Tom’s entry below has a lot of points I could agree with – and more that I’d like to argue over beer about. But today I’d like to share a slightly different perspective.

A few days ago, I had the chance to share a cab with someone who had worked at a high level in the Reagan White House. I asked him about his contact with the President in what he called the sunset of his life. And while he hadn’t seen Reagan in some time, he would from time to time get a phone call from Nancy, sharing a story or piece of news about the President.

One particular call this gentleman received is appropriate today.

As Reagan would sit with Nancy through the day, he would often nod off for a few minutes. One day, after being asleep in a chair for about 10 minutes, he woke with a start – a bit disoriented and confused. He looked at Nancy next to him and didn’t say, “hello” or anything of the sort. He simply smiled wide and said, “I love America.”

And in the throes of a disease that steals memory, reason, political agendas – when all that was stripped away, the most important thing the President was left with was a deep and abiding – inherently optimistic and positive love for his country. And that is the best kind of patriotism I can imagine.