Trump is the Anti-Reagan By Paul Kengor

[Kaslin]

American Thinker

Paul Kengor May 13, 2016

For months now I have avoided writing this. I dreaded the process and hoped it wouldn’t be necessary. But alas, events and the pleas of others have compelled me. Three emails in the span of about 30 minutes last Tuesday sealed the deal. “Recently, in discussions with Trump supporters, I have had many say to me that one of the reasons they support Trump is because he is the modern-day equivalent to Ronald Reagan,” writes Connor, a former student of mine in his final year of law school. “Trump supporters keep perpetuating this comparison. Considering your expertise on everything Reagan, I wanted to mention this to you, in hopes you would write an article on it.”

Connor’s email was far from the only such entreaty. I have been receiving these requests for months. Further back still, one writer about a year ago wrote a piece asserting 15 similarities between Reagan and Trump. That thing has been sent to me more often than I could count. It practically went viral. Enough is enough. Yes, it’s time.

I can hear Trump supporters protesting me writing this now, insisting that it’s time to unite against Hillary and support their Donald. But Trump’s status as the presumptive nominee is a separate issue from the comparisons to Reagan, which seem to be picking up steam. The constant claims of Trump being “another Reagan” must be addressed and must be stopped, if merely in service of truth, but also in service of what Ronald Reagan really represented and what we need to remember. The indisputable reality is that there is no meaningful, legitimate set of similarities between Donald Trump and Ronald Reagan.

Before proceeding further, I’ll begin with a general statement on my Reagan bona fides -- that is, for Trump supporters new to the conservative movement who have no idea who I am.

Excerpt

[Bill Cipher]

The author's bona fides:

I have published six major books on Reagan, several of them bestsellers, ranging from (the first) God and Ronald Reagan (HarperCollins, 2004) to Reagan’s Legacy in a World Transformed (Harvard University Press, 2015). Some of those in between include The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism (2006) and 11 Principles of a Reagan Conservative (2014). Two of these books are the basis for the Reagan/film bio-pic, Reagan: The Movie. That film, like my books, are positive affirmations of Reagan. I am and have long been a Reagan conservative. I am hardly an “establishment RINO.” In fact, I literally wrote the book on Reagan conservatism. And my next book, scheduled for release next spring, is a 1,000-page-plus Cold War work on Reagan.

I have done thousands of articles, speeches, and radio and TV and print interviews on Ronald Reagan. I have personally interviewed hundreds of people who lived with or knew or worked with the man and I’ve spent endless days in the Reagan Library, at the Reagan Ranch, at Reagan’s Eureka College, in his hometown, at the river where he lifeguarded, in nursing homes talking to elderly women who were baptized with Reagan in the summer of 1922, etc., etc., etc. I have read countless letters written by Reagan, and still far more pages of words scribbled by others. It’s quite possible that I’ve read more by or about Ronald Reagan than any living person on the planet. I assure you I’m in the top 10.

This is very much a short list (two paragraphs) of my (embarrassing) amount of life activities dedicated to illuminating the person, life, and mind of Ronald Reagan.

Pretty good set of chops.

[austingirl]

@Kaslin

"Reagan opposed high taxes because federal income taxes were (among other things) the mother’s milk that sustained and grew big government. I see no evidence that Donald Trump believes in small, limited government the way Reagan did. The way Trump speaks of what he would do as chief executive is not small-government at all, and is actually quite stunning in its remarkable lack of Constitutional comprehension. He talks as if the president can just magically cancel trade agreements and enact massive changes unilaterally."

Read more: http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2016/05/trump_is_the_antireagan.html#ixzz48hFV8Bde
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Trump is definitely no Reagan. He is a rude and crude NY liberal.

[A-Lert]

I have had many say to me that one of the reasons they support Trump is because he is the modern-day equivalent to Ronald Reagan

Even more ridiculous are those wonderful conservatives that compare Trump to HIt-ler and Mussolini? 

[montanajoe]

American Thinker

Paul Kengor May 13, 2016

 The constant claims of Trump being “another Reagan” must be addressed and must be stopped, if merely in service of truth, but also in service of what Ronald Reagan really represented and what we need to remember. The indisputable reality is that there is no meaningful, legitimate set of similarities between Donald Trump and Ronald Reagan.

Excerpt

 :thumbsup2:

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion of Trump, but to compare him to Reagan, is absurd.

[Right_in_Virginia]

@Kaslin

"Reagan opposed high taxes because federal income taxes were (among other things) the mother’s milk that sustained and grew big government. I see no evidence that Donald Trump believes in small, limited government the way Reagan did. The way Trump speaks of what he would do as chief executive is not small-government at all, and is actually quite stunning in its remarkable lack of Constitutional comprehension. He talks as if the president can just magically cancel trade agreements and enact massive changes unilaterally."


Trump is definitely no Reagan. He is a rude and crude NY liberal. 

The issues conservative folks most point to Reagan on are pro-life and taxes.  But no one includes any data on how much the abortion rate diminished during Reagan's eight years in office or for the eight years after,  thanks to his policies.  And no one includes any data on the national debt at the start and end Reagan's two terms.   

Yet, Reagan was a damn fine president..... because he was a populist who promoted America First in everything he did.   I think Ronald Reagan would be quite pleased with Mr. Trump.

[montanajoe]

Yet, Reagan was a damn fine president..... because he was a populist who promoted America First in everything he did.

Reagan was a core Conservative but also a realist knowing that to win he needed the support of the social conservatives, the fiscal conservatives and those who believed in peace through overwhelming military strength. He is looked back on now as a populist because he successfully united those three groups.

Trump, on the other hand, has no core belief but Trump. He claims the populist title because he is popular with some voters. He has neither the core beliefs or even loosely held "suggestions" to present to the American public outside of platitudes.

To Reagan "America First" was a way of life, to Trump "America First" is a catchy slogan he wished he had copyrighted....

[Kaslin]

I will most likely vote for Trump, because I always vote for the Republican nominee. I just pray that I won't have to regret it, that is why I will hold my nose

[Right_in_Virginia]

Reagan would be disgusted by Trump and shun him.  Trump is a narcissistic vulgarian.  Reagan loved America, not himself.

Nonsense.  Reagan would see Donald Trump for what he is:  The right man at the right time to restore America's position in the world.

Sorry, but your shallow, nonsensical talking points just don't work.

[geronl]

I have had many say to me that one of the reasons they support Trump is because he is the modern-day equivalent to Ronald Reagan

Even more ridiculous are those wonderful conservatives that compare Trump to HIt-ler and Mussolini?

Trump is more like Caligula

[geronl]

I will most likely vote for Trump, because I always vote for the Republican nominee. I just pray that I won't have to regret it, that is why I will hold my nose

I won't ever be able to call myself a Republican again, because of Trump.

[A-Lert]

Trump is more like Caligula

 

[austingirl]

Reagan was a core Conservative but also a realist knowing that to win he needed the support of the social conservatives, the fiscal conservatives and those who believed in peace through overwhelming military strength. He is looked back on now as a populist because he successfully united those three groups.

Trump, on the other hand, has no core belief but Trump. He claims the populist title because he is popular with some voters. He has neither the core beliefs or even loosely held "suggestions" to present to the American public outside of platitudes.

To Reagan "America First" was a way of life, to Trump "America First" is a catchy slogan he wished he had copyrighted....

 

[jmyrlefuller]

I have had many say to me that one of the reasons they support Trump is because he is the modern-day equivalent to Ronald Reagan

Even more ridiculous are those wonderful conservatives that compare Trump to HIt-ler and Mussolini?

I was thinking more the fictional Buzz Windrip.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It_Can't_Happen_Here

[Bill Cipher]

Nonsense.  Reagan would see Donald Trump for what he is:  The right man at the right time to restore America's position in the world.

Sorry, but your shallow, nonsensical talking points just don't work.

You lambaste someone for pretending to know what Reagan would have thought in one breath and then do exactly the same thing in the next.  Who knows what Reagan would have thought about Trump?  Does it really matter?  What matters is that based on his own track record Trump appears to be more a Clinton doppelgänger than a second coming of Reagan. 

[austingirl]

I will most likely vote for Trump, because I always vote for the Republican nominee. I just pray that I won't have to regret it, that is why I will hold my nose

I have always voted Republican, too. Even McCain and Romney. Trump is a bridge too far. He is a lying NY liberal with no core principles. I could not look at myself in the mirror if I betrayed my lifelong principles and voted for the vindictive smear merchant who loves big government. He appears not to have a working knowledge of the Constitution either. Just can't do it.

[Bill Cipher]

I have always voted Republican, too. Even McCain and Romney. Trump is a bridge too far. He is a lying NY liberal with no core principles. I could not look at myself in the mirror if I betrayed my lifelong principles and voted for the vindictive smear merchant who loves big government. He appears not to have a working knowledge of the Constitution either. Just can't do it.

Exactly. 

[BigHomer]

Reagan would be disgusted by Trump and shun him.  Trump is a narcissistic vulgarian.  Reagan loved America, not himself.

Trump is ridiculous buffoon; a living sitcom. Compared to Reagan....LOL...NO   

[Kaslin]

I have always voted Republican, too. Even McCain and Romney. Trump is a bridge too far. He is a lying NY liberal with no core principles. I could not look at myself in the mirror if I betrayed my lifelong principles and voted for the vindictive smear merchant who loves big government. He appears not to have a working knowledge of the Constitution either. Just can't do it.

I probably won't be able to do it either, I also voted for McCain and Romney. I will not vote for Hillary Rotten Clinton or that socialist from Vermont. So either I will sit the election out or will waste my vote by voting third party. The good thing is the election is still almost 6 month away. So that will probably help.

[austingirl]

We have not reached the convention yet. I think there are plans afoot by Paul Ryan to take the nomination. I am hoping that the delegates will choose to vote their conscious and vote for Cruz for the good of the Republic. Trump has not been officially nominated.  Since the media is turning on him as predicted and he has stated that his positions are mere suggestions, there will be interesting times ahead.

[Bigun]

Reagan knew what he believed. Trump doesn't believe anything!

[A-Lert]

Reagan knew what he believed. Trump doesn't believe anything!

He voted for FDR four times. Did that make him stupid or a liberal?