Clinton vs. Reagan

To demonstrate how obsessive most liberal Democrats, including Hillary Clinton, are in their hero worship for President Bill and their continuing disdain for Ronald Reagan, this column offers a handy guide for distinguishing the Age of Reagan from the Age of Clinton.

The Age of Reagan:

Economics. Reagan enacted the largest tax CUT in American history, the first since the administration of John F. Kennedy. In the last six years of his administration, 18 million jobs were created and America entered a period of economic growth that, with a very few interruptions, has lasted until this year. Other countries around the world sought to emulate the Reagan model of low tax rates and reduction of spending on the welfare state.

Judicial appointments. Reagan appointed strict-constructionist judges and put the brakes on a judiciary that threatened to usurp the legitimate functions of the executive and legislature, the two elected branches of the federal government.

Defense and foreign policy. Reagan rebuilt the military, which had been badly neglected by his predecessor. More importantly, he used a combination of military, economic and diplomatic power to engage and ultimately defeat Soviet communism and end the second great totalitarian threat of the 20th century, all without firing a shot. His policy of Peace Through Strength has been vindicated by history.

Personal ethics. Reagan always worked to protect the institution of the presidency and felt that for the people to maintain trust in their government, he had to set the highest standards of personal behavior.

Best quote: “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.”

The Age of Clinton:

Economics. Clinton enacted the largest tax INCREASE in American history. For the first two years of his presidency, he increased spending in virtually every area of government except defense. He was finally restrained by the advent of a Republican Congress, which checked his spending plans for the remainder of his term. He strongly fought, but ultimately was forced to accept, a Republican welfare reform bill and a modest tax cut. He benefited from a huge run-up in the stock market and historic growth of tax revenues, but ultimately saw the bubble burst in recession in his last year in office, which he bequeathed to President George W. Bush.

Judicial appointments. He preached moderation but did nothing to reduce the number of abortions. His appointments to the federal bench all sought to increase the power of the unelected judiciary to impose social policy on the American public.

Defense and foreign policy. He was given a “peace dividend” with the end of the Cold War but showed little interest in reforming the military or its mission. He fretted about terrorism but did nothing about it, not even after the first bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993. With great fanfare, he did bomb a couple of empty buildings in the Sudan as a stern warning to the terrorists. He had eight years to formulate a post-Cold War foreign policy and came up empty save for an earnest desire for more “multilateralism.”

Personal ethics. Do I really have to go through this again?

Best quote: “I never had sex with that woman.”

Do the American people really want a Restoration of the 1990s?