Coming Soon: Back to the Future — Our ‘Rendezvous with Destiny’
Forty-six years ago today on October 27, 1964, Ronald Reagan gave his now-legendary "Time for Choosing" speech. Next Tuesday, you and I have our own "rendezvous with destiny" as well.
October 27, 2010 - 11:32 am
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The Republican Study Committee has artfully interspersed this speech with remarks made by the current crop of Democratic leaders, including Obama, in a video (“Those Voices Don’t Speak for Us”) as a closing argument for the midterms. It includes Reagan presciently noting self-government’s perennial threat:
A government can’t control the economy without controlling people. And they know when a government sets out to do that, it must use force and coercion to achieve its purpose. They also knew, those Founding Fathers, that outside of its legitimate functions, government does nothing as well or as economically as the private sector of the economy.
Fasten your seat belts: it’s time for another “rendezvous with destiny.”
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Like RR, my mother was a lifelong democrat. She grew up with a picture of FDR in her living room (she was a Canadian)She started to change when Trudeau came on the scene, and then Carter….but when Reagan became president and started giving his wonderful speeches, she converted overnight. Thanks to Mr. Reagan I have been a lifelong conservative, solidified by my dear mother.
Powerful words…
Powerful.
Thank you for introducing me to such an excellent website. I will share that website and all of its wisdom to any who would partake of it.
Thank you.
Zamir
God bless him. How I miss him! Rest in peace, Ron.
Wonderful article,
I regard Ronald Reagan as second only to my own father, as the most important man in my life.
I was in highschool when he campaigned against Jimmy Carter, and he was the first person I ever voted for.
I had the honor of serving in the Marine Corps with him as my Commander In Chief…Dark days near the “end of the end” of the cold war, when we questioned our ability to actually close the deal. To make those final, agonizing steps to at last kill the beast…of finally not having to appologise for being RIGHT against wrong.
He recognized the greatness of our counrty, and the moral burden of DOING what was right, even when it was unpopular or inconvenient. Peace through strength is the proper stance with regard to external enemies, but he was a good steward of the Republic….always mindful of the temptations of strength and power to push for more government solutions to all percieved ills .
I learned with him, there is a time to fight, and a time for restraint …
the ancient burden of being a MAN is to understand WHEN to apply these opposites. I became a Man under his leadership, and it was a priceless gift of circumstances that allowed me to do so.
He was my hero, and I gladly spent 9 hours standing in line all night to view him lying in State. I was one of the last to see him, as the viewing was ended just after I entered the room. I stopped and Saluted him, against the instructed protocal, but I, and many others, felt it simply had to be done.
I’ll never forget leaving, and coming down the Capital stars just as dawn broke. I went into the Rotunda in darkness and sorrow, and came out to a rising sun. A “Reagan Moment” if there ever was one.
Then suddenly the area was courdoned off, and those still waiting in line to get inside were escorted away. They would not get to see his coffin in the Rotunda, but were instead brought to the front of the Capital, where we all got to witness the Color Guard bearing him down the stairs, to a waiting hearse.
It was the most silent public moment I can recall…there were no gestures, no words, no gentle applause as with Princess Dianna….only footsteps of the soldiers….bearing to rest the Greatest American who lived within my lifetime.
We Must never forget who He was, what He stood for, and how He believed in US!
God Bless Ronald Reagan
Thank you… that was a beautiful testimonial…
The more things change the more they stay the same. As President Reagan saw in 64 and again in 80 so it is today; there are always people who want to create their dreams with other people’s money and other people’s liberty.
The Root ’83…all I can say is WOW…I’m going to post your comment to my Tea Party group website…thanks for the amazing story!
His funeral was a Cathartic experience….I was so tired from being up all night and driving back from DC, I crashed for a nap as soon I got home.
I woke up just in time to catch the televised service from the national catherderal before falling asleep for a few hours. I awoke again and there he was, being eulogised in California. So much of what I believed, what I was proud of, of who I was as an American, on TV all at once was almost too much.
It was a difficult day in many ways. Seeing Maggie Thatcher give a video eulogy message due to her advanced age/fragility, instead of being there in person, reminded me just how many years it had been. Realizing, perhaps for the first time, I was no longer a 20 or 30-something strapping “young” Marine, but instead a 40-something middle aged man was was strange feeling.
I felt it was the end of an era, an era of pride and progress and redemption, and validation my Son would be cheated of, only reading about it, or hearing about it from his Dad….
Like the way I felt about my WW2 era Fathers days, so heroic, so important, compared to the Carter era of my school age years….
Until Reagan came and made me realize their were heroic American leaders, just like my dad promised..
Who today, can step forward, and give that important legacy to MY son?
I weep for an answer
The GOP got you where you are. They sure as hell ain’t going to help you get out of a bind. And as for the TP? Delude potentially psychotic bigots bankrolled by billionaires? Good bye America if these fools ever get any power.
Joey,
You are indeed lost. America is about being free, even free to fail.
Thats what should happen to the banks, car companies, and home buyers that couldnt understand the simple, basic math of spending more than you earn. You FAIL…
The prudent and responsible shouldn’t be punished for someone elses stupidity.
The bank qualified a McMansion buyer with a Walmart income? Let them eat you eat the loss. And its not really that much of a loss since they acquire OWNERSHIP OF THE PROPERTY in the deal!
Real value of real estate, not like TOTALLY worthless paper stock of a bankrupt company. They could sit on the property for a while, maybe break even or suffer a small loss, but they just want to wash their hands, get paid and be done. YOUR side of political fence thinks thats fair.
Hey GM, the Unions hijacked your company with bloated payroll (job banks? not working but getting PAID?) and bennies to the point that the shitty cars they do build cant pay for it all? No worries, I’ll just give away my kids future so the Unions can funnel money to Democrats one more time…sure, no problem.
You give bailouts for everyone, and Billions of “Stimulus” dollars are being spent by LOCAL GOVERNMENTS to cover their budget shortfalls TODAY, while my son and grandson will get the bill tomorrow for crony jobs and payback political contributions (can you say AFSME?)made today. How is that sound, prudent, responsible stewardship of public money?
The Liberal Leachers Union (sorry “teachers?”) in my area is spending heavily
on Democrats (again), while simultaneously going on STRIKE for big pay increases and NO contribution to their healthcare plans. They expect “Emergency federal bailouts” to fund it.
Thats not a GOP plan, thats YOUR plan. Thats the DEMOCRATS way of running things.
Its all free money, its magic, just wave a wand and it appears…so long as you’re a DEMOCRAT spending SOMEONE ELSES MONEY it all makes sense, Right?
No, Joey, the GOP did not get us here. The people who believe in big government got us here, whether they were Dems or Pubs. The permanent political class who believe government has to DO something in order to justify their existence are the ones who got us here. THEY need to feel like they are DOING something. After all, it is their life’s work.
They have no faith that the system works without the government getting involved all the time. They have no faith in the system, and so they insert government into it… and screw it all up.
Now, Joey, you came in here and spewed your rage and contempt. You offered blanket invective, but offered no specifics.
Did you view the videos? If you are like most Americans, you could not help but be stirred by Reagan’s words. If you are a rabid Democrat, who puts Party above all else, then that would explain the rage. Your Party can never be wrong, but those videos show otherwise, and so you become enraged. When you throw a stone into a pack of dogs, the one that yelps is the one that got hit.
I am a Conservative. I tend to vote Republican, but sometimes Libertarian or Constitution Party. I am not loyal to a Party. I am loyal to principles, principles which have been demonstrated throughout history to work very well. Can you honestly say the same? Criticism of the Republicans does not bother me,as I indulge in it often myself. Why does criticism of the Democrats fill you with such rage? What is WRONG with you?
#4. Root ’83
What a moving commentary. You captured the essence of his power: Reagan was a genuine leader, who understood that power was a tool to be tempered by wisdom and used careful thought. He viewed America as a miracle. Equally important, he believed in us and inspired us to strive to be our best selves.
Thank you, MCK and Root ’83, for this timely reminder of the vision we need to hold in our hearts and minds as we head to the polls … and tackle the challenges ahead.
GDI,
Thank you and thank you EJ #7 for the complements…I post a lot of angry snark here at times, but sometimes you have a chance to take a deep breath, and say whats in your heart, not your speen.
Reagan was a cool, class act. We need to emulate him more, but these are angry times arent they?
There’s a new acronym for real CHANGE for America by Americans! It’s VEDO!
That’s right. VEDO!
Make sure that we:
V-ote
E-very
D-emocrat
O-ut!
(And any leftist republicans too!)
A rendezvous with hypocrisy.
I like that V-E-D-O Tbunny…it’s like term limits are gonna happen after all. For all of you who enjoyed RR, listen to his farewell address. It is poweful stuff.
I do not see our new leader yet but he/she is coming. Maybe a Christie-Daniels ticket? Romney does not seem to get traction but he’s got a great resume. One guy that gets little attention is Huntsman (also a Mormon), our Ambassador to China.
Keep the faith…the USA will go on, adjust to the new macro environ and stay true to the preceps of The Constitution I know it.
Wow, 46 years … has it really been that long since the GOP produced a president that America wasn’t completely ashamed of? Well, here’s to another 46 years.
Another Troll who cant count…You must be a public school teacher…
FYI 46 years ago was the SPEECH, took almost another 20 years for the dullards like you to recognize greatness and elect the guy….
LBJ, Carter? Bill “40% of the electorate” Clinton?
Yeah, thems braggin’ rights
The water under the bridge is deep, you are obviously in over your head
Reagan was a real gift to America… and, I feel confident, that from the ashes of today’s travails will rise up another great American leader with the charisma, vision and skill to help us realize, in fact, that our best days are ahead of us and that America is that “shining city on the hill”… and, who will lead us from “Mourning in America” back to “Morning in America”…
I really think this version of the original speech is much better quality then all the others floating around.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1777069922535499977#