Maybe the Republicans deserve to be, in your words, "trashed".
Though I'd bet that this "Reagan fan" (ReaganMan?) might use a different verb.
ReaganMan...Pinged per FR's posting rules.
Thanks, I'd forgotton his name.
I'm sure he'll come and re-inforce the point I made.
I keep reminding people that Reagan did not create the phrase, the Eleventh Commandment. Instead it came about during his 1966 run for the California Governorship.
"The personal attacks against me during the primary finally became so heavy that the state Republican chairman, Gaylord Parkinson, postulated what he called the Eleventh Commandment: Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican. It's a rule I followed during that campaign and have ever since."
Reagan actually broke his own rule when he ran against PresFord for the GOP nomination in 1976. Reagan criticized Ford during the primary season, and right up through and including the GOP convention. Reagan was a gentleman and he wanted everyone to like him, but when the chips were on the table Reagan was a tough SOB. Ford found that out in 1976 and George Bush found out how tough Reagan was in the 1980 campaign for President.
Btw, as you well know, I only criticize Republicans when they stray from the conservative course. I also don't think liberal Republicans are good for the GOP. Especially two liberals by the names of Schwarzenegger and Giuliani. Liberal Republicans are the antithesis of conservatism and need to be excommunicated from the GOP.