The Purging of Reagan`s Legacy
This story has slipped in under the radar, yet it is of critical importance to the United States; the Democratic election surge has swept into power one of their more beloved moderates-Daniel Ortega. Ortega, you may remember, was the communist and Sandinista tyrant of Nicaragua, who ruled until he was forced by the Contras to hold elections in 1990. The Reagan Administration worked diligently to remove Ortega, who, like all good communists, began exporting revolution as soon as he ascended to power. Reagan built a counter-revolutionary force which forced Ortega to allow free elections-and he lost.
The Democrats all loved Ortega, and many went to Managua to meet with him and have their pictures taken wearing red bandanas and the like. The Dems never forgave Reagan for ruining their dress-up game of radical chic, and I`m certain the inner core is as happy for the return of Ortega as they are for the Democratic victory here. Ortega is actually to the right of John Conyers, for example.
President Bush has systematically dismantled the Reagan/Conservative coalition, and the return of Ortega to Nicaragua puts the nail in the coffin. Bush allowed the situation in Venezuela to fester, failing to give proper support to the military when they attempted their coup against him a while back. Communists export revolution; it`s what they do. Bush should have understood that, flush with oil money, Chavez was going to help Ortega win election-and help his Democratic buddies as well (I have no doubt that the Democrats had a sizable chunk of Venezuelan change-properly laundered, of course.) Remember, Chavez just called Bush ``El Diablo`` here in the states, and went around to liberal black churches giving anti-Bush rants to thunderous applause. Bush should have taken the necessary steps to deal with Chavez before he exported his revolution. Bush allowed this to happen.
How long will it be before the moderates begin proposing brokering discussions among the former Soviet Republics to undo that greatest triumph or Ronald Wilson Reagan, and put Humpty Dumpty together again? The return of communism to the Western Hemisphere is a good start. Maybe we could call for a nuclear freeze, while we`re at it!
The Democrats all loved Ortega, and many went to Managua to meet with him and have their pictures taken wearing red bandanas and the like. The Dems never forgave Reagan for ruining their dress-up game of radical chic, and I`m certain the inner core is as happy for the return of Ortega as they are for the Democratic victory here. Ortega is actually to the right of John Conyers, for example.
President Bush has systematically dismantled the Reagan/Conservative coalition, and the return of Ortega to Nicaragua puts the nail in the coffin. Bush allowed the situation in Venezuela to fester, failing to give proper support to the military when they attempted their coup against him a while back. Communists export revolution; it`s what they do. Bush should have understood that, flush with oil money, Chavez was going to help Ortega win election-and help his Democratic buddies as well (I have no doubt that the Democrats had a sizable chunk of Venezuelan change-properly laundered, of course.) Remember, Chavez just called Bush ``El Diablo`` here in the states, and went around to liberal black churches giving anti-Bush rants to thunderous applause. Bush should have taken the necessary steps to deal with Chavez before he exported his revolution. Bush allowed this to happen.
How long will it be before the moderates begin proposing brokering discussions among the former Soviet Republics to undo that greatest triumph or Ronald Wilson Reagan, and put Humpty Dumpty together again? The return of communism to the Western Hemisphere is a good start. Maybe we could call for a nuclear freeze, while we`re at it!
posted by Timothy Birdnow | 5:23 AM
4 Comments:
Western Europe will be Eurabia before then, and Eastern Europe has had its fill of Communism at least for a few decades at least. A few of the Eastern European countries will be trapped between Eurabia and the Russian autocracy--God help them.
Bush isn't done screwing us yet. He'll have a lot to answer for when all is said and done.
The return of Ortega to power is not necessarily a return of Nicaragua to communism. It reveals the oh-so-typical Latin trait of disgraced dictators to return to office after a disgraceful term and a hiatus in the political wilderness. We have seen this in Peru most recently.
But your main point is right: Ortega---and do not forget his brother Humberto---are cheap thugs. Their rule over Nicaragua was one of murder, theft, gangsterism and ruin.
I was in Nicaragua during the Revolution and visited there several times after that. I traveled with the Sandinista army and even got to know a few contras. Those were heady days down there, better than any Political Science seminar.
There is an enduring and seldom appreciated undercurrent in Latin America for the 'strong man' in politics. Ortega represents this to some Nicaraguans, especially the young. They know nothing of the Sandinistas but know well enough the corruption of the last decade.
The structural changes in the Nicaraguan economy since Chamorro will make it difficult for Ortega to make much headway. Add to this that he won with only 39 percent of the vote---a typical Latin victory margin.
Right about Chavez. It befuddles why this mountebank is still in power. What does it say about the US that she cannot remove such a loathsome creep? Venezuelans would have cheered, all Latin America would have benefited, our media would have complained. All wins for our side.
Leaving a Chavez in power will have the same deleterious effect upon US influence in the region as leaving Castro in power has---yet another Bush failure.
You are, of course, absolutely correct, William; Russia will be Islamic by then as well, given their collapsing population (if they aren`t Chinese).
Considering Bush`s press conference, and his promise to redouble his ``new tone`` efforts, I absolutely agree with you, Bob!
Thanks for the insight on Nicaragua, Mike! I`m not that knowledgable on Latin American politics, but I know from history that what you say about the endless returning of political strong-men to power is true.
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