[Hoot Gibson]

Understand, I do not post the things I do in an effort to change your mind. I post so others, be they ever so small in number, can understand how the minds of the Billy Kristol's of this world work. Or don't as the case may be. But one minute you're planting your flag on some recently claimed high ground as in post #57, only to do your best Pee Wee Herman', "I meant to do that." when you get called on it.

Reagan did not need to "trash" his own people as you say, because one of his inner circle would never dare to go before the full Senate in an attempt to undermine his foreign policy positions. Thereby embarrassing the US President and exposing any perceived (real or not) flaws in our national intelligence function and strategies to our enemies. And all in a concisely compiled format no less. Nor did any of them come on the nightly news to sew the seeds of doubt and unrest in the minds of the Americans listening. And that would be on any occasion to include the time Reagan addressing the Kremlin from West Berlin said, "MR Gorbachev tear down this wall." I know for a fact Reagan speech writers took that line out more than once. But if his own people had acted like the rats of the present administration act, I would bet he would set the record straight.

Trump appointed his inner circle. Those are his rats and they reflect poorly on Trump's leadership skills and on his judgment. Reagan did not just get lucky when he hired people who remained loyal to him until the day he died.