The Obama Watch
Reagan's Third Inaugural Address
As Obama speaks, what would Reagan say?
(Page 2 of 2)
There are, unfortunately, some who apparently need what many of us consider an unnecessary reminder of the effects of big government. But there is a reason the tide of history is -- yes, even to this day -- moving in the direction of conservatism. That reason is self-evident in the program put forth by the other side. Yet again it is showing that it is virtually bankrupt of ideas, even as it is busy bankrupting so many of us. It has nothing more to say, nothing to add to the debate beyond yet another recitation of the tax and spend principles behind the discredited idea of trickle-down government. It has spent its intellectual capital (such as it was) and it has done its deeds. With mere days into its new session it has already begun restricting the freedom of entrepreneurs by having the government mandate so-called "fairness" in pay. In fact, it seeks to do the same deeds of this type over and over for eternity, inflicting one unsuspecting generation after another with a continuous stream of Fannie Mae-style disasters in everything from public education to bailouts.
We on our side are currently out of power as we once were for almost fifty years. The other side, then as now, did win support. And the result was chaos, weakness and drift, all of which eventually became starkly obvious. A second depression within a depression in 1937, an unsuspecting and unready military in 1941 and again in 1980 even as policies of 1930s style appeasement brought murderous disaster to Southeast Asia in the 1970s. When Americans are led into a retreat from the principles of freedom and liberty, this puts free-loving men and women around the world not only on the moral defensive but the intellectual, military, political and economic defensive. Let's not forget such gems as school busing or the skyrocketing crime rates as liberal-run cities faced little short of anarchy or the malaise of the Carter era, or the near bankruptcy of Social Security and Medicare.
Ultimately these and so many other failures yielded one great thing -- conservatives. They will bring forth conservatives of the future who will profit in the same way as conservatives of the past -- because ultimately they will win the contest of ideas. Now, as then, we have the opportunity to be the party and the country of brilliant and dynamic minds -- young and even not so young.
Conservatism will once again be represented by those with character, passion and integrity. I remember these kinds of people from years ago, running around scrawling Laffer curves on table napkins, going to symposia and talking -- correctly -- about how social programs did not eradicate poverty but entrenched it -- writing studies on why the latest weird and unnatural idea from the social engineers is weird and unnatural.
All of a sudden we were not the defenders of the status quo but the creators of the future.
My fellow Americans, it will be again. So I leave you with this request: Don't just mark time. Make a difference. Make the City on a Hill that is America freer and be sure it is always in good hands. With a good conscience your only sure reward, with history the final judge of your deeds, go forth on this winter day to lead the land we all love. Asking His blessing and His help that here on earth, God's work must truly be your own.
And so, one last time, good-bye, God bless you, and God bless the United States of America.
About the Author
Jeffrey Lord is a former Reagan White House political director and author. He writes from Pennsylvania at jlpa1@aol.com.
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Jason| 1.20.09 @ 6:28AM
Great speech. When I become president, you will be my speechwriter.
http://www.rightklik.net/
TennesseeVolunteer| 1.20.09 @ 7:44AM
To Ronaldus Magnus,
I am a small business man with a great wife. My business (construction material manufacturing) could not be any lower than it is right now! I have gone into too much debt to help keep the company and my employees alive. I should have closed it long ago and given up, taking a job in a field that I know I can do.
but for some reason, my wonderful wife and I have held on.
We are taking on new product lines like crazy, are conceiving of, and signing on, to new joint ventures because the SURVIVORS are attracting each other. We will be building the most energy efficient buildings for the coming new housing boom in replacing all of the 1950's type of housing ! We will survive, we will not give up, it doesn't matter what kind of government we have because we don't need them! Thanks for a great message on a day when it is needed!
A new day is coming for all good people who stand on their own two feet. We'll be ready.
Bud Hammons| 1.20.09 @ 9:42AM
Nicely done article that says succinctly what needs saying.
Note to Tennessee Volunteer - you're right, the government needs us, not vice versa. In case you haven't read Atlas Shrugged, it might be worth your time, despite your busy schedule. The swamp needs draining, sir.
v/r,
-- Bud
Jeffrey Lord| 1.20.09 @ 9:45AM
To Tennessee...
You and your wife are the backbone of this country, not to mention the heart and soul. Thank you...As Winston Churchill once said, "Never give in. Never, never, never."
Good luck and keep at it!
frost| 1.20.09 @ 10:25AM
Good Luck, Tennessee! I'd wager that you and your gutsy wife will make it. Maybe not overnight, but, hang-in-there = optimism prevails!
TennesseeVolunteer| 1.20.09 @ 12:32PM
Gentlemen, you lift me up. Thank you for your kind words.
Note to Bud: Who is John Galt?
Note to Mr. Lord: "Never"
Alan Brooks| 1.20.09 @ 12:48PM
good luck; frankly, you'll need it.
The Man himself said himself it'll take awhile till we dig ourselves out of the hole we're in.
Alan Brooks| 1.20.09 @ 1:03PM
ooh say about 4 years at least.
Louis Jenkins| 1.20.09 @ 1:04PM
As I was reading this article I thought for a moment that President Reagan was actually speaking to me. I could hear his voice, his measured manner of public address. The truth eminating from every word by the Great Communicator. Although it is pure fiction it reminds of us of a greater vision, and makes one realize that the tide does turn, and that good, fair, just ideas can once again be aired in public and in the presence of our national media. I was privileged to live during Reagan's time in office, and oh such a refreshing change from the J. Carter era. God bless America.
Alan Brooks| 1.20.09 @ 2:32PM
Coolidge was our greatest president.
what would he say? very little. silence isn't golden.
it is platinum.
Michele San Pietro| 1.20.09 @ 3:15PM
I don't think inaugural addresses are so important. The President's concrete actions are much more so. Let's hope Obama's will be more positive than negative. Anyway, I don't see why his presidency should represent "a new era" for America.
Alan Brooks| 1.20.09 @ 6:25PM
a new era of smarm. not from Obama's people but from Hollywood. and the media...
eight years of it. then Schwarzenegger becomes first Austrian US president.
john| 1.20.09 @ 8:00PM
as important a figure reagan was there is something a little disturbing about conservatives constantly invoking the name and ideas of a president who left the national scene 20 years ago today. as conservatives we need fresh faces and bold ideas. we need to find the latino obama, the conservative hillary clinton. the demographic changes coming over the next 20 years mean the dems could win texas in 2020! as reagan himself said in london in 1982, you cannot fight the future.
Hal G. P. Colebatch| 1.20.09 @ 8:13PM
Brilliant! Thank you.
Jeffrey Lord| 1.20.09 @ 9:02PM
John...
With respect, you are missing the point. There are no "fresh ideas" about whether the earth is flat or round. It is round. Period. Reagan's entire career was based on the fact of principles, the political equivalents of "the earth is round." You may wish for a flat earth. But no matter what you do it just ain't so. Thus, everything revolves ariund the principles. That's the Reagan point. And he was right. And most importantly for race-conscious Americans, gravity keeps people of all colors and both genders from floating off the face of the earth. So the need for a "black" face or "latino" or "white male" face is in fact futile. The principles apply to all, and decidedly equally.
Thanks for kicking in here!
Jeremiah| 1.20.09 @ 11:21PM
What is the difference between a "principle" and a prejudice?
ruth| 1.20.09 @ 11:41PM
Jeremiah, you wouldn't know the difference because as a liberal, you have no principles; only prejudices.
Kat| 1.20.09 @ 11:44PM
We mortals are only on this earth for a short time but the principles of Conservativism are timeless.
Jeffrey Lord| 1.21.09 @ 9:39AM
Jeremiah....
A prejudice is, for example, judging someone by their skin color...a main pillar of Democrats since the party founding in 1800(see: support of slavery, segregation, lynching, racial quotas etc.) A principle is understanding that regardless of individual differences, in reality all men and women are created equal, endowed by their Creator etc etc etc. Thus policies that are colorblind. Barack Obama, to give an example, is not a black president. He is The President. He should be judged, as Dr. King once said, by the content of his character. And, I would add, whether his ideas work. There's a principled example, and a good one for the next four years.
Chris| 1.21.09 @ 11:50AM
Ruth-
I want you to take a second look at what you posted and think long and hard about it before deciding to open your mouth again.
Michael S. P. -
Obama represents a new era for the United States for many different reasons. As with Ruth, I am going to ask you to think long and hard before deciding to say something again.
Michele San Pietro| 1.21.09 @ 3:09PM
Obama may represent a new era to you, Mr. Chris. To me, he doesn't. Anyway, if he wants to represent a new era, he has to prove it, people cannot be satisfied with simple words. As for what I say, if you allow that, this is something I decide myself, without caring for what you think.
ruth| 1.21.09 @ 3:12PM
Chrissy Pissy, what should I think about? The fact that you liberals have no principles--just prejudices or that you are also incredibly arrogant and intolerant? Which sweet nothings offend you?
Michigan-Matt| 1.22.09 @ 2:28PM
Chris advises: "Ruth- I want you to take a second look at what you posted and think long and hard about it before deciding to open your mouth again."
Good advice. But she won't listen.
ruth| 1.22.09 @ 2:54PM
I don't even know what that guy meant. Was he trying to be scary?
Michele San Pietro| 1.22.09 @ 3:14PM
"Liberals" hate liberty: their principle is always all insults and no arguments.
ruth| 1.22.09 @ 3:50PM
Michigan-Matt has an evil twin. That's him posting @ 2:28PM.
King Mob| 3.7.09 @ 4:25AM
That was fucking painful, who wrote that shit? Jesus. What in the fuck. History is good, study it a bit.
Haha, I do get it though, Reagan "embargoed" it becuase he had Alzhiemer's and wrote down a random number and now here are his most secret derenged thoughts that match that number. You give him too much credit. Thank you! He would have cared so much, if he was thinking at all when he "wrote" this.
Nurse, my pants hurt. Hello, I cant remember. Bonzo, stop your clowning.
jkhj| 11.18.09 @ 8:14PM
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