O'Conner and Kennedy were considered moderate conservatives.
You can squirm any way you want. The FACT is that Reagan raised taxes, twice, and nominated two squishes to the Supreme Court.
I find it hilarious that you are willing to cut Reagan slack in any number of instances, but you won't give Bush the benefit of the doubt on anything.
Anyway, it's been clearly demonstrated that Reagan had feet of clay just as big, or bigger, than Bush's. You won't admit it because you have a vested interest in keeping Reagan on a pedestal.
If Reagan's presidency had been evaluated exactly at this point in his presidency, he wouldn't look any better than Bush does.
I'd bet my house that the ones that are trashing Bush would have trashed Reagan.
No squirm here. LOL
Bush has shown he's tough in prosecuting the WOT. He's fairly strong on national defense, just not on securing the borders. Bush is strong on pro-life/right to life issues and on tax cuts too. I just don't believe Bush measures up to Reagan, especially on domestic spending issues, reversing the welfare state, advancing limit government and reducing federal regulations. Even on military spending, Bush is way behind Reagan's defense budgets.
I see the last 26 years as a progression of conservatism. We went from from Reagan, to Gingrich. In 2000 I thought Bush would pick up the Reagan mantle and advance the conservative agenda more then he has. Never thought Bush was Reagan. That would be asking for a political miracle.
After Bush signed off on the trillion dollar Prescription Drug Program, an 86% increase in Education spending, and the three biggest discretionary boondoggles in US goverenmnt history --- the transportation bill, the farm bill and the energy bill --- as with most conservatives, Bush lost my support for his domestic policy agenda.