The specific mentions of Reagan in the post election cycle have most to do with how conservative principles were coupled with great communication skills; he could articulate his conservative rationale in a way that more average people understood, without personally insulting his opponents. Those attributes contine to stand out about him, more than any policy or action he took and it is those qualities, not a "Sandra Day O'Conner" appointment that conservatives look to.
But educated conservatives understand that and do not see that as some blind mantra, which it is not.
"The specific mentions of Reagan in the post election cycle have most to do with how conservative principles were coupled with great communication skills; he could articulate his conservative rationale in a way that more average people understood, without personally insulting his opponents."
You'll get no disagreement from me on his ability to articulate his values and our need for such a communicator. What I take issue with is the mindless Hannity types who say, we need to get back to Reagan and, in the very same speech, point to immigration and the deficit -- of all things -- as his main beef with the current GOP!