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This is an ‘html-only’ version of Scribblings with no database behind it. This means it is not possible to search it. I am working on a new version with which I am hoping to eventually put back into the main site. The new version is here but please note that there is no link directly back to the main site.

Sunday, 6th June 2004

Lights out for Bonzo

Bedtime for Bonzo poster showing Ronald Reagan with a chimpanzee

On the eve of Ronald Reagan’s re-election as President of the USA in 1984 I went to an all-night showing of his movies at, I think, the Scala in Kings Cross. Most of them were absolutely dire although, I must admit, Bedtime for Bonzo was rather fun. The film concerns the attempt by a professor, played by Reagan, to teach human morals to a chimpanzee and is the sort of movie you might watch to wile away a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Reagan the actor was no great shakes although, to be fair, he never claimed to be. I think he once referred to himself as the “Errol Flynn of B-movies”. Reagan the politician was something else entirely. He liked to come across almost as a bumbling idiot with a great store of homilies for any occasion. Lost your dog? Ron’s your man! I always suspected that his assumed persona hid a man of enormous conviction, ruthlessness and intelligence. I’ve no doubt that he was also charming, good-natured and fun to be with; my gran would probably have called him “That nice Mr Reagan”.

Achievements of Ronald Reagan

  • Support for Saddam Hussain during the time when he was gassing his own people and waging war on Iran.
  • Support for fascist governments throughout the world but especially in central and south America.
  • The overthrow of the elected government in Nicaragua by the US backed Contra rebels.
  • The secret sale of arms to Iran in order to finance the overthrow of the Nicaraguan government.
  • The impoverishment of millions of Americans brought about by cuts in taxes and welfare payments.
  • The increase in the US national debt to $3 trillion.
  • Star Wars.

So, goodbye Ronnie. A terrible way to go but I can’t say I’m sad that you’ve gone.

Posted 6 June 2004, 14:19
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Since moving the site to a new server Scribblings is not as easy to find your way around as it used to be. It used to depend on a script and a database on the server but is currently served as ‘flat html’.

I have some ideas about how to make it a bit easier but they depend on writing another script. I hope to get around to it ‘eventually’.

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