Foo - Rest well Ronald, RIP.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/06/05/reagan.health/index.html

Thank you Ronald Reagan.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/06/05/reagan.health/index.html

Thank you Ronald Reagan.Didn't see that one coming. I knew his health had been failing the last couple of years but I really didn't ssee that one coming.

My sympathies are extended to his family and friends.

One of the greatest recent presidents and a man who reshaped the world for the better. May his family be blessed during this time.

One of my personal heros.

He gave a lot to his country in many respects. He may be missed but not forgotten.

The south end of my hometown has been taken over by the national media. Apparently the streets around the Reagan Boyhood Home are closed off to all but local traffic. A friend who lives across from the home says that there are at least a half dozen news crews on hand and they plan to be here all week.

This morning in church, I asked a 94 year old member if she had known Ronald Reagan. "Oh, yes," she said. "But I never thought that much of him. His brother Neil was much more fun."

When he lived in Dixon, Ronald Reagan worked as a lifeguard at Lowell Park over a period of 6 or 7 years. He is credited with saving something like seventy-seven people from drowning in the Rock River. I have long suspected that many of them were young women who were in no real danger, but only wanted to be "saved" by a handsome, strong and charismatic young man. I voiced that suspicion to my elderly friend. She giggled.

"My cousin always wanted to do that," she said. "But she never actually did."

Ronald Reagan was a local boy who made good. He went on from here to achieve fame, popularity and even a measure of greatness. He was the elected leader of the most powerful nation in the world. He was charismatic and able in his leadership. I always found much to disagree with in Reagan's politics and economics, but I believe that he was sincere and had integrity. For these things I respect him.

Things will be crazy in my hometown for a few days. Along with the media madness there will be all sorts of memorial events, some of which have been planned for years. Among other things, a local funeral home is sponsoring a memorial book which local people are invited to sign. It will eventually be mailed to the Reagan family.

I'm offering prayers for that family. Rest in peace, Ronald Reagan, indeed.

Why is everyone moping? The guy was 93 years old!

Why is everyone moping? The guy was 93 years old!

Former President of the United States.

True, former president, but I'll never believe in, respect, or care for Reganomics. The 80s were just the worst economically, and I was glad when the recession finally ended.

But still... with the disease he had, and the fact that he was the president, I still have respect for the man, may he RIP.

Koffee

Why is everyone moping? The guy was 93 years old!

Moping? No. Just honoring his memory.

He was very old and had been very sick for a long time. I imagine the family feels both grief and relief.

RIP, condolences to the family.

I feel like I should watch Bedtime for Bonzo or one of his other movies.

We have lost one of the greatest men ever IMHO...
Ended the cold war with no lives lost.....

We have lost one of the greatest men ever IMHO...
Ended the cold war with no lives lost.....

Absolutely!

When I served in the armed forces and was stationed in Europe in the early 80's I had the priviledge of training in Berlin. During this time we were allowed to go to East berlin for a day long visit into the shrouded area behind the wall. The people there seemed hollow and without hope to me. Many of them seemed zombie like. East Berlin from what I saw was not a city but a prison. The policy of Reagan affected the changes that brought about the demise of the machine gun towers and the wall. I am sure the change was not an easy one but at least now it can be seen as a city and not a prison.

There were way too many horrible things that I saw first hand to describe them all here but visiting there gave me a perspective into what Communism/extreme socialism was all about.

If Reagan accomplishsed nothing but this one single thing then it was enough to solidify his greatness as a leader among men. I love the man for this and other things and am happy his suffering is now at an end. Let us hope we can affect change in the dark places of the world so that others can live better lives.

I will also say he was one of my favorite presidents but I do not morn for those who have died after a long and fruitful life. I prefer to celebrate their accomplishments and hope whatever awaits them beyond life is even better then what they had here.

I do how ever not agree with the idea of parading his body around before putting him to rest. I understand why they are doing it but I still do not think it is right.

RIP Mr President

:beer:

My sentments exactly very well put


[QUOTE]Ended the cold war with no lives lost.....

I was planning on keeping the politics out of this and pay a good man his due respect. However that is a stretch there were far more things that had to do with the end of the Soviet Union then what he did. He was lucky enough like the rest of us to witness its end.

JOHN KERRY as president, the best thing that could happen to terrorists worldwide. Lets help out those who want us dead and elect him.

So I'll bite.

Why is that?

Well, parading the body is part of a state funeral. However, not all religions allow it. Jews do not have open caskets, and you have to be buried the next day or day after (the orthodox have it the next day).The mourning starts afterward. Muslims are the same-fast burial, the next day. And no coffin, they use a shroud. I have to admit, I find the latter ways better, instead of viewing or visitation, and mourning beginning after rather than before. I'm not religious but I'd rather have it that way for myself.

So I'll bite.

Why is that?

This is not the place or thread for this. I should have subdued this signature line.

Whether you agreed with his policies or not, Ronald Reagan was a masterful politician and truly great American. Before he was elected, America was full of self doubt and still suffering from the post Vietnam/Watergate era. Ronald Regan convinced us that we are still a great nation and turned the national psyche around. Reagan certainly deserved the nickname 'The Great Communicator' and suffered the terrible fate of having this tremendous gift taken from him by his disease.

Ronald Reagan was well loved by many, many Americans and will be sorely missed.

God bless Ronald Reagan.

All my life I was a coward, with nuclear nightmares on a regular basis, and thought the way to prevent war was to Talk Nice and not be confrontational with the Soviets. I mean, I felt this way when I was 10 and I still felt this way in 1984 and voted for Mondale. Thank God a *grownup* was in charge. RR made up his mind to spend the Soviets in the ground on military, before Gorbachev ever came to power. He wore them down, scared the bejesus out of them with SDI. There would have been no glasnost or perestroika without Reagan.