As republican presidential candidates continue to debate, stump around the states, attack each other's records, and fight for who's the most conservative, I've seen a consistent trend, especially with Newt Gingrich: President Ronald Reagan. I knew he was first an actor and before that a radio announcer at WHO here in Des Moines. I've also heard of something called Reaganomics. I wasn't even two years old by the time he left office (which totally just gave away my age). So why was he such a beloved president? I decided I needed to do some research. I picked up two books at the library Tuesday and dove into "An American Life" Ronald Reagan's autobiography. Over the past few days I've spent several hours learning about his childhood days in Illinois, his early adult years in Des Moines, his acting career in Hollywood, his marriage to Nancy, his work with the Screen Actors Guild, WWII, and his eventual run for governor of California and then the presidency. I've still got a ways to go, but am very intrigued. I agree with his ideas on having a balanced budget and that lower taxes actually means more revenue. They aren't original ideas or the first time the country faced those problems. Reagan really believed in them and did what he could to follow through. I haven't finished the book yet, so I can't comment on his entire career. I'll complete my thoughts when I complete the 745 pages. This might honestly be the longest book I've ever read.