Our country’s economical state reminds me of a time when I was a child and Ronald Reagan was president. Ronald Reagan was one of my favorite presidents (that served during my lifetime). I remember making him a jelly bean craft project and entering it in the local fair in South Florida where we lived at the time. It won a prize and I mailed it to him.
At such a young age I didn’t understand politics, had not yet formed my own opinions about anything of importance and simply did it out respect for the man and the office he held. Something that the entire world seems to have forgotten today. Agree to disagree, but respect, quite simply, would make this country (and world) a better place. Anyway, now that I am an adult, even though some of my beliefs are quite different from the ones he had while in office, I truly appreciate all that he did for our country.
I do not fit into any political party personally, I’m a little of this and little of that and while my beliefs are not the same as most republicans or most democrats (or at least from what we see on tv), I can respect the intentions and views of others, when I believe those intentions are coming from a good place. I don’t know it all (who does?) and I’m always open minded because my views have changed over the years as I’ve matured and experienced things in life. I know enough to admit that I don’t know anything for sure. To me, that’s wisdom. (lol)
I love seeing the personal side of politicians and other public figures, to see that they are real people, just like you and I. I especially enjoy seeing their sense of humor and while I respect everyone’s right to an opinion, it is INTENTION that I look at closely. When I see someone filled with hate, spreading hate (for example: Janine Garofalo or Michael Savage) they are so repugnant that it starts to hurt their cause and they become a liability to anyone or any party affiliated with them. You can voice your opinions and help your cause in a more dignified way that doesn’t spread negativity. When someone is SO desperate to make others believe what they believe that they act like the two people mentioned above, in my opinion, it shows their fear and desperation. Fear cannot be the basis for anything worthwhile.
Anyway, here are some really funny Ronald Reagan quotes that show the personal side of former President Reagan.
“It’s true hard work never killed anybody, but I figure, why take the chance?”
“I hope you’re all Republicans.” -speaking to surgeons as he entered the operating room following a 1981 assassination attempt
“Honey, I forgot to duck.” -to his wife, Nancy, after surviving the assassination attempt
“I am not worried about the deficit. It is big enough to take care of itself.”
“I have left orders to be awakened at any time in case of national emergency — even if I’m in a Cabinet meeting.”
“Politics is supposed to be the second-oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first.”
“The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help.'”
“Well, I learned a lot….I went down to (Latin America) to find out from them and (learn) their views. You’d be surprised. They’re all individual countries”
“I don’t know. I’ve never played a governor.” -asked by a reporter in 1966 what kind of governor he would be
“Facts are stupid things.” -at the 1988 Republican National Convention, attempting to quote John Adams, who said, “Facts are stubborn things”
“Trees cause more pollution than automobiles.”
“All the waste in a year from a nuclear power plant can be stored under a desk.”
“There is absolutely no circumstance whatever under which I would accept that spot. Even if they tied and gagged me, I would find a way to signal by wiggling my ears.” –on possibly being offered the vice presidency in 1968
“You can tell a lot about a fella’s character by whether he picks out all of one color or just grabs a handful.” -explaining why he liked to have a jar of jelly beans on hand for important meetings
“I want you to know that also I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent’s youth and inexperience.” -during a 1984 presidential debate with Walter Mondale
“The state of California has no business subsidizing intellectual curiosity.” -responding to student protests on college campuses during his tenure as California governor
“Approximately 80 percent of our air pollution stems from hydrocarbons released by vegetation, so let’s not go overboard in setting and enforcing tough emission standards from man-made sources.”
“My fellow Americans. I’m pleased to announce that I’ve signed legislation outlawing the Soviet Union. We begin bombing in five minutes.” -joking during a mike check before his Saturday radio broadcast
“Recession is when your neighbor loses his job. Depression is when you lose yours. And recovery is when Jimmy Carter loses his.”
“We are trying to get unemployment to go up, and I think we’re going to succeed.”
“As a matter of fact, Nancy never had any interest in politics or anything else when we got married.”
“I’ve noticed that everyone who is for abortion has already been born.”
“I’m afraid I can’t use a mule. I have several hundred up on Capitol Hill.” -refusing a gift of a mule
“What we have found in this country, and maybe we’re more aware of it now, is one problem that we’ve had, even in the best of times, and that is the people who are sleeping on the grates, the homeless who are homeless, you might say, by choice.”
“How are you, Mr. Mayor? I’m glad to meet you. How are things in your city?” -greeting Samual Pierce, his secretary of Housing and Urban Development, during a White House reception for mayors
“My name is Ronald Reagan. What’s yours?” -introducing himself after delivering a prep school commencement address. The individual responded, “I’m your son, Mike,” to which Reagan replied, “Oh, I didn’t recognize you.”
“Politics is just like show business. You have a hell of an opening, you coast for awhile, you have a hell of a closing.”
“What does an actor know about politics?” -criticizing Ed Asner for opposing American foreign policy
“What makes him think a middle-aged actor, who’s played with a chimp, could have a future in politics?” -on Clint Eastwood’s bid to become mayor of Carmel
“How can a president not be an actor?” -when asked “How could an actor become president?’
President Reagan reminds us how important it is to have a sense of humor. Janine Garofalo, Michael Savage and the rest of the far left/far right/angry people should keep in mind. There is no reason to let things get negative…you can say anything you want to if you just say in a funny way that doesn’t hurt anyone. 🙂
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