February 6 marks what would have been the 96th birthday of President 
Ronald Reagan. It is worth reminding ourselves about the the great patriotic values and policies Reagan represented.  In discussions about the reasons for the defeat of the GOP in the 2006 elections, there is much said about "returning to conservative Republican values," but there is not always agreement on just what that means.

Submitted for your consideration below are five quotes excerpted from President Reagan's final State of the Union speech delivered on January 25, 1988:

"THE GLOBAL DEMOCRATIC REVOLUTION"
As totalitarianism struggles to avoid being overwhelmed by the forces of 
economic advance and the aspiration for human freedom, it is the free nations that are resilient and resurgent. As the global democratic revolution has put 
totalitarianism on the defensive, we have left behind the days of retreat. America is again a vigorous leader of the free world, a nation that acts decisively and firmly in the furtherance of her principles and vital interests. No legacy would make me more proud than leaving in place a bipartisan consensus for the cause of world freedom, a consensus that prevents a paralysis of American power from ever occurring again.

"LOOK UP TO AMERICA"
In international relations, too, there's only one description for what, together, we have achieved: acomplete turnabout, a revolution.  Seven years ago, America was weak, and freedom everywhere was under siege. Today America is strong, and democracy is everywhere on the move. From
Central America to East Asia, ideas like free markets and democratic reforms and human rights are taking hold. We've replaced "Blame America" with "Look up to America." We've rebuilt our defenses. And of all our accomplishments, none can give us more satisfaction than knowing that our young people are again proud to wear our country's uniform.

"SOME PLAIN TALK ABOUT ... CONTROLLING FEDERAL DEFICITS"
Now, it's also time for some plain talk about the most immediate obstacle to controlling Federal deficits. The simple but frustrating problem of making expenses match revenues--something American families do and the Federal Government can't--has caused crisis after crisis in this city.  Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, I will say to you tonight what I have said before and will continue to say: The budget process has broken down; it needs a drastic overhaul. With each ensuing year, the spectacle before the American people is the same as it was this Christmas: budget deadlines delayed or missed completely, monstrous continuing resolutions that pack hundreds of billions of dollars worth of spending into one bill, and a Federal Government on the brink of default.

"THE TERRIBLE COST OF ABORTION ON DEMAND"
Tonight, I call America--a good nation, a moral people--to charitable but realistic consideration of the terrible cost of abortion on demand. To those who say this violates a woman's right to control of her own body: Can they deny that now medical evidence confirms the unborn child is a living human being entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? Let us unite as a nation and protect the unborn with legislation that would stop all Federal funding for abortion and with a human life amendment making, of course, an exception where the unborn child threatens the life of the mother.  Our Judeo-Christian tradition recognizes the right of taking a life in self-defense. But with that one exception, let us look to those others in our land who cry out for children to adopt. 

I pledge to you tonight I will work to remove barriers to adoption and extend full sharing in family life to millions of Americans so that children who need homes can be welcomed to families who want them and love them.

"IN THE SPIRIT OF JEFFERSON"
In the spirit of Jefferson, let us affirm that in this Chamber tonight there are no Republicans, no Democrats--just Americans. Yes, we will have our differences, but let us always remember what unites us far outweighs whatever divides us. Those who sent us here to serve them--the millions of
Americans watching and listening tonight-expect this of us. Let's prove to them and to ourselves that democracy works even in an election year. We've done this before. And as we have worked together to bring down spending, tax rates, and inflation, employment has climbed to record heights; America has created more jobs and better, higher paying jobs; family income has risen for 4 straight years, and America's poor climbed out of poverty at the fastest rate in more than 10 years.
 

Steve Beren
   www.steveberen.com
1916 Pike Place, #12667
Seattle WA 98101

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