(Picture from the Ronald Reagan Library)
President and Mrs. Reagan pose in the Blue Room for their official portrait. (March 4, 1981)
I am posting a great March Madness Moment from the article by A. J. Foss called Ultimate March Madness: The 20 Greatest Moments in NCAA Tournament History
20. 1998 Valparaiso-Ole Miss
With 2.5 seconds left and trailing 69-67, Valpo’s Jaime Skyes throws a 60-foot pass down the length of the court that is caught by Bill Jenkins, who then passes it over to Bryce Drew (the head coach’s son), who then proceeds to drill a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give #13 seed Valparaiso an improbable 70-69 victory over the #4 seed Ole Miss Rebels in their first round game.
1980 Presidential Debate Reagan v Carter
Governor Reagan, you have the last word on this question.
GOVERNOR REAGAN
Yes. If it is a well-known fact that I opposed air pollution laws in California, the only thing I can possibly think of is that the President must be suggesting the law that the Federal Government tried to impose on the State of California — not a law, regulations that would have made it impossible to drive an automobile within the city limits of any California city, or have a place to put it if you did drive it against their regulations. It would have destroyed the economy of California, and, I must say, we had the support of Congress when we pointed out how ridiculous this attempt was by the Environmental Protection Agency. We still have the strictest air control or air pollution laws in the country.
As for offshore oiling, only 2 percent now is so leased and is producing oil. The rest, as to whether the lands are going to be opened in the next 5 years or so — we’re already 5 years behind in what we should be doing. There is more oil now in the wells that have been drilled than has been taken out in the 121 years that they’ve been drilled.
MR. SMITH
Thank you, Governor.
Thank you, Mr. President.
The next question goes to Governor Reagan from William Hilliard.
MR. HILLIARD
Governor Reagan, wage earners in this country — especially the young — are supporting a social security system that continues to affect their income drastically. The system is fostering a struggle between the young and the old, and is drifting the country toward a polarization of these two groups. How much longer can the young wage earner expect to bear the ever-increasing burden of the social security system?
GOVERNOR REAGAN
The social security system was based on a false premise, with regard to how fast the number of workers would increase and how fast the number of retirees would increase. It is actuarially out of balance, and this first became evident about 16 years ago, and some of us were voicing warnings then. Now, it is trillions of dollars out of balance, and the only answer that has come so far is the biggest single tax increase in our Nation’s history, the payroll tax increase for social security, which will only put a Band-aid on this and postpone the day of reckoning by a few years at most.
What is needed is a study that I have proposed by a task force of experts to look into this entire problem as to how it can be reformed and made actuarially sound, but with the premise that no one presently dependent on social security is going to have the rug pulled out from under them and not get their check. We cannot frighten, as we have with the threats and the campaign rhetoric that has gone on in this campaign, our senior citizens, leave them thinking that in some way they’re endangered and they would have no place to turn. They must continue to get those checks, and I believe that the system can be put on a sound actuarial basis. But it’s going to take some study and some work, and not just passing a tax increase to let the roof fall in on the next administration.
MR. SMITH
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Free-lance columnist Rex Nelson is the president of Arkansas’ Independent Colleges and Universities. He’s also the author of the Southern Fried blog at rexnelsonsouthernfried. com.
Rex Nelson wrote in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on April 2, 2011 a great article called “Arkansas Bucket List.” The readers of his blog http://www.rexnelsonsouthernfried.com came up with a list of things you must do at least once in your life to be considered a well-rounded Arkansan. Nelson asked others to add their suggestions at his website. I am going through the list slowly.
1.Take part in a tailgate party prior to an Arkansas-LSU football game at War Memorial Stadium. Then, attend the duck gumbo cookoff that same weekend in Stuttgart. (I have been to many Arkansas-LSU games at War Memorial Stadium. I have had Little Rock Razorback Football Season Tickets since 1984. This year’s game was outstanding because it is one of only two razorback games I can remember where the complete crowd stood the whole game. The same game in 2006 was the only other game where that occurred. I would love for Razorback fans to correct me on that. Is there a third game that the whole crowd stood the whole game?)
2.Hike to the top of Pinnacle Mountain. (My late uncle Harold Hatcher told me about his habit of hiking up Pinnacle in 1983 and he first took me up the mountain. Shortly after that my girlfriend, Jill Sawyer and I went up the mountain together. Two and a half years later when Jill and I were married, Jill’s mother Sandra told me that she knew it was true love when Jill had actually gone up the mountain with me. Jill had actually acted excited at the time with my suggestion but little did I know that would be the most athletic thing she had ever done her whole life!!!)
3. Have an all-you-can-eat dinner of catfish straight from the lower White River at the Georgetown One Stop. Watch the sun rise from a duck blind on the Grand Prairie.
The Daily Hatch 