Putting Reagan In Perspective
SIMI VALLEY, CA -- Since Ronald Reagan left office in '89,the GOP's had two moments: their '94 House takeover and GWB's '04 re-election victory. Within a few years, Dems were back in control. Neither moment fully completed Reagan's revolution.
Can the conservative movement-cum-GOP survive without him? GOPers have been asking that question for 18 yrs. Ronald Reagan pulled the spokes together: anti-communism, traditional moral values, strong nat'l defense and lower taxes. Those ideas survived, but without Reagan to sell them, they proved incapable of producing a governing majority themselves.
By and large, the GOP has rejected "compassionate conservatism" and is looking for something new. But the GOP candidates all seem to want to channel Reagan, as if his spirit alone can save the party. Some lace their speeches with "optimism" -- literally, the word. Others wonder what Reagan would do in the face is Islamic terror. Still others go so far as to compare their political journey's to Reagan's. None comes close to capturing Reagan's essence.
Reagan's 11th commandment might be forgotten tonight, but we'd propose a 12th: beware of idol worship. It could constrain clear thinking about the future. [MARC AMBINDER]
We know what Reagan would have done in the face of Islamic terror. When the Beirut barracks were bombed, he pulled out. If Clinton did that, the Republicans wouldn't shut up about how weak he was. But of course they just conveniently leave that out of their rose-colored vision of Reagan's presidency.
I think "beware of idol worship" actually IS the second commandment already, isn't it? Just kidding.
Good post.
They can’t hide behind Ronald Reagan because he championed many of the ideas and policies that President Bush implemented with catastrophic effect. Even the Gipper can’t pull this one out. The Republican candidates are caught between a rock and a hard place. The vast majority of Americans have given up on President Bush, But the die-hards who still support him are loyal Republican primary voters that no Republican candidate can afford to offend.