Yes, the same people threw a lot of the same crap at Ronald Reagan - stupid, cowboy, played with the facts, tolerated right wing extremists, nonexistent ties to the Klan and Birchers, too old (how’s that ring with Hillary who seems to have perhaps 1/10 of the energy and vitality of Trump), a real danger on the world stage because he wasn’t a member of the Council on Foreign Relations (i.e, he will stand up for American interests) and he didn’t belong to the same country clubs as “good” (i.e., ineffectual) Republicans like the Bushes and Fords). They have nice things to say about Reagan now, but only because: 1) he is dead and no longer a threat; 2) they build a false contrast with Trump; and 3) few can deny he had one of the three most successful presidencies of the 20th century. Boo hoo, Mr. national Post columnist, write about the young fool that is running your country into the ground and BTW whose son is he, anyway, Pierre Trudeau’s or Mick Jagger’s??
I remember the 1980 election as well. Jimmy Carter and his allies in the media were throwing everything they could at Ronald Reagan. They couldn’t believe that anyone could consider voting for him.
There was a difference - I don’t remember them directly insulting the American voters. They seemed to keep their insults aimed directly at Reagan himself.