orb@whuxl.UUCP (SEVENER) (04/29/85)
One of the ways in which Reagan won the last election was the magnificent way in which he has evaded responsibility for his actions. Unfortunately I'm afraid that many of Reagan's critics have stepped right into the trap of letting Reagan himself evade responsibility for his actions. For example: > > It seems to me that the error here was more one of statesmanship > than anything else. If Reagan had an adviser with a drop of sense, he or > she (the adviser) would have pointed out that this was bound to cause > offense. Being put in the awkward position of having to defend his action > has caused offense to both the modern Germans, and Jews. ....... How is it Reagan's *advisers* fault for Reagan's stupid action? Just who is the President here? Michael Dever? Edwin Meese? I thought we were given the choice of Ronald Wilson Reagan for President. As President, Reagan is *responsible* for this gaffe and for the anti-Ecological policies of James Watt, the toxic wastes scandals of Anne Burford, the massive deficits, the educational policies of William Bennett, and so forth. I realize that Ronald Reagan is a dingbat. Thus he is constantly excused on the basis that "it's not his fault since he never really does anything. Therefore it is *actually* his advisers' fault". On this basis Reagan has developed his infamous "teflon coating". If things go right, it's "Reagan's brilliant leadership", when things go wrong, "It's his advisers fault". I am tired of this argument and evasion of responsibility. Reagan is President and *he* is responsible not only for his own actions but for the actions of the advisers and officials *he* appointed. Saying that it is his advisers fault that Reagan decided to go to a Nazi cemetery and not to a Concentration Camp is totally bogus. tim sevener whuxl!orb p.s. - I realize that it is impolite to call our President a "dingbat" but I cannot escape the conclusion that he is precisely that. Indeed, the irony is that the very people who constantly shift the blame from Reagan implicitly assume that he is a dingbat by implying that he is just a puppet of his advisers- if not, he *would* be held responsible.