Happy Birthday, Mr. President!

Dutch Reagan, born this day in 1911 in Tampico, Illinois. Last fall, I happened to drive through that part of the Illinois prairie. And taking a good look at the rolling cornfields, seeing the farmsteads way off in the distance and the skyline stretching out forever, stopping and talking with the local folks (or rayther, being talked to death by the local folks, who are the most gregarious pack of people I have ever met), I couldn't help being reminded again of Reagan's intense Midwesternesse, which trait was, I think, one of the cornerstones of his success.

It's waaaaay early, of course, but judging by recent events, I'm beginning to wonder if the unicorn I'm going to get isn't, in fact, the Gipper's true heir.