Who is our party's "Ronald Reagan"?

[Jackson4Gore]

Poll question: Who is our party's "Ronald Reagan"?

Obviously, he was the Repubs favorite politican in a very long time. I know we each have our favorite person in our party, so please share yours. Below are some obvious choices.

[rwheeler31]

1. FDR.

NT

[Jackson4Gore]

3. Dude they can't be 70 years removed

[DFLer4edu]

12. Yeah they can

Reagan is the Republican's FDR!

[Jackson4Gore]

15. No they can't

[DFLer4edu]

21. Why not?

[salin]

16. bingo!

[Michael Costello]

30. I agree

FDR was the last decent Democratic president, in my opinion.

Truman got us into the Cold War.
Kennedy got us into Vietnam.
LBJ got us more into Vietnam.
Carter helped the Indonesians slaughter the East Timorese and appointed Paul Voelker as fed chair.
Clinton - NAFTA, "the end of welfare as we know it", DLC, bombing Yugoslavia.

I am voting for Nader this year, Patriot Act, Iraq resolution, NAFTA signing Kerry is just like these other people.

I voted for Ted Kennedy. Ted Kennedy is miles above Clinton in my book. Kennedy is fat, balding, old and potato-faced. Clinton is thinner, full haired, younger and always smiling. But Kennedy has always stood by working people despite his patrician birth, and Clinton has often sold out working people despite his working class roots.

[BrotherBuzz]

23. FDR is the man!

and every republican president since Reagan has been trying to undo what FDR did for us!

[Wickerman]

2. I got my hopes on John Kerry

I know, I am an optimist

[DFLer4edu]

28. I've got my hopes on him too, but they're false hopes!

[Wickerman]

35. why do you say that?

He stands a good a chance as any of leading us out of a time of chaos, corruption and national shame brought one by Bush* and his pack of thieves.

[LTR]

4. Clinton's personality is probably closest

Reagan couldnt carry FDR's luggage.

[DFLer4edu]

13. You're right about FDR

but he is the closest they got to FDR!

[salin]

18. correct - but in terms of perception

the repubs regarded Reagan, as the democrats regarded FDR.

[Gildor Inglorion]

5. Bill Clinton, the well-beloved

who will be 93 in 2039, but probably live longer. By that time, only the good things he did will be remembered. Jimmy Carter is in a totally different class; practically a saint. He'll be remembered as the best former president ever, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, distinguished author, etc. His performance as a politician will just be a footnote to his greatness. As much as I love Al Gore (and I do!), he'll only merit a passing mention when he dies, a long, long time from now. About Hillary? We'll just have to see. Maybe she'll be this country's Queen Elizabeth the first! A towering, historical figure, beyond any comparison...wouldn't that be nice?

[HootieMcBoob]

6. Wes Clark

This is exactly why I was so excited about Wesley Clark. Remember that Reagan was a Democrat who became a Republican. Clark was a Republican who is now a Democrat. He owns very progressive social views and as I said all through the primaries would appeal to people of both parties. He has the ability to win in a landslide and do a "Nixon to China" in both areas of defense and social spending. He has the personality for it. And he also has the wife for it. I like Kerry but I'm gonna say that we missed a great opportunity with Clark. But that's past and we have to look ahead. He could still be a great VP and future President!

[PROGRESSIVE1]

8. I Agree!!!! This is one reason why I supported him and still...

carry his avatar on my posts.

[kiahzero]

Clark was never a Republican (n/t)

[HootieMcBoob]

24. He voted for Reagan

He may not have been a "registered" Republican but he did support Republican candidates. In my book the fact that he's seen the error of his ways and has moved over to our side makes him even more valuable -- in the same way that Reagan gained value by moving from Democrat to Republican.

[mgarretson]

7. How about the other Kennedy?

ya know... the one who was elected President? :)

Seriously though, am I the only one that makes the comparison? His name came up first when thinking about it and I was suprised that he wasn't on the list.

[Jackson4Gore]

11. Ok, I am going to repeat this again, the person actually has to be alive

[DFLer4edu]

17. Why? Reagan is dead!

[Jackson4Gore]

22. Because the purpose of this poll is to see who our party will mourn the

most over like the repubs are Reagan. Kinda hard to do that when they are already dead.

[tridim]

9. Chelsea Clinton

In about 20 years. Until then, her dad.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

10. FDR, JFK, Clinton...RR couldn't spitshine their shoes

[Lone_Wolf_Moderate]

14. FDR.

Reagan is the icon of the modern REpublican party, and FDR (as well as JFK, LBJ, and Clinton as his successors) is our model.

[Jackson4Gore]

19. THEY CANT BE DEAD

This is a list of people who are currently alive.

[DFLer4edu]

20. Reagan is dead!

[Jackson4Gore]

25. It is to see who is alive compares to Reagan, not dead

[DFLer4edu]

26. but no one alive compares to Reagan!

Clinton fucked up, pardon the pun.

[Radical Activist]

31. We don't have a living Reagan

that redefined the party and inspired people like Reagan did. Clinton could have but he was too moderate and wasted his entire second term with that stupid scandal.

[Lone_Wolf_Moderate]

40. Oops. I'd have to say Clinton then.

[Union Thug]

27. jfk and fdr. eom

[Career Prole]

29. The good doctor

Howard Dean. :kick:

[DFLer4edu]

32. Yeah, he's got a huge following among the democrats!

which is why he is going to get the nomination!

btw, Dean was my favorite candidate after DK, but seriously!

[Career Prole]

33. The man asked, I answered.

Don't expect Dean to fade into obscurity any time soon.

[DFLer4edu]

34. No! why would I expect that?

[Doosh]

36. Clinton is more hated by the GOP than loved by the Dems

Sometimes I feel that the party should embrace Clinton more, he's one of a kind. The GOP had an unhealthy obsession with Reagan.


Kerry has a great chance of being our Reagan, but we need to hush up talk like this and just let Kerry do his thing. He'd make a great President.

I'll say this though, when Carter passes, and when Clinton passes, I'll put my flag up on my front porch and light a few candles for everybody to see, Reagan will not get such treatment.

[Yavin4]

37. HOWARD DEAN

I look at his 2004 primary campaign like Reagan's primary campaign in 1976.

[bookman]

38. JFK and FDR n/t

[gulliver]

39. It isn't possible for our party to have a Ronald Reagan.

Reagan was essentially the projected self-image of the selfish and smug. Rather than look in the mirror, they created a Ronnie Reagan. Reagan was just an actor in the role of president. The policy was all deeply, foolishly, and self-destructively selfish madness. Reagan put the handsome face and lovely manner of a bygone graceful time on a werewolf-like monster -- today's insane Republican party.

Democrats are skeptical of myths and hype. Reagan was a creature purely composed of image. It is not possible for Democrats to create or attract that.

You are talking about a messiah if you are talking about someone who has the Democratic penchant for truth, but the spiritual attractiveness of the false Reagan. I don't see anyone like that.

The best the Dems can hope for is an inspiring human being. The problem we face is that the expectations of people are all out of whack with reality. Lots of people don't want the truth. They want a pretty lie.

[Leprechan29]

41. I like FDR

But Clinton really re-energized the party during his years, much as Reagan did for his during his tenure