What did I miss about Obama and Reagan?

[Armstead]

I've been busy and have paid no attention to DU or the political world the last few days.

When I check into DU, I see all of these posts about Obama and Reagan, but it's like trying to watch an episode of "Lost" without any of the backstory.

Can someone provide a concise summation of what this is all about?

[xchrom]

1. oh we just all set ourselves on fire.

we noticed you weren't here -- and wanted to give you something to talk about.

[Perry Logan]

2. Let's just say Obama is through.

[rox63]

3. Obama made a statement about Reagan being a transformative figure in politics

And everyone here immediately burst into flames. He said nothing positive about Reagan's policies. But now most of the supporters of other candidates are claiming that Obama has declared Reagan his hero. :eyes:

[chimpymustgo]

4. You can see it for yourself in Videos. You decide.

If you have any memory or understanding of Ronald Reagan's impact on American policy and it's psyche, you'll have a reaction.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x85553

[Adelante]

9. Obama talked about Reagan's politics

Were they successful? Anyone has to admit the politics were successful. We still suffer today from the Reagan Revolution, although the time is finally at hand to beat it with a stick.

Obama does not talk about Reagan policies, but his political performance and its affect on the country's trajectory rightward, and as you say, the national psyche that found it all acceptable.

Obama wants to do the same for the left as Reagan did for the right.

Anything else is politicking for another candidate.

I was in the streets protesting Reagan's policies throughout the 1980s. So believe me, I had a strong and bitter reaction to Reagan policies, both domestic and foreign, but describing a historical era and pointing out that the politics practiced and the ideas behind the politics succeeded in bringing a huge part of the nation to the right -- success for the Republicans, failure for the Democrats -- it's just true. I would always rather have the truth from a candidate, even if I didn't agree with it; however, in this case, I do.

[Adelante]

5. Here is the interview if you would like to watch it in context, Armstead

http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080115/VIDEO/80115026&oaso=news.rgj.com/breakingnews

Otherwise there is a snippet gone viral watched by almost everybody here, who is shocked, shocked, I tell you, there is politics in this here election year and Obama has the nerve to talk about it.

[Perky]

6. Not much actually

obqmq mentioned That Reagan was and effective agent of change......and the hilbots when off saying that some how that means that Obama would follow Reagan policies.

[MethuenProgressive]

7. His handlers couldn't stop him from speaking off script, so he screwed up again.

And ObamaNation is crying that it's not fair that what he said was made public.

[BootinUp]

8. Obama invoked an image of transformational politics

talked about Reagan, said Reagan did what Nixon and Clinton did not, suggests he can be a Reagan for the progressive movement.

The problem I have with it is as follows:

None of his policy proposals would result in a change in trajectory. In fact he is arguably slightly to the righ of Hillary on Social and Economic issues. Granted some would make a case that Hillary is to his right on National Security, but I think the jury is still out on where Obama would vote when faced with tough issues.

So we are to believe his gift of rhetoric will result in a change in trajectory, but without enacting any bold legislation how is that possible?

[IndianaJones]

10. praised Reagan for taking advantage of the failures of liberal government. nt.

[sufrommich]

11. The special effects were fabulous! The car chase scene

rocked!!!!