>>I have not followed his "regency", but had surmised something like Reagan:
>>first belittled, but as no drastic bungles appear grudging respect from all sides.
>
>Wasn't Reagan the first teflon politician? Who had a PR team with a duty to make sure nothing sticks to his name, no matter how bungled?

Nixon had left a bad taste - how much of this is due to the impeachment process instead of his politics I cannot fathom. Ford was not free of watergate. And anything after Carter was bound to be a glaring success. Having the Iran embassy people freed within a few minutes and surviving the attempt were not influenced by the PR team (the first might, but then his movies probably were more important for that). And he was honest enough to name the rising budget deficit one of (if not the) the worst results of his presidency (and why do Reps have such a hard time to reduce the US debt). At least he got inflation controlled. How much did his military build-up help the fall of the east block ? Was this a good investment seen in retrospect?

Arnold's way to become governor already won me a few bets - same as Clinton when his affairs did not eliminate him from the running.

my 0.02 EUR

thomas