True but the policies of his administration were well to the right of GWB who pushed through the largest single increase in the welfare state since LBJ via prescription drugs. Interestingly, the size of government actually decreased under Ford, while under Bush it has skyrocketed.
Yes, W has more than a bit of RINO in him. I, too, am aghast at his spending, but you know what? I remember in 2000 during his run against algore, Bush listed all the stuff he was going to spend our money on, which was pretty much what he's done. I was shocked at the time to hear such out of a Republican, but figured it was just typical political B.S. Love him or hate him, W does what he says he'll do. He warned us.
My main problem with Ford is Justice Stevens.
He didn't ever call a tune for the republicans or conservatives. He never sang a song we cons like to hear. In the political world he ain't no James Brown.