I know how most people here probably feel about Reagan. I don't want to get into his policies, whether he was responsible for the downfall of the Soviet Union, or anything of the sort. For one thing, I think it takes at least 30 years before you can get an objective sense of historical events. But I digress, and I haven't even started.
The year was 1984. Reagan had a lead of around 20 points. Mondale had used his convention to announce that he would raise taxes. (He was right about the policy and when he said Reagan would do it too, but it was bad politics).
The point is, Reagan could not lose that election. He could not lose. Nothing modale did would cause him to win. Nothing Reagan did would prevent him from winning. Reagan had nothing to gain by negotiating Mondale. He could have refused and still won the election by 20 points.
He debated Mondale.
Reagan guaranteed that every future sitting president would be forced to debate his opponent. No excuse would be acceptable.
If Regan had refused to debate Mondale, Rove would have refused to allow Bush to debate Kerry. Kerry's brilliant performance last night would not have happened. Far too many voters would have formed their impression of Kerry not from seeing him in action, but from Bush's political ads.
Reagan made a Kerry victory possible.
Ronald Reagan did the United States of America a huge favor. Whether you loved him or hated him, we all have Reagan to thank for this.
So, I ask you all to raise a glass in toast to Ronald Wilson Reagan. A true American hero!