Dr. Barry Worthington
2008-06-17 09:39:59 UTC
In article <92bd633f-e5a0-44c5-b0c4-fd9f848f4c67
@x41g2000hsb.googlegroups.com>, ***@abertay.ac.uk says...
of Mikhail Gorbachev and Helmut Kohl (and the Hungarians, of course).
>But we particularly should consider it now in light of today?s
State Department....
Ronald Reagan.....
Actually, Harry, you're dead wrong.
Typical.
So tell me why you think I was wrong. Actually, I was in Hungary just@x41g2000hsb.googlegroups.com>, ***@abertay.ac.uk says...
by Star Parker
Monday, June 16, 2008
For Conservatives and Republicans who are wondering what in the world
happened to their party, we should recall June 12, 1987.
Why?Monday, June 16, 2008
For Conservatives and Republicans who are wondering what in the world
happened to their party, we should recall June 12, 1987.
That day, 21 years ago, President Ronald Reagan stood before the wall
dividing East and West Berlin and directed his famous appeal to the
leader of the then Soviet Union, ?Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this
wall.?
God....more bloody hagiography.....dividing East and West Berlin and directed his famous appeal to the
leader of the then Soviet Union, ?Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this
wall.?
The rest, as they say, is history. Two and half years later, the wall
was down and a new chapter begun.
Yes, but Reagan had nothing to do with it.....it was largely the workwas down and a new chapter begun.
of Mikhail Gorbachev and Helmut Kohl (and the Hungarians, of course).
It?s always worth recalling Reagan?s courageous act and words of that
time.
Not as memorable as Kennedy's "ich bien ein Berliner!"time.
>But we particularly should consider it now in light of today?s
Republican conundrums.
Why?I turn to the well-known account of Peter Robinson, then a Reagan
speechwriter, of how it all came about.
Never heard of him!speechwriter, of how it all came about.
The story of Reagan?s Berlin speech, as recounted by Robinson, is
about change and fighting the Washington establishment - exactly the
themes we?re hearing almost every day now from our current
presidential aspirants.
I suppose this is going to be yet another diatribe against the U.S.about change and fighting the Washington establishment - exactly the
themes we?re hearing almost every day now from our current
presidential aspirants.
State Department....
Robinson wrote the speech for President Reagan, including the famous
?tear down this wall? line, and submitted it for review. The
opposition to it from the administration?s entire foreign policy
establishment was uniform and adamant.
The National Security Council and the State Department were opposed,
Thought so....?tear down this wall? line, and submitted it for review. The
opposition to it from the administration?s entire foreign policy
establishment was uniform and adamant.
The National Security Council and the State Department were opposed,
as was our highest-ranking diplomat in Germany. They felt it was too
provocative and unrealistic.
But the president liked it.
After several drafts, Robinson told Reagan, at a meeting to review the
speech, that his words would be broadcast on the other side of wall,
in East Berlin. He asked him if he had anything to say to those
people.
?Well, there?s the passage about tearing down the wall,? Reagan said.
?That wall has to come down. That?s what I?d like to say.?
Seven drafts later, the establishment was still trying to purge the
speech. Reagan was on Air Force One, en route to Berlin, when there
was a last attempt to block it. But the speech was delivered,
including the historic line, which stayed in, according to Robinson,
?solely because of Ronald Reagan.?
Reagan?s leadership established the Republican brand in the 1980s,
Brand??????provocative and unrealistic.
But the president liked it.
After several drafts, Robinson told Reagan, at a meeting to review the
speech, that his words would be broadcast on the other side of wall,
in East Berlin. He asked him if he had anything to say to those
people.
?Well, there?s the passage about tearing down the wall,? Reagan said.
?That wall has to come down. That?s what I?d like to say.?
Seven drafts later, the establishment was still trying to purge the
speech. Reagan was on Air Force One, en route to Berlin, when there
was a last attempt to block it. But the speech was delivered,
including the historic line, which stayed in, according to Robinson,
?solely because of Ronald Reagan.?
Reagan?s leadership established the Republican brand in the 1980s,
which kept it in ascendancy throughout the ?90s, even through
Clinton?s presidency, when Republicans captured the House.
Bill Clinton himself drew capital off this brand, running as a
fiscally conservative ?new Democrat.? It was Clinton who told us the
?era of big government is over? and signed into law historic welfare
reform in 1996, sent to him by the new Republican-controlled Congress.
What has that to do with American foreign policy?Clinton?s presidency, when Republicans captured the House.
Bill Clinton himself drew capital off this brand, running as a
fiscally conservative ?new Democrat.? It was Clinton who told us the
?era of big government is over? and signed into law historic welfare
reform in 1996, sent to him by the new Republican-controlled Congress.
Now we?ve watched Republicans turn the Congress over to the Democratic
Party and it appears likely that they will do the same with the White
House.
The ?liberal? label is no longer the political death ray it was in the
?90s. Sen. Obama?s record is as left as you can get,
What policies do you regard as 'left'?Party and it appears likely that they will do the same with the White
House.
The ?liberal? label is no longer the political death ray it was in the
?90s. Sen. Obama?s record is as left as you can get,
yet it is
doubtful that Republicans will defeat him by simply pointing this out.
New Gallup polling on party identification shows 39 percent Republican
or leaning Republican and 52 percent Democrat or leaning Democrat -
the biggest gap in party identification in years.
How has the Republican Party managed to thoroughly squander the
commanding heights achieved under Reagan?s leadership?
Unfortunately, courage and leadership are rare. Reagan understood and
was committed to what this country is uniquely about - traditional
values and individual freedom.
Most come to Washington for career, not to serve. With Reagan?s
departure, the risk-averse, career-motivated establishment, which
quaked at the idea of the president publicly challenging the Soviet
Union or taking principled stands on anything, began to take over.
With the loss of ideals, the first casualty is our youth. Today,
Democratic control over the 18-29 vote is commanding. This was also
the case in the 1970s. But throughout the ?80s and ?90s, the 18-29
vote was divided roughly equally between Democrats and Republicans.
Republican politicians also have lost touch with their own base. A Pew
Research Center survey shows that Republicans are more religious now
than they were 20 years ago. Today?s Republican leadership refuses to
acknowledge that the social agenda has increased in importance.
My office in Washington is in the Reagan Building, where a piece of
the wall is on display. It?s a reminder of a great leader, and how the
Republican brand has been tarnished by many less principled and less
committed.
Actually, the end of the Cold war in Europe had very little to do withdoubtful that Republicans will defeat him by simply pointing this out.
New Gallup polling on party identification shows 39 percent Republican
or leaning Republican and 52 percent Democrat or leaning Democrat -
the biggest gap in party identification in years.
How has the Republican Party managed to thoroughly squander the
commanding heights achieved under Reagan?s leadership?
Unfortunately, courage and leadership are rare. Reagan understood and
was committed to what this country is uniquely about - traditional
values and individual freedom.
Most come to Washington for career, not to serve. With Reagan?s
departure, the risk-averse, career-motivated establishment, which
quaked at the idea of the president publicly challenging the Soviet
Union or taking principled stands on anything, began to take over.
With the loss of ideals, the first casualty is our youth. Today,
Democratic control over the 18-29 vote is commanding. This was also
the case in the 1970s. But throughout the ?80s and ?90s, the 18-29
vote was divided roughly equally between Democrats and Republicans.
Republican politicians also have lost touch with their own base. A Pew
Research Center survey shows that Republicans are more religious now
than they were 20 years ago. Today?s Republican leadership refuses to
acknowledge that the social agenda has increased in importance.
My office in Washington is in the Reagan Building, where a piece of
the wall is on display. It?s a reminder of a great leader, and how the
Republican brand has been tarnished by many less principled and less
committed.
Ronald Reagan.....
Typical.
before the wall came down, and visited the GDR just after. I talked to
people, followed the (decent) newspaper coverage in Europe, and later
read books such as 'In Europe's Name' (which detailed the German game
plan for re-unification). Now quote your sources of information or
else stop commenting upon something that you clearly know nothing
about..... (And please stop behaving like a prat, and have the
courtesy to use my proper name.)
Dr. Barry Worthington
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