>>>I think it would be a shame if all Reagan was remembered for was selling arms to contras...
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>>I agree. There were things I liked about Reagan. Watching a special on HBO about the "Miracle on Ice" win against the Soviet Union in hockey reminded me how bad things were in the U.S. at that time. I also liked his approach to the Soviets. He was widely criticized at the time for calling them an "Evil Empire", but I think he was right. He called it as he saw it.
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>>I do disagree with his fiscal policy.
>
>Yeah, but you can't argue with the outcome of his fiscal policies. We had some of the best economic years we've ever had. There's also that little thing about bringing the USSR down. The fall of communism and the Berlin Wall. "Tear down this wall Mr Gorbachav...."

AFAIK, Reagan has very little to do with the fall of the berlin wall or bringing the USSR down. It rather was the bankruptsy of the communistic USSR causing it. Mr Gorbatchov played a significant role in this, but in the end the germans themselves pulled down the wall. Saying that it was the achievement of reagan is stretch way too far imo.

Walter,