1980 Ronald Reagan acceptance speech

I know the video is long, but the best part starts at 8:00. So just flip to there if you wish.

We need a strong leader like Ronald Reagan, he made us proud to call ourselves Americans and restored honor and decency to our government. He might not have been perfect, but what man is? He fought for freedom above all else.

[edit on 9/3/2010 by Misoir]

We NEED Ron Paul. I can't see us ever recovering form the last 80 years without him. I pray that he will run again and that he is given to respect and exposure that all candidates are due.

Ronald Reagan was awful for the common man. He hurt the economy, mortgage interest rose over 18% (Banks cleaned up little man suffered). He turned Ketchup into counting as a vegetable in school kids lunches. Like most republicans he looked out for corporate welfare and screwed the middle class. The only reason republicans venerate him is because he is all the have. Nixon made a mess of things, Bush made a mess of things and Ford, like Jimmy Carter doesn't really even count. No, thanks, I learned my lesson, no more Reagans, please.

restored honor and decency to our government

Our government hasn't had honor and decency within the past century. To assume the grand daddy of the neo-cons was responsible for "restoring honor and decency"?

That's just hilarious.

Originally posted by damwel
Like most republicans he looked out for corporate welfare and screwed the middle class.

You mean like most Democrats also?

Originally posted by Misoir
We need a strong leader like Ronald Reagan, he made us proud to call ourselves Americans and restored honor and decency to our government.

...you've been bamboozled...

Originally posted by Misoir
He might not have been perfect, but what man is?

...i'll refrain from comments about the inferior gender...

Originally posted by Misoir
He fought for freedom above all else.

...not even close... he was a brown-noser...

...reagan didnt write that speech you posted nor did he direct the wording... he was an actor that could read a script - thats it, thats all...

...his regime did nothing good for common folk... for the rich and powerful - he did exactly what they told him to do...

...research the release of hostages in iran... it was 100% orchestrated to award brownie points to the GOP... ditto with reagan's participation in the fall of the berlin wall...

Kennedy was the last good president we had. He was trying to make things right for the people. Look where that got him.

reply to post by Misoir


I'll take Reagan and his speeches anyday against the so called great oratory skills of the current President. Some of Reagan's early speeches before him became President are true gems.

reply to post by Misoir


I was under the impression you were a socialist Misoir or am I incorrect? So I am surprised you are praising Reagan.

In anycase what makes a strong leader? The way they act or their actions? To me Reagan was not a strong leader at all. What makes a strong leader is the actions of their words. Throughout the Reagan administration our debt shot up nearly 3 times as much as we started and we ended up with an additional 40,000 americans on welfare. In addition to that Reagan rose certain taxes before he left office. To me he was not a strong leader in any respect as he simple did not perform as he spoke. I can say the same for Obama over his administration's and Party's performance over thus far, in particular on healthcare and on the Sharrod case. I can say the same for Bush for plenty of obvious reasons. I think Clinton was a fairly strong leader for the way he handled himself during the presidency and his performances. To me strength goes beyond merely 'talk'.

reply to post by Southern Guardian


I wasn't praising his policies, I was only praising how strong of a leader he was.

Yeah I think while he was president he snuck the economy out the back door and sent it to China, and yes he destroyed manufacturing in America and yes he destroyed labor unions. I am not at all praising any of his policies.

I was simply praising his ability to make good speeches, be a strong leader and give people hope. Nothing more.