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Pastimes : Let's Talk About Our Feelings!!! -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Dayuhan who wrote (51029)	8/13/1999 9:00:00 AM
From: Father Terrence	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 108807

Reagan fulfilled his Oath of Office and Constitutional duty. The Constitution mandates that the United States government provide for the protection and safety of the citizens of the U.S. -- that includes our long-range strategic interests. I would say that thousands of MIRV'd missiles with nuclear warheads pointed at us qualifies as a threat despite the policy of MAD. There is no question the combined efforts of his policies helped to break the back of the Soviet Empire and the Union itself. Gorbachev has admitted as much. What is not mandated, or even suggested in the Constitution, is the federal government's involvement in social engineering, behavioral control and redistribution of wealth programs, many of them coercive and threatening loss of property or liberty if not obeyed.

To: Dayuhan who wrote (51029)	8/13/1999 4:11:00 PM
From: Michael M	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 108807

Hi Steven -- we're probably separated by more than a bunch of time zones today. Hope you got through Friday the 13th without a problem. Given your strong personal animus toward Reagan, I have become curious what one or two modern presidents (Truman onward) merit your approval and why. Names and one or two liners would be fine, if you're ever in the mood. Re. defense spending/posturing in the context of a Soviet economic tailspin -- I think it's well to recall all the fighters who have come off the ropes to land many solid and punishing blows, if not actually win the bout. IMPO, Reagan would have been grossly negligent not to exploit Soviet economic weakness. Having been party to one or two conferences, negotiations and communique's, I am of the strong opinion that governments waste a hell of a lot of time in pursuit of the perfectly turned phrase or non-threatening action that will "send a signal" to the other guys. I've not known many players who took the other side's "signals" very seriously, yet many persist in believing that their own are "just the ticket." Reagan got the job done because he got the check book out and started spending money on real things that were not doable by the Soviet Union. He sent an eloquent "signal" that cut straight through linguistic, cultural and parochial political considerations. I will close by noting that all military forces are "wasteful" in a sense -- especially modern ones. The idea is that you never want to use the thing in the first place. And, in all but the worst cases, you only use, say, 10 percent of it 10 percent of the time. Gotta have 'em.