J.

Instead, the right — championed by Ronald Reagan — chose to confront them on a variety of fronts, in ways they could not compete. He engaged the Soviets in a game of economic “chicken,” and the free market won — while socialism lost.”

You realize the Soviet military spending shot up while Carter was president, right? So if your theory is correct, Carter defeated the Soviet Union.

Ooh, ooh, when do we start talking about Cindy and her chocolate chip-Vicodin nut clusters?

Yes, it did. Hello? Afghanistan, anyone?

Sure did. Covertly and illegally.

What country did you grow up in? I’m 62 years old and an Army veteran, and I don’t remember any such thing. I suspect your memory has been clouded by the RNC. I DO remember the “red scares” of the ’60s, when the John Birch Society was ascendant and commies (whatever those are) were infiltrating our libraries and gas stations.

It was the policy of “confronting” the “commies” that led us into Vietnam. Hey, there was a success! And now the fools who couldn’t accept losing in SE Asia want a “do-over” in Iraq. No wonder the majority of veterans think they’re morons. (My post of the American Legion is conveniently located two blocks from my house and it is the closest bar. You should drop in and hear what they think of Bush.)

What I remember about the ’80s is that Reagan had the most corrupt and expensive administration in our history until now (Iran Contra, Savings and Loan), and he began the process of selling our country to the Chinese by borrowing against the future.

Mr. Bush seems to have sold them so much of our country that they don’t want any more. Is that a good thing?

Some of us lived through the Cold War, and remember there was a big, big push by the left to “accomodate” the Soviets, to compromise, to find ways to live with them.

Instead, the right — championed by Ronald Reagan — chose to confront them on a variety of fronts, in ways they could not compete. He engaged the Soviets in a game of economic “chicken,” and the free market won — while socialism lost.

Mr. Tea, I just want to apologize to you. All these times I’ve picked on you, or been dismissive of your opinion, I never realized that you were forced to attend a junior high school that was so poor that it couldn’t afford history text books.

I mean, that is the reason for your astonishing lack of knowledge about things that happened during the 20th Century, right?

You didn’t come out and say it, but the importance you seem to place on making sure everyone knows that “hey, the U.S. didn’t actually win anything there” implied as much. It’s a fairly common tactic from the left – minimize the role the U.S. in order to make it seem like nothing of consequence was accomplished by it. Glad to see you don’t subscribe to “vaccuum thinking” on this one.

>I would suggest China’s activities in Africa the past few years as an example of a country using its international influence and “soft power” to achieve national goals without acting, or looking, like an international bully.

Not so much on this one. Seriously, China as an example of soft power? You seem to want to believe that China’s aggressive stances in some parts of the world (Tibet and Taiwan for example, and oh by the way being a rather ruthless form of government) have no bearing on how it is perceived in other parts of the world. Surely you have a better example of this vaunted soft power of yours?

You realize he sat in on official meetings when Sarah Palin was governor, right? You are not just speaking out of your ass, right?

Instead, the right — championed by Ronald Reagan — chose to confront them on a variety of fronts, in ways they could not compete. He engaged the Soviets in a game of economic “chicken,” and the free market won — while socialism lost.

I grew up in the era when we lived in fear of nuclear holocaust. I remember “The Day After,” just one of Hollywood’s attempts to scare America into avoiding any and all confrontations with the Soviet Union, as well as a host of similar tactics.

EPIC FAIL.

J.

You realize Sarah Palin addressed the AIP at least twice, right? So it’s not just her husband’s association with the group.

I see. So this overstretch had nothing to do with any other country, least of all the U.S. It was all just the USSR making a miscalculation. Right.

>if we don’t realize that tough-guy talk doesn’t translate into international influence.

Tell us Bruce, what *does* translate into international influence? Would you say, for example, that the European Union has more international influence than the U.S. does?

I’d say more but it’s bedtime now.

1) The space program. While not as successful and prominent as it was in the Apollo days, it’s still a hell of a thing.

2) The X-Prize contest being won. Private industry steps up and does what the government can’t.

3) Incredible developments in medical technology, making life better for people all over the world.

4) (I’m going to repeat myself) Our incredible generosity. During recent disasters around the world, American citizens gave more to relief efforts than most entire nations.

5) Our military. They have not only never failed us in the last 20-odd years, but they have done other outstanding things such as disaster relief.

6) The internet. The US took the lead in not only creating it, but has maintained it as an internationally-neutral body, giving the human race the single greatest boon (and, almost as often, bane) towards communication and understanding.

7) Our continuing social progress. In the early 80′s, simply being gay was enough to get your ass kicked in a lot of places — and downright illegal. Now we’re openly debating whether gays should or should not be allowed to marry.

7a) We have a black man with a Muslim name running for president, and about a 50-50 chance of winning. (I don’t give a rat’s ass about polls. Right up until November, as far as I’m concerned, it’s 50-50 between Obama and McCain — one of ‘em will win, one won’t. Or, as Han Solo would say, “never tell me the odds!”) (And I’m not giving this one its own item because it’s the one Michelle Obama cited.)
We defeated the Soviet Union WITHOUT blowing up the world, liberating literally hundreds of millions of people from Communist tyranny.

9) Our immigration policy. We have the most generous immigration policy of any nation on earth, and we STILL have far, far more people who want to come here. You know the phrase “voting with their feet?” That’s what the people of the world are doing — and they’re voting their way here. (Yeah, I’m cribbing from myself. Big whoop. It’s an important one.)

10) Since 1984, we’ve had two major changeovers in political power, as the Democrats and Republicans traded the White House back and forth, AND an impeachment of the president — and NOT ONCE did we ever come CLOSE to an actual revolution, coup, insurrection, or violence. THAT has to be worth some serious pride.

Maybe I should e-mail these lists to Mrs. Obama. Apparently her education has been sorely lacking.

J.

Oops!

Too late!

Already whined about it.

Pot, meet kettle.