TRUMP: Reagan comparison mystifying

On Halloween, R. Ginorio argued that Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump are “conservative revolutionaries” and far better Republican presidents than Gerald Ford and both GW Bush and GHW Bush. I’m mystified by Ginorio’s conclusions.

First, a moment’s thought shows that “conservative” and “revolutionary” go together like oil and water: they don’t. The Founding Fathers were revolutionaries; they were bent on the destruction of conservative fealty to England.

Second, a moment’s thought confirms that today’s Republican Party would consider Ronald Reagan to be a RINO, a “Republican in name only.” Reagan, for all his limitations, worked well with Democrats and Republicans. Reagan would in fact be horrified by Trump; by Trump’s manifold criminality, his undeniable venality, his dishonesty, his avarice.

Third, Reagan would be mystified (and alarmed) by Trump’s open embrace of dictators like Putin, Xi, Kim, and near dictators like Orban and Erdogan.

The difference between Reagan and Trump is that Reagan, in his second term, surrounded himself with a competent Cabinet. With the possible exception of Rubio, Trump is presently surrounded by clowns. 

The response “but Biden!!!” is no response at all; Biden, like Reagan, surrounded himself with competent people.

JOHN D. SAHR

Otis Orchards