General Discussion

when he failed to die from John Hinkley's bullet. On the day, the CNN pundits were saying it was religious miracle.

It was Reagan's second miracle, the first being the release of the hostages on inauguration day. Statistically St. Ronnie's presidency was quite mediocre, as I don't need to tell anybody here. Famously sold arms for hostages (to fund illegal operations in Central America), tripled the national debt, made an immigration deal with Democrats, pushed Social Security ages back, and with his deregulating ministers destroyed the entire savings and loan sector.

St. Ronnie''s third miracle was that relentless and disciplined messaging has convinced everybody the wrongdoing in his thoroughly corrupt administrations (in which 138 Reagan officials were investigated, indicted or convicted) didn't occur at all. Poppy Bush pardoned almost everyone, but suffered from an odd sort of fiscal responsibility which prevented his reelection.