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If you've ever wondered just how out of touch university faculty can get, look no further than the behavior of the University of New Hampshire's faculty union during its recent contract talks.
After shunning the Dalai Lama in September, President Obama must have shocked the Red Chinese when he spoke firmly for human rights.
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Andrew Cline has been editorial page editor of the New Hampshire Union Leader since October of 2001. His writing has appeared in more than 100 newspapers and magazines, including The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and National Review.Where's Reagan? Alas, he is no more
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Reader commentsRepublicans searching for a Ronald Reagan among the presidential nominees have not found one because there isn't one. Yet they still seek him.
We understand. We endorsed Ronald Reagan in 1976, 1980 and 1984. Since he exited the stage, America has missed his strength, vision and leadership.
The Republican presidential candidates all have invoked Reagan's name. Perhaps there is a little Reagan in each of them. But there is only one candidate who really reminds us of Ronald Reagan.
We agree with conservative critics who say John McCain has strayed on some issues, including immigration. But they forget that Reagan did, too. He supported amnesty for illegal aliens, and he even called it that.
No candidate in this race is a pure Reaganite. Mitt Romney claims to be one, but we have our doubts. What we see in Romney does not remind us of Ronald Reagan. What we see in John McCain does.
McCain is a leader of the Reagan school.
He will fight for conservative ideals while attempting to bring Democrats into the fold. Like Reagan, he not only champions a bold, American optimism, he embodies it.
If he is the nominee, Republicans will be proud of their party again.
If he is President, Americans will be proud of their country again.
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YOUR COMMENTS
The premise that there are no Reagan's running is true, but it misses the point that Fred Thompson embodies almost all of Reagan's qualities with none of his limitations. Fred is the only true conservative running for President, and the only candidate who can be trusted to lead America to peace through strength and prosperity through strong conservative economic policies. In his heart, John McCain is Joe Lieberman. Strong on defense and spending, but liberal on almost everything else. Regrettably, Fred does not have the funds to make a race in NH, but that does not mean NH voters should not recognize that he is the best candidate for president and vote for him in the primary.
- Don Skipper, Dallas, Texas
William Smith says below, "John McCain may be strong on fighting pork barrel spending, but he's weak on being a real Republican".
William Smith is exactly right. Real Republicans no longer stand for fighting against spending. As John McCain said, they "spend like drunken sailors".
- Bob Jean, Northwood, NH
To channel Rick Pitino for a moment: Ronald Reagan isn't coming through that door. Barry Goldwater isn't coming through that door...and if they do, it'll be a Festivus miracle.
John McCain is NOT a leader of the Reagan school. His constant compromise with Democrats proves that. His gutting Free Speech with McCain/Feingold proves that. His "immigration compromise" with Ted Kennedy proves that.
He won't even mention having co-written that immigration bill now. He just says that "America doesn't trust Washington to fix the immigration problem."
It would be more accurate to say we don't trust *him* to fix the problem of illegal immigration--not after he tried to sell us his amnesty bill.
John McCain may be strong on fighting pork barrel spending, but he's weak on being a real Republican. It's no wonder the Democrats wanted him as John Kerry's running mate.
- William Smith, Manchester, NH
Mitt Romney is much more like flip-flopping John Kerry than he is like Ronald Reagan.
- Bob Jean, Northwood, NH
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