By Jason Elliot Venice
Jeff Wilson calls Ronald Reagan “one of the most prolific writers in the oval office” in reference to “Reagan’s Diaries." Very funny. In reality it is a scant piece of shallow work by one of the 20th century’s greatest admirer’s of vicious right-wing dictators. Let me just name a few of these mass murderers that Mr. Reagan was kissy kissy with. Ferdinand Marcos who fled his country with his tail between his legs before he could be hung in the street for murdering thousands and stealing billions. Augusto Pinochet arrested in England for crimes against humanity. He had thousands of people tortured, killed, and was responsible for more than 2,000 political assassinations. And lets not forget the savage Contra’s which Reagan backed with money and morale support. A derelict group of cowardice murders who would even sink as low as raping and murdering nuns who dared to help the peasant workers. Oh and how about the Taliban? “The moral equivalent of our [America’s] founding fathers,” Reagan once said. Ha! A real genius.
Right-wingers think if they shout long enough and loud enough somehow history will show what a great president Reagan was. Even giving Reagan credit for the fall of the USSR. How absurd. Lech Welensa was much more responsible for the fall of the USSR. A workers revolt. Something Reagan would undoubtedly choke on.
In truth Ronald Reagan was a big sissy boy. Riding around on a horse with his cowboy hat and boots, and his rouge make-up. A hack actor given credit for his communication skills. Like his book he spoke with the honesty and charm of a 10-year-old. Unfortunately he had the ignorance of one, too.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 28, 2007. Read the original PDF.