I beleive your disagreement is justified. With regard to Reykjavik, I have found no eveidence that republicans were upset that Reagon "Blew the chance of a lifetime". In fact, it seems to have been as you stated, that the republican leadership was leary of what Reagan may have given away there.
My recollection from the time seems to have been faulty. I remember a lot of talk about a lost opportunity, that SDI was an idea that was more or less decades away and something not worth fighting over. And although I did attribute most of that to the press and of course the left, I had though that some republican leaders had echoed that postion. I have looked for any evidence of it. I was unable to find any. While some may have existed, I believe your point is valid and I appreciate the correction.
As for support for the Contras, and in El Salvador for the government, I still do not believe that republicans were solidly behind Reagan, even if their voting did come down on the right side. Toward 1987 you could naturally expect some softening up of support, with the result of the 86 elections and Reagan's term winding down.
Reagan took a lot of heat on his efforts in Central America. I don't remember a lot of republicans on Capital Hill voicing support for them. I do remember some doing so, but in order to combat public opinion it takes broad vocal support and I don't think Reagan received that from Capital Hill.
You relate that 8 Senators had left the reservation in 1987. While I wouldn't term that a stampede, it's a little difficult to pass any legislation when you're already in the minority and eight Senators take a walk on your agenda.
Thanks for your comments.
This is what I found when looking around. It's not very much, but some may find it worth mentioning.
This is the description of his own aides' opinion at the summit.The crunch came at the Reykjavik summit meeting in October of 1986, where, against the advice of his aides, Reagan refused to barter away S.D.I. in return for further arms cuts.http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3798/is_200407/ai_n9449973
Frank J. Gaffney Jr. addresses the criticism of Reagan regarding his Reykjavik moment
The rejection by Ronald Reagan of Gorbachev's offer to ban all nuclear weapons if only the Gipper would give up on his Strategic Defense Initiative not only defined Mr. Reagan's presidency. Despite the Bronx cheers Mr. Reagan got from critics at home and abroad for having missed the opportunity Reykjavik presented for "peace in our time," even Soviet leaders subsequently acknowledged that his determination to stay the course on missile defense helped catalyze the unraveling of the Evil Empire.
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=25224
Thanks a lot. I appreciate the research you did on this. You were right that there was a TON of media talk about Reagan’s lost opportunity because of SDI, but the Republicans were pretty solidly behind him for most of the time. There was some very limited talk among moderate Republicans, but the VAST majority of the criticism came from Democrats and the really Conservative Republicans.
It’s easy for a person’s recollection to become faulty over time, especially when the media is constantly pounding on right wingers all the time, as well as employing the “divide and conquer” tactics they have used in recent years.
Unfortunately, so many of us on the Right have fallen victim to the Media’s “divide and conquer” tactics, and that has been VERY evident on this site the past few years.
But thanks for your constructive attitude in this thread, and I apologize if I was too adamant in my first statement.