Some Favorite Reagan Quotes (Or: "Why do Trees Hate the Environment?")

In light of the 25th Anniversary of Ronald Reagan's First Presidential Inauguration, I thought some post-celebration was in order, by sharing some favorite quotes (List your own favorites in the comments section, if you so desire):

“We should measure welfare's success by how many people leave welfare, not by how many are added”

“The most terrifying words in the English langauge are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help.”

“You can tell a lot about a fellow's character by the way he eats jelly beans.”

“I have left orders to be awakened at any time in case of national emergency, even if I'm in a cabinet meeting.”

“Some of you may remember that in my early days, I was sort of a bleeding heart liberal. Then I became a man and put away childish ways.”

“A tree's a tree. How many more do you need to look at?”

“Trees cause more pollution than automobiles do.”

That last quote can often be found on liberal sites deriding Reagan, and showcasing how "Republicans say the darn'dest things". But check out this from 4 years ago:

"Air pollution comes from trees," Ronald Reagan declared more than 20 years ago, soon after the start of his presidency. The remark earned him widespread derision as proof of his ignorance of environmental issues. Even his first press secretary, James Brady, teased him about it. Once when Air Force One was flying over a forest he grabbed the President by the elbow and, pointing down out of the window, said in alarm: "Look, Mr President: killer trees!"

But now new scientific research is showing that the former Hollywood B-movie star was at least partially right all along. For studies in both Britain and the United States have shown that some trees do indeed emit pollution and may even be killing forests downwind.

And then there is this more recently:

First, it was the discovery that forests absorb far less CO2 than previously thought. Now, the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics, after careful analysis of which organic gases are emitted from plants, have discovered that plants release methane, a greenhouse gas with 23 times the global warming potential of CO2. Equally surprising was that methane formation is not hindered by the presence of oxygen. This goes against all previous assumptions. The researchers estimate that ...about 10 to 30 percent of present annual methane production comes from plants.

Hah...I do believe Ronald Reagan has been vindicated. God bless his soul....a man of vision, ahead of his time. Take that, eco-terrorists!!!