Showing 75 comments for
The Reagan Centennial

Mark: Thanks for your comments about President Reagan. He wore the POW-MIA bracelet with the name, Stephen P. Hanson on it. Steve was married to my wife's sister, Carole Hanson. I thought you might like to know that. It is also one reason President Reagan was so supportive of the POW-MIA families.You do not have to print my comment. I just wanted you, Mark, to know that about Reagan. Gary

Why is when "conservatives" gush on and on about Reagan they NEVER seem to remember that it was HE that started this "war on drugs". A war on the people of the U.S.A. and freedoms and colossal waste of money. Reagan also ballooned the U.S. to never yet seen proportions. Only BO has caused a greater explosion of the national debt.

What a beautifully written piece! I have tears in my eyes; my hope is renewed; and my love and pride in America swells in my heart. We truly are a blessed nation in spite of the present administration. My prayer is that another fine, intelligent, patriotic, sincere, humble person will grace us with the opportunity to elect him/her as our president in '12. Surely there is such a person, and surely they will answer that call. He/She won't have to compare himself/herself to Reagan; informed people will be able to see it for themselves. Thank you for reminding me what a wonderfully refreshing, entirely unique individual Mr. Reagan was.

Thank you. One forgets how inspiring he was. If only we could find a selfless person who could carry on his legacy.

President Reagan was indeed a special leader of our country and inspired us with who we are and why the United States is such a special country and never ever apologized for our greatness. I am reading President Reagan's Diary of his daily activities while in the White House. Can you imagine BHO doing such a thing. He sure wouldn't publish nor admit the unusual visitors and discussions he has. Obama campaigned on transparency and instead we got sleaziness.

Morning Glory's comments say it all!!

Thank you, Mark! Your essay brought a tear to my eye. I share your admiration and respect for President Reagan. He was truly a giant among politicians, and we may never see such genuine leadership in the Oval Office in our lifetimes, but another Commander-in-Chief with his vision, patriotism, and integrity is EXACTLY what America needs right now!

Mark, Thank you for your beautiful essay. It brought a tear to my for eye for what we have lost with the passing of this great man, and a joy to my heart for what we what we have gained in his having been here.

I think Shakespeare said it best in Hamlet, "He was a man, take him for all in all,I shall not look upon his like again."

Yes we need another Reagan in the White House, but I am sad to say we may never get there. Reagan was a true Patriot.

President Reaganm, was more than a President, he was every man woman and child's benefactor. Under his wise and profound love for this nation and God he gave us his best and brought our nation almost back to where our founders began. In my 74 years I have been priviledged to see some great men in the office of President but not many can compare to President Reagan. Confidence in your President is so very important and I always felt like he was the father and we were his children. He handled the presidency almost like Billy Graham handled religion. Common sence and intregerty describes him well. God certainly blessed American by bringing Ronald Regan into our lives as President.We will be extremely hard pressed to find another man to fill his shoes. God will have to bless us once again in order to do this.

Thank you Mark, that was very well done. God bless you, The post, and The United States of America.

Sometimes to appreciate the worst that life has to offer one must experience the best that life has to offer. Without a doubt we are now experiencing one of lifes worst times as measured against Ronald Reagans greatness.

Mark,Thanks for that fabulous essay.When I was 25 years old, just before the attempt on his life, I had the priviledge of meeting President Reagan. We had a nice chat and he was truly interested in a young man's opinion. That memory will last me my entire life.He was such a breath of fresh air and he made us all feel proud to be Americans again. He was a class act to be sure.The attempt to compare the current resident to Mr. Reagan is ridiculous and an insult. Reagan exemplified the greatness of America and embraced all Americans, his successor is a divider and a national embarrassment of the highest order. I look forward to his exit in 2013.We do not need the resident or the media to tell us who our next Reagan is. We will see it quite well on our own. In our lifetime we have already embraced greatness once and we remember what it looks like.

Ronald Reagan...a man who stood humble before God and the Founders and who had faith in 'We the People'.

01/04/11 Mark liKe Reagan,You are a very special person.The 56 men who gave us a life of freedom,Apperently it seems we BENEFICIARIES of that GIFT don't realize how quickly we could lose the gift.Those men only come once,We should learn how to take care of what we HAVE.Well written MARK & ALL

Just thought you might want to know (if you don't already, when I get an e-mail from Patriot Post, I immediately get one from that Soros creep.

Masterfully written, Mark. There is a deserved reverent tone in each paragraph. A fitting tribute to the greatest American of the past century. Thank you so much for all that you and your staff do.

I wish we could have this column distributed and read in our schools and universities today. Thanks much.

You're admiration of Ronald Reagan is shared in vast circles in this Country. So many of us know just how valuable he was to our Nation when our Nation needed it most. And now we have another Jimmy Carter who is so much more dangerous than he was. Our Country has a lot of hope with the Tea Party movement which I believe Reagan would have welcomed with excitement to see the people engaged.What gets me right now is the fact that Obama has press conferences touting the people of Egypt expressing their peaceful protests of their government, and yet when the Tea Party does the same thing we are all labeled terrorists. Sickening!

Thank you so much, Mark. During the last few weeks, the world seems to be falling apart. Your article on President Reagan reaffirms the fact that GOD is in control and we must keep ourselves spiritually ready to do His bidding. God bless you all.

This essay was a wonderful tonic for soothing the sorrow that I feel every time I read about BO or some new link his government has forged or is forging in the chains that enslave Americans to a king-like government that is increasingly limiting our lives liberties and abilities to pursue happiness. As I read the words of the last real American President, I had a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. God bless the memory of Ronald Reagan and you for refreshing that memory for us.

There will never be another Ronald Reagan but it sure would be nice to find a decent imitator.

Good one - spot on!

Thank you for your article on President Reagan. He was truly the greatest President of our time.

One of my favorite pictures of my wife was taken when she was 19, taken about 1 year before we wed. It was 1984. She was sitting in front of her bookcase, and carefully watching over her shoulder is a signed picture of Ronald Reagan. We were privileged to wed and begin our life together under his careful leadership of this nation. How depressing to know that since 1988 we have had mainly impostors holding forth in that office - none more so than the current resident. Thank you, Mark, for your thoughtful insight into and remembrances of the greatest man this country may have ever known. You, like my hero Ronaldus Magnus, are a great patriot!

Beautifully done!!Thank you.Jim BradleyWalnut Creek, Ca

One theme seems to be consistent each day as I read the reader comments. Disatisfaction of the President. It is very simple demand of our Congress, the House and the Senate to demand to see BHO's papers. Not just the birth certificate--ALL PAPERS. If they would, this administration, including the Little King would unravel like a cheap suit. He should not be eligible to run for re-election until he proves his eligibility.

Mark,I'm deeply moved with tears of nostalgia as I read, once again, your quotes of President Reagan. They are the words of a noble Christian American statesman that would certainly have the approval of our founding fathers. In the realm of politics they are a lamp unto our feet. And your continual reiteration of such wisdom in the Patriot Post is why I continue to support you even beyond what my lovely wife would seem prudent.

I read this with tears flowing down my face. What a beautiful tribute to a great man who seldom used the word, "I", it was always, "We", "You and I" in his speeches and writings. I want my grandchildren to grow up in a country with leaders like President Regan. Whatever it takes I want to be a part of making that happen. In the words of another great Patriot, "Hold on, my friends, to the Constitution and to the Republic for which it stands. Miracles do not cluster and what has happened once in 6,000 years, may not happen again. Hold on to the Constitution, for if the American Constitution should fail, there will be anarchy throughout the world." --U.S. Senator Daniel Webster (1782-1852)God Bless you all at the Post and God Bless this great and wonderful country, AMERICA!!!

I'm humbled and still amazed at where we've been in our lives and saddened by where we are headed. I am a 64 yr old, a veteran, and I will die for the preservation of our God Given right to self govern. I have tears to shed for the future of my children & Grandchildren. Thank you Patriot Post for keeping my disdain for those in control (D>C>) under wraps. Your Essay Mark, reminds us of where can go in this great Nation. God Bless and God Speed.Thank you.

The American Left(in this instance, The Senate), will claim great bipartisanship on the repeal of the 1099 provision of the Socialist "Obama Care" Legislation. They will then try to use it as their appeal to those in the Middle of the Road, that they are doing everything they can in the face of the Extremist Right, when indeed it is their straw dog about whose knockdown they will cackle like a murder of crows.

I will say that I have not read a more fitting tribute to so great a man as Ronald Regan. while i did not agree with all he did or even believed (as is my god given right) I do agree with how he accomplished things and the era of rejuvenation he returned to this country. It's too bad that the left-wingers and naysayers have so total a hold on the young minds of this country and that the parents for the most part are so dense as to believe that the government is our friend. IT'S NOT. Regan came at a time when the fellow citizens of this country was staggering under the black eye that the ineptitude of the leadership of this once great nation gave us. Hopefully in the coming years we will have another such as President Regan that will again arise to take firm control of this nation to return it to the status of which it was founded and so richly deserves. The fact that we allowed ourselves to be so taken in by one, that while at best is a great charismatic speaker, I find to be no better than the buffoon that called himself president before the days or Regan or the leader who now classifies himself as "equal in standing with Former President Regan" is both deplorable and despicable. If Christ could whip the money changers from the temples, then why can't "We The People" whip the despots out that we voted into government from the halls of office? This last election was a starting point for the turnaround to this countries decline and is a good start; However its not enough. We NEED to do more,to say, "Oh, we put those into office that will get the job done, what more can we do?" is like saying that we put the foxes in the hen-house to guard the chickens and eggs.... NOT A GOOD IDEA. I thank God I was alive and able to understand the truth behind Regan's Ideas and values and was and am proud to say he was MY president when this country needed him..GOd bless him and may God help this country now, keep up the good work and i will pass this aloong to those that will understand the truth that is said here.

Re: Mark, re True PatriotI actually enjoy this guy, and get a good laugh every time he writes his nonsense. However, I also feel sad for the many like him with seemingly pathology natures. I have learned by following most of his, and others, past drivel over the years, that they are indeed socialists. And just as infants depend on their parents for nurturance, affection and subsistence in their earliest years, socialists depend on, no not just depend on, demand others provide for their needs and wants all the way through life. I suppose what I am trying to say is, that it’s not his or their fault the way they may be, behave, think and act. We can't fault anyone whose yet underdeveloped cognitions show excessive dependency and neediness. Blame the environment, upbringing, genetics, liberal educations, if any, or a combination thereof, but it is unfortunately an inhibited developmental malady. I know you have a psychology background, so you will likely remember Erickson’s psychosocial stages of development and stagnation? Anyway, we must blame the disease, not the person. Fact is we still don’t know what causes complete psychological dependence, extreme neediness, and chronic idleness. Whereas most other ‘adults’ have successfully completed and passed through the necessary stages in their psychosocial or cognitive developments, many liberals have not. It is a shame, but a fact in some folk’s developmental lives. I believe it is best to let the socialist vent his frustrations, because change without intensive intervention is impossible. After all, the common sense of American citizens was prominent in November when his and their beloved socialists took a massive beating in the election. So please give him a break. Thanks!

Brilliant Mark....A wonderful tribute to one of the greatest men ever to inhabit the white house. A man of class and grace, so unlike the Carter,Clintonand the neophyte Obama administrations.

Excellent commentary. President Reagan was a man of principle, courage, and love of the inherent rights of the human person. In a personal writing to the Human Life Review in 1983 titled "Abortion and the Conscience of the Nation", he writes "The real question today is not when human life begins, but, What is the value of human life?" He concludes his essay with "My administration is dedicated to the preservation of America as a free land, and there is no cause more important for preseving that freedom than affirming the transcendent right to life of all human begins, the right without which no other rights have any meaning." Some readers may not be familiar with President Reagan's outstanding writing. It can be read in its entirety in the Historic Documents section "Cold War, Cutural Upheaval and the Reagan Era (1945-1991) of The Patriot Post.

@ True PatriotClinton's surplus was a direct result of the trickle down economics that Reagan implemented. These things don't happen overnight as everyone would like. And, our recovery from this economic meltdown (that started in 2006...when...what happened? Pelosi, Reid took control of Congress?) Clinton was also blessed with the phenomonem of the "Dot.Com" market explosion...he didn't plan on it...it was a technology renaissance that he benefited from (Gore didn't invent the internet either).Also what happened during the Clinton tenure was the 1994 Republican takeover of Congress that brought about the Clinton surplus. As Gingrich said, "Give credit where credit is due."

A fitting tribute to the President with whom I felt so close. I commend you all for your care and skill in honoring former President Reagan, would that more were as able. He was a true patriot, teacher, leader, and commander, all the things our current President is not and though Obama aspires to attach himself to such an illustrious personage it will never come to pass. No one with a bit of sense will buy into such a farce.thank you Patriot Post, for your tribute and some fond memories of one of our greatest Presidents.Allen R Butler

Thanks Mark for your wonderful piece on President Ronald Reagan. It brought tears to my eyes. I still miss him and what he did for our country. There will never be another one like him.

Ronnie would not be happy with what has become of the GOP. In no way is it standing up for the beliefs in our country or people, instead it is chipping away, as errant schoolchildren at what was the bedrock of our society. Instead of looking forward and finding ways to "fix" the mess we're in, it continues to rehash the same petty arguments. As peevish schoolchildren, they continue to harp on what has been done, not on what can be done now. That is NOT statesman ship, or good governance. When the one percent of the nation has all the wealth, and the rest of us are struggling to keep roofs over our heads and food in our stomachs,and those monied souls control everything,Lord help us as we devolve into third world status. Egypt may prove to be a lesson for us to follow.

Hail Ronaldus Maximus! ;) Thanks so much. I enjoyed this!

I hope to God someday soon WE THE PEOPLE again see his like, God only knows we've seen Jimmy's!

Wow! What a powerful and moving tribute to a great man. If only our schools taught these lessons, we would not have a generation of dependent and envious constituents looking to the "intellectual elite in a far-distant capital" to solve all or their problems. But the fact that Reagan was proven right in just about everything he says gives me hope that "our most glorious achievements are just ahead"!

Mark - Thank you for the wonderful "Life in Review" of our dearest president & leader Ronald Reagan. During his administration, I was, unfortunately, a democrat & lacked even basic comprehension of what it means to be an American. By the time of his death, however, I took the day from work, dressed up & viewed the entire ceremony throughout the day. I had spent the years following his presidency learning about the conservative movement and his dramatic roll in the enlightening of America. Thanks again for your compelling reminder of his service. kt

Mr. Alexander, you wrote a wonderful essay. I find myself very disappointed that I was not listening (because I didn't care) when Reagan gave all these inspiring speeches!So, I was hanging on every word of your essay until your gave your own editorial on Obama and his SOTU. While MAYBE you are right, it drives me crazy how many people who are desperately wanting to turn the direction of our nation around fall so easily into name-calling and other distracting bravado. Can we just stop alienating "the other side" by implying "they" are wrong and, instead, focus our language and speech on making good points and speaking unopinionated truth? After all, as long as we are a two (or more) party nation, it will REQUIRE that each side agree on MANY MAJOR issues in order to bring ourselves out of this abyss! As long as either side is distracted by rhetoric, we cannot make meaningful progress.

Thank you, Mark, for publishing these wonderful selections of President Reagan's words. I wish they could be published on the front pages of all the newspapers in this country to remind everyone what this amazing man stood for, and what this country should stand for. I wish his words were required reading in all our high school civics classes. It would be very helpful in our efforts to rescue this great country from the brink of disaster which we now face.

Ey! Mike! / first comment. Get your facts straight! Reagan lowered the top marginal rate from 70% to 28 % and DOUBLED the tax revenues to Washington. The deal was; for every dollar brought to D.C., $1.5 dollars would be cut from the fed. budget and the [then Democrat] Congress basically screwed Reagan and reneged! There's your answer! wake up Mike!

Thank you. Good article. I didn't vote for him twice, I was 18 and 24 yrs old, but now that I'm older and understand more I consider him the BEST and most Libertarian president of the last century. Not for what he did but what he said. Your article contained bits of the kind of wisdom that he showed, that today would make me probably cross my party line. I'm a Libertarian but if a Republican speaks like that he would get my vote. The country needs to learn these lessons somehow, and they're sure not likely to get them from teachers who are part of the government-run (socialist) schools. Take another look at what he said about left/right and freedom/totalitarianism and compare it to the libertarian Nolan chart (try- thequiz.com or Advocates for Self Government). Again, thank you for some great Reagan quotes.

Thank You Mark!The power of Ronald Reagan was not in his words - although they were profound - but rather in his conviction. In reading them now I am reminded that his words were powerful because they were the expression of his heartfelt belief in the strength of the individual in a free society. He was committed to the task of strengthening America thru the freedom of it's citizens. He achieved that goal in spite of a hostile media and a free spending Congress.His speeches were not simply words, practiced in delivery, then read from a teleprompter. Ronald Reagan spoke to Americans not as subjects or even as mere citizens - he spoke to us as friends and fellow Americans who had entrusted him to lead us from the morass of oppressive Federal economic and social policies that had strangled American society.We believed that he could do so, because we shared with him the political philosophy of our Founders.We face the same struggle today - a battle between diametrically opposed political philosophies - that cannot be won with compromise.On this 100th Anniversary I take great solace in recalling how quickly Ronald Reagan was able to right the Ship of State. Ronald Reagan - Now More Than Ever!

What a great essay, Mark, and a great tribute to the greatest President of the 20th Century!!! Thank you and God Bless YouSincerely,David C Roberts

Whenever I hear or read that America's choice is between governing ourselves or having the political elite rule over us, it bristles through my mind like fingernails on a chalk board.In Mark's recantation of events in 1964, he quoted Reagan as saying, "...Whether we believe in our capacity for self-government or whether we abandon the American Revolution and confess that a little intellectual elite in a far-distant capital can plan our lives for us better than we can plan them ourselves."The issue SHOULD NOT be whether we think elites could do a better job at making all our decisions for us, for if we allow that, we throw away all Liberty. WHO CAN DO A BETTER JOB IS IRRELEVANT. I would be glad if the summation of all Americans' decisions in running their own lives, resulted in America being a dump. I wouldn't be glad for the dump but I would be glad that it was our dump. Then we can blame ourselves and fix our mess. If we abdicate our self-determination and allow government to continue making a dump out of America, as they've been doing for at least the last 70 years, then in the end, it will be slim solace to blame them for the dump. With a bit of conscience, all they might do is to kick our chains aside for a moment and say, "sorry."But the Founders knew differently. They knew that Liberty was the most essential ideal to preserve. And they knew that even though self-governance presented the risk of Americans making a dump out of America, that by contrast, the tyranny of a ruling-class government would certainly yield a dump. The Founders knew that the Liberty of self-governance would produce miracles, not a dump.The constitutional constructionists in America are the wise ones. Theirs should be our direction, starting yesterday.

Thank you for the great essay & quotes about & from the greatest President of the 20th Century. He must be spinning in his grave at the speed of the F-16 afterburner re: the naked & hollow mini-emperor "O" being like him. However, President Reagan being a gracious man would just smile & say: "Here we go again..."This is from my family: Dear Mrs. Reagan;I just want to send my warmest wishes for the 100th Anniversary of your husband's birth & as my family believes, the greatest President of the 20th Century. We all miss him & wish he were still alive.I never forget the electric moment when he stood in front of the Brandenburg Gate (then still in the Red zone) on June 12, 1987 & challenged Gorbachev to tear down that Wall. It also happened to be my sweet daughter's 1st birthday. My father was born in Berlin. We will never forget his courage regarding the Evil Red Empire: "We win, they loose." Thanks to his policies & victory, we were able to visit family & friends in Prague in 1991 for the first time in 21 years.May the Lord watch over you & your loved ones.Very fondly,Robert J. S., Vox Humana "Rather free in want than rich in servitude."www.robertofprague.com

Thank you so much for this essay, it brought tears to my eyes reading the words of President Reagan. It reminded me of what we had and how much we have lost. It also made me realize how much I miss the optimisim and love of our country and its people that is so lacking in our current president. Thank you for your work and God Bless you and your staff. Raeanne Martin - Van Alstyne, TX

Hey "True Patriot"I suspect that only you know why you title yourself as such, but it just came to mind that "True Patriot" 's initials are TP.Perhaps that is what you really stand for.Just thinking out loud here.

This is a document worth preserving for our children and their children. Thank you, Mark. I still have a lump in my throat. God bless America and Ronald Reagan.

I have a problem with being too reverent or idolizing a mere human being, and I'm sure Reagan would agree. I think the true tribute to Reagan is what he himself said, paraphrased, that his administration wasn't great because of the Communicator but rather because they communicated Great Ideas.President Reagan didn't want to glorify himself, rather the American people, freedom unleashed, and the God that guides all. In so doing, he always gave credit to WE not ME, as opposed to 2 of the last 3 presidents.

In 1980 I did not vote for President Reagan. I believed all the negative retoric that unions and the left spewed. In fact I had never voted for a Republican ever and I voted faithfully in every election since 1956.Somewhere between 80 and 84 I actually listened to President Reagan's speaches and I was amazed to discover that what he was saying was exactly how I believed. The national ecomomy was responding to President Reagan's predictions and the condition of our nation was improving. I voted for him in 84!Today, when I review the legacy of President Reagan over the course of history I see how fortunate America was to have had such a great man as our president.Truely Ronald Reagan was the best president of the 20th century and perhaps the best one ever.

I just love reading Reagan...I'm sure the Founding Fathers were proud to see him lead our country in the 80's...now, they must be hiding their faces in shame of who the American people voted into office.

@ True Patriot. Carter can't be given any 'good' credit. His tact with the Iran Hostage situation resonates to this day with the current Egyptian crisis. He also gave us Record Inflation (Carter,not Ford). Reagan came in to clean up, hostages released and inflation squelched. The next administration will have to clean-up after Obama mess of foreign policy, energy policies, deficit/debt (not all his fault but he's adding to it) and that will take time. That clean-up started just last month. As I recall, other than two war theaters, the economy was good from 2000-2006. Of course, the left was telling you it wasn't! When Reid & Pelosi came in is when the economy started dumping and Bush got the blame as it happened on his watch. True Patriot you are correct, we had some of our best economical years in the 90s while Clinton was in office and he left us with a surplus. Clinton made his progress by governing by the polls after the 1994 Republican takover of Congress. He was doing good with welfare reform, brokered peace in Ireland between Catholics & Protestants...so he did some good when he wasn't jackin' with my guns, unleashing Madeline Albright to fight her Kosovo war, and bringing shame to the integrity of the Presidency with the Monica Lewensky (the 'is' word semantics)ordeal. As for the economy, if we could follow whatever base framework models were set post 1994 we should pursue those as they worked. That framework isn't in place now.

Minor correction to your excellent Ronald Reagan Centennial commentary this week:The public letter in which President Reagan announced his Alzheimer's diagnosis was dated November 5, 1994, not in August 1994.Source:http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/reference/alzheimerletter.html

Mark, thanks for that tribute to the Gipper, our last great President. We sure could use his strength and leadership now. Republicans need to get back to their conservative, Reagan roots before this country is lost forever!

@ Doc of Dem.You've got a point. That's exactly why so many of us still love the Gipper. He earned our love, respect & trust because he talked to us in plain yet eloquent English - he wrote most of his speeches - didn't take credit for his policies & he meant & did what he said, unlike the current petty boy-pharaoh in the WH. He didn't need a teleprompter despite the Elite's attacks on his faculties. His sense of humor & optimism were real, refreshing & infectious. None of us are suggesting a beatification. Anyone who really wants to know re: the demise of the Evil Red Empire get your teeth into Dr. Paul Kengor's soon to be a classic: "'The Crusader' - R. Reagan and the fall of the the Soviet Union." He even fought the GOP establishment re: the detente policies. The KGB apparatchiks were scared to death of him; not an easy task by any means.Mark A. & all commentators so far have omitted a personal yet identifying moment who President Reagan truly was as a man. These few unrehearsed, private words to Nancy as she entered the hospital room: "Honey, I forgot to duck." No phony machismo here but solid, down to earth man's man. He was a Hombre. Period. Just picture that narcissistic little impostor in the same scenario; without a teleprompter there'd be whining, baby, I'm bleeding; w/ one, there'd be some preposterous phony gobbledygook.

@ MLC re: TP;You're more charitable that I'll ever be toward these caricatures; I ignore them, at the least.In my book, Clinton benefited from Reaganomics big time. How come Clinton isn't blamed for the Dot.com crash, the Y2K hoax, etc.? In the 80's, I worked for a high-tech company & many of my clients were in defense; we've built custom systems for them. I've seen some of the then "James Bond" movies-like stuff our kids take for granted today. Reagan understood the genius of the American people & just opened the gate slammed shot by his feeble & wimpy predecessor & the lib-cohorts. We ran outside & built the lattice & the grid for the so-called info-super-hwy. Btw, it is sad that the Chi-coms control the web traffic & access, ergo their people w/ US sw & hw.

I have tears in my eyees, I can hardly see to write this. President Reagsn was & always shall be the greatest President we ever had!! I miss him so much & consider myself VERY BLESSED to be an American AND to have witnessed his Presidency. My heart is full & so are my eyes... Happy Birthday, Mr. President!!!!! GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for a beautifully written tribute to a great American president. Ronald Reagan was everything you said, and through his example, he encouraged all of us to become the best WE can be. God help us to preserve and protect this great nation!

Mark: one of your finer pieces! Every time I reread Pres Reagan's speeches I marvel at their eloquence, sincerity, and wisdom. He was a remarkable man in countless ways, and our country solely needs a leader such as he in these perilous times. I also continue to ponder how we could have possibly elected the incredibly incompetent, totally unqualified charlatan that is wreaking so much damage to our nation. Perhaps its Divine intervention, reminding us that elections have serious consequences and freedom-loving people have to defend our freedom---from within, and from without.

Mark, for some reason I felt a deep sorrow in my heart when I read your piece. I am a HUGE Reagan fan, and consider him to be only next to Washington as to their impact on this Country. As I look at BO's Administration and the weak-kneed GOP, I at times feel like that it's all headed to a hot place in a basket. Frankly, I don't see any Reagans ... in either party. And I'm not sure we'll see one anytime in the near future. With what we're seeing unfold in the Middle East ...

@ Robert of PragueThanks for your response comments. They are all a great reminder of why we celebrate President Reagan. Truly one of the top 5 presidents (Washington, Adams, Madison, Coolidge among them) we've ever had; his Patriotism for a free market representative Republic, love of God, awesome humor, and humility being his salient character traits.One has to love the humor he exhibited in the face of a hostile press. Imagine if we had a fawning press for Reagan like we do for B.O., what great Reagan one-liners and humorous stories we would have missed!

Double-R is the only President I voted for. I cast my first vote against Carter. All the other votes I've cast have been against the one I feared could become President (Clinton, Gore, Kerry, Obama). I served in the U.S. Navy with Double-R as CiC and saw the resurrection of the United States' military pride and might. The Armed Forces were truly devastated by Carter and liberal Republicans and President Reagan made it great, again. For we had to be, to defeat the evil empire.Now, liberals control education, entertainment, the media and our lives. They tinker with the military much as the liberals did before Reagan. Will we ever learn? We need a man or a woman of virtue and the strength of character to back the left down and return our government to us.Thank God for giving us the example of Ronald Reagan.

Hey TruePatriot:44 states his first term, 49 his second term. Kinda hard to argue his popularity. He must have done something right. Regarding your beloved Clinton, you're right, he did balance the budget. And he did so at the expense of our overseas intelligence. Too bad, we might have prevented 9/11 otherwise. Oh, and lets not forget Clinton was the one who told Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to create those sub prime mortgages in the first place, leading up to the predicament we're in now. Sure... Clinton was great....

What a blessing that I was serving in FRG when President Reagan deployed Pershing Missles amidst howls and cajoles of main stream media. It worked!Few appreciate like Reagan, the vital link between the preservation of the family, the preservation of individual liberty and accountability, and the preservation of our nation's dream. Repeal of DADT will lead to former married gay veterans demanding states acknowledge their federal marriage. As individual states lose in court to preserve traiditional marriage, gays will raise children (adopted or artificial insemination), increase divorce, more broken families, and parentless children. The family will crumble under the weight. If traditional marriage is not an Amendment in 20 years, in a generation the US will lose considerable world power, jeopardizing the dream of liberty throughout the world.Can anyone refute that gay marriage contradicts a truth that has been proven by every society throughout the world for all of the history of mankind? To do so requires one to bury their head in a bucket of cement. The foolishness of making gay marriage the same legal status as traditional marriage is beyond imagination.Of immediate impact, DADT will lead to chaplains facing disciplinary charges for refusing to marry gay Soldiers. Chaplains serving for duty, honor, country and God will depart, replaced by milk-toast chaplains serving for self only. The Soldier will not hear the words they need when dying from a self serving chaplain. Of profound adverse impact will be the loss of lives of Soldiers. When in combat stress, the last thing a Soldier needs on his/her mind is their trust in the integrity of their leaders. Can a Solder trust the integrity of a leader who is openly gay? If that gay leader kept their sexual prefernces private, as true integrity demands, perhaps. But can the Soldier trust the leader who openly talks about their desire to practice sodomy?Our Soldiers, and their leaders at all echelons, are the finest in the history of the human race. All volunteers, they risk lives and limb for leaders with integrity they can trust. But asking them to trust the integrity of gay leaders may be one step beyond a bridge too far.

A wonderful summation of Ronald Reagan’s life and times. What an impossible task that you handled very well. Thank you.

You hit the mark, right on Mark as to the heart rending tribute to the best president this country had during some very crucial times. He was indeed a man of integrity and love for his country and its people.I pray we will be able to find someone who can govern our country as well as the "gipper" and show the same love as he did for our great country. God Bless you Ronald Reagan and God Bless Nancy Reagan and family.

I am new to your site. Thank you so much for your beautiful written article about one of our greatest presidents. Ronald Reagan continues to be an inspiration.

Ronald Reagan... A great American, a great Patriot, and a great President. I have fond memories of that great man. One of which, he was the first president I ever voted for (1984, the first election I was old enough to vote). As a 19 year-old kid, I proudly hung his picture on my bedroom wall. Most kids that age had pictures of their favorite rock band or the like. He is sorely missed.