I admit the Eisenhower is named more for the man’s military career than presidency. ([source](http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/ships/carriers/cv-list1.html)). The only two names of active vessels that stick out to me are the Harry S Truman and the George H W Bush. These two former presidents, while having their share of supporters, really don’t strike me as being as popular as the previous ones I’ve mentioned. As far as everything else named after Reagan or being considered to be named after him, I have to more or less say “meh.” An airport named for Reagan? Kind of ironic but understandable if you just chock it up to popularity (which I’m not saying is the case – wasn’t this a case of one congressman pushing through what he wanted?). I don’t know about putting his face on money. The national debt skyrocketed under his administration, but the same thing could be said for Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration as well (just not to the same degree of severity). ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/less-than-cosmic-reagan/217208/6 "2003-12-06T03:57:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by teacherpavel \* > \*\*Anybody want to bet that I’m posting this in the wrong place? > > Am I just crazy, or was naming an aircraft carrier after the nut while the drool still runs down his chin pushing things a little too far? Then, today I open up my news and see that an Indiana Republican wants to replace FDR with the Gipper. > > He’s got an airport, too, doesn’t he? Hell, that’s ok. John Lennon has an airport. What’s next? ELVIS STAMPS? \*\* I’ll take that bet. :rolleyes: Let me introduce you to the BBQ Pit. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/less-than-cosmic-reagan/217208/7 "2003-12-06T09:09:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Knorf \* > **Reagan is arguable the second most fiscally irresponsible president ever.** Who’s the first? ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/less-than-cosmic-reagan/217208/8 "2003-12-06T12:03:43Z")
Why can’t they find some tiny, empty space and name it after him? ---
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/less-than-cosmic-reagan/217208/9 "2003-12-06T12:08:24Z")
Would his brain qualify? ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/less-than-cosmic-reagan/217208/10 "2003-12-06T12:09:44Z")
They renamed the Simi Valley freeway the Ronald Reagan Freeway a few years back. It’s not a particularly long stretch of road. And oddly enough, it is not the freeway that will take you to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, although it will get you part of the way. ---
**Author:** ![gluteus\_maximus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f17d59/32.png) [@gluteus\_maximus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gluteus_maximus)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/less-than-cosmic-reagan/217208/11 "2003-12-06T12:20:34Z")
Nancy’s against it. If the Republicans want a portrait of one of their own on currency, then how about W on the dinar? ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/less-than-cosmic-reagan/217208/12 "2003-12-07T02:45:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rilchiam \* > \*\*Who’s the first? \*\* Hoover? ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/less-than-cosmic-reagan/217208/13 "2003-12-07T02:55:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rjung \* > \*\*There was an article on the news radio today about how some Republican Congresscritters want to bump Roosevelt off the dime and replace him with Reagan. :rolleyes: \*\* from the OP > [@](#): > > Then, today I open up my news and see that an Indiana Republican wants to replace FDR with the Gipper. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/less-than-cosmic-reagan/217208/14 "2003-12-07T03:20:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Miller \* > \*\*Hoover? \*\* Well, Hoover _did_ suck. And the irony was that the more you paid, the more it sucked. Anyway, just about every president has had things named after him, even the unpopular ones. Reagan, being very popular (if a bit polarizing), simply has some bigger things named for him. If they wanna name an aircraft carrier after him, they have my blessing - he liked the military, and the military liked him. There’s not much chance I’ll be asked aboard it, and it’s not as if they’re naming it after Ed Gein. So it’s all hunky dory to me. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/less-than-cosmic-reagan/217208/15 "2003-12-07T04:16:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dantheman \* > \*\*Anyway, just about every president has had things named after him, even the unpopular ones. \*\* How else do you explain Garfield alarm clocks and the Polka? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/less-than-cosmic-reagan/217208/16 "2003-12-07T04:24:27Z")
I consider it gauche to allow anything to be named after you while you are still breathing. I truly despair of ever being made the arbiter of all things tasteful and classy, though, so don’t expect the practice to die away any time soon. ---
**Author:** ![teacherpavel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@teacherpavel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teacherpavel)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/less-than-cosmic-reagan/217208/17 "2003-12-07T04:35:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Enderw24 \* > \*\*How else do you explain Garfield alarm clocks and the Polka? \*\* hee hee hee…and Ford Cars! ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/less-than-cosmic-reagan/217208/18 "2003-12-07T05:24:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gluteus maximus \* > If the Republicans want a portrait of one of their own on currency, then how about W on the dinar? Oooh, burn! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rusty\_Scupper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Rusty\_Scupper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rusty_Scupper)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/less-than-cosmic-reagan/217208/19 "2003-12-07T05:56:58Z")
I don’t think that’s so far-fetched. When the Brits where in Baghdad their queen was on the money. And the Turks had a Turk when they ruled, and Napoleon had his face everywhere. To the victors goes the portraits of honor. ---
**Author:** ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/less-than-cosmic-reagan/217208/20 "2003-12-07T14:56:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kaylasdad99 \* > \*\*I consider it gauche to allow anything to be named after you while you are still breathing. > > I truly despair of ever being made the arbiter of all things tasteful and classy, though, so don’t expect the practice to die away any time soon. \*\* And wasn’t it the erstwhile policy of the Navy to name carriers only after _dead_ presidents? Or does merely brain-dead count? Personally, I think the only Reagan-named facility that makes sense is the library. Naming an airport after the only union president to bust a union (the Air Traffic Controllers…anybody remember?) is disgusting. The fucking hypocrite!