tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543355.post109963355842375303..comments2023-11-15T17:55:18.051-05:00Comments on MarkDaniels.Blogspot.com: ADD-Style Thursday Night CommentaryMark Danielshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18205344762960756655noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543355.post-1100040976865557162004-11-09T17:56:00.000-05:002004-11-09T17:56:00.000-05:00Hey Mark.
Good commentary. I especially like your ...Hey Mark.<br />Good commentary. I especially like your piece on suffering. But the bit about Bush's mandate, I do have a quibble with. President Bush recieved a 3% majority of those voting, among the thinnest margins in history. One can say he has a mandate, yes; but that mandate is a result of our winner-take-all electoral system and is not unlimited. I think the narrowness of the majority creates a moral, if not actual, obligtion on the president's part to engage in coalition building with the opposition, and to govern more to the middle of the road. I am concerned that he takes his mandate as an unlimited approval for many extremist right-wing policies, rather than as the tepid approval of a nervous public that it is. For more, check out my comments on my blog.foxwizardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14683504889536498174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543355.post-1099856914339930032004-11-07T14:48:00.000-05:002004-11-07T14:48:00.000-05:00Frankly, as a student of history, I think that the...Frankly, as a student of history, I think that the jury is still out on Ronald Reagan. No doubt he changed some of the atmospherics of the country and I do respect him for his standing up to PATCO during the flight controllers' strike. <br /><br />But I can't credit him, as many do, for the demise of the Soviet Union. That, I believe, was the result of several factors: (a) The policy of containment first developed during the Truman Administration. (By the way, Eisenhower, first as Joint Chiefs Chairman and then as NATO commander, contributed mightily to the birth of this policy and then showed other Presidents how to do it without firing a shot during his two terms in the White House.) (b) The inherent flaws in Communism and the Soviet regime. Any time governments soak up as much GDP on military capabilities as the Soviets did, they are consigning their nations to the ash heaps of history. (c) The faithful prayers of millions around the world, asking God to grant freedom to the enslaved peoples of the Soviet empire.<br /><br />Nor can the massive deficit spending in which he engaged be overlooked. <br /><br />The "nation-building" illegally undertaken by his administration during his watch is also problematic.<br /><br />Reagan's leadership style was perhaps what was needed in the wake of Vietnam and Watergate. A sense of America's possibilities and an appreciation of what is good about the country was helpful. Jimmy Carter spoke of this often. But he became so mired in the details of administration that he failed to paint the grand visions which presidents sometimes need to convey.<br /><br />One other thing from my study of history: I agree with Jim Collins, the business scholar, who writes in his fabulous book, Good to Great, that it is generally a good idea to be wary of charismatic leaders. All too often, they're so concerned with atmospherics or progress in the short term that they neglect what is good for the long haul. Future historians, with more access to the record of the Reagan years will be in a better position to discern whether his was a great presidency or not.<br /><br />For me, the evidence at present is at best, mixed. At least, that's what I think.<br /><br />God bless you and thanks for reading my blog.Mark Danielshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18205344762960756655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543355.post-1099811474952233052004-11-07T02:11:00.000-05:002004-11-07T02:11:00.000-05:00Pastor Roberts,
Hmmm, those are three great presi...Pastor Roberts,<br /><br />Hmmm, those are three great presidents, no doubt. I wonder if you missed one? 1980s, initials RWR? <br /><br />God Bless,<br />Mark S.sidesspothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16593138009206780655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543355.post-1099722582236006832004-11-06T01:29:00.000-05:002004-11-06T01:29:00.000-05:00Hi, Mark. I am asking for prayers for one of our ...Hi, Mark. I am asking for prayers for one of our blogger friends Ellen Crush. She just found out her cancer that has been in remission for three years is back and metastisized into her lung and uterus. She needs as many prayers as she can get! Thank you!Phyllishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12368846025221517162noreply@blogger.com