Much as been written lately about the conservative worship of Reagan and how well the Gipper's Gospel narrative fits with reality. As I've posted before, I was once a devout follower of Reaganianity. Now, I have a much more sober view. Beyond the question of what he did or didn't accomplish or how well he would really fit in with the modern Republican party, I have a more basic question:
Was he ever anything more than a figurehead?
Let me preface this with the greatest care. Alzheimer's is a horrid disease to be regarded with sympathy and not ridicule. That said, how much of his entire presidency was spent in the fog while others ran the country?
We know he did have Alzheimer's. In retrospect, we could see signs of its effects in his befuddled performance during the first debate with Mondale in 2004. The later Iran-Contra scandal was a sign that others were making decisions without the nominal president's knowledge.
We probably won't know the truth for some time. Just a thought I had.
Was he ever anything more than a figurehead?
Let me preface this with the greatest care. Alzheimer's is a horrid disease to be regarded with sympathy and not ridicule. That said, how much of his entire presidency was spent in the fog while others ran the country?
We know he did have Alzheimer's. In retrospect, we could see signs of its effects in his befuddled performance during the first debate with Mondale in 2004. The later Iran-Contra scandal was a sign that others were making decisions without the nominal president's knowledge.
We probably won't know the truth for some time. Just a thought I had.
Atheist Forums Hall of Shame:
"The trinity can be equated to having your cake and eating it too."
... -Lucent, trying to defend the Trinity concept
"(Yahweh's) actions are good because (Yahweh) is the ultimate standard of goodness. That’s not begging the question"
... -Statler Waldorf, Christian apologist
"The trinity can be equated to having your cake and eating it too."
... -Lucent, trying to defend the Trinity concept
"(Yahweh's) actions are good because (Yahweh) is the ultimate standard of goodness. That’s not begging the question"
... -Statler Waldorf, Christian apologist
