Who ran in 1984 that was like Cruz?
Obviously Reagan a conservative. Bush41, Dole, Bush43, McCain and Romney were no where near Reagan or Cruz as conservatives. They were Republican candidates. Bush 41 ran as a conservative in 1988 and promptly said screw you conservatives after his vistory and governed like a mushy liberal Republican and lost second time around. Aside from Bush 43 who won by the skin of his teeth both times, the gope liberal Republican candidates have gotten their asses handed too them. And these all ran as far away from Reagan as possible except for Bush 41 in 1988. They wanted nothing to do with conservatives except our votes and money. As you put it they ran like it was not 1984 each election save 1988 and lost in most cases.
All these liberal Republicans have managed to produce in they way of change was welfare reform in the mid-90’s and that was primarily the House under Gingrich. Throw in Justices Thomas and Alito and that’s all the bones conservatives have got in 30 yrs. of blind support for the liberal and duplicitous Republican party.