Indeed, but good luck with that.
Posted on 03/07/2010 10:30:01 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Since he left office, Republicans running for president have been trying to claim the mantle of Ronald Reagan in order to connect to the bulk of GOP voters who still have great admiration and affection for the Gipper.
As Stephen Hayward points out in this piece in the Washington Post, Reagan's pragmatic idealism, his ease in public, and his heartfelt conservatism would have made him a fan of Sarah Palin:
This populist undercurrent is why I am certain that Reagan would have been an enthusiastic supporter of the tea party movement. While the tea partiers confuse the media and annoy the establishments of both political parties, Reagan would have seen them as reviving the embers of what he called the "prairie fire" of populist resistance against centralized big government -- resistance that helped touch off the tax revolt of the 1970s. That movement was often dismissed as a tantrum, but when The Washington Post called California's 1978 antitax Proposition 13 "a skirmish," Reagan replied that if so, then the Chicago fire was a backyard barbecue.
And who might be able to tap into the potent brew of the tea party? Right now the leading candidate is undoubtedly Palin, whom Reagan would probably have cheered on and surely would have had no problem voting for should she secure the GOP presidential nomination. Like Reagan, she has enormous charisma and a populist style. At her best, such as on the "Tonight" show last week, she shares his self-assurance and ease in front of a crowd. Like Reagan, she hails from outside the political establishment and does not crave the approval of the elite; rather, she seems to thrive on their disapproval.
Like Reagan, Palin consciously speaks in ways appealing more to principle than to party. And like Reagan, she divides people across the political spectrum. Her "death panels" broadside against Obama may have seemed like cheap demagoguery, but it resembled Reagan's attack against the Panama Canal treaties in 1978: "We built it, we paid for it, it's ours, and we're keeping it!"
I would note that Reagan was a lot more popular within the Republican party than Sarah Palin is today, although that might be a product of the Gipper's longevity, being at the forefront of the conservative movement for a couple of decades before being elected president.
Regardless, there is little doubt that Reagan would have been a big cheerleader for the tea party movement - if he had not been afflicted with Alzheimer's. Similarly, though he would be 99 years old today, does anyone doubt he wouldn't be out on the hustings criticizing Obama and rallying conservatives to fight the president's agenda?
As to Reagan, Michael Reagan voted first for Mitt, then for McCain after he dropped out, so I’m a little confused as to the Mitt bashing here when it comes to Reagan. I respect Michael Reagan a great deal.
She has taken more crap than Reagan ever did and at her age has more political experience then Reagan had at her age.
I doubt that Sarah kids will ever turn into a Ron Jr or his sister who can't stand what their father stood for.
And Palin lives pro-life, and she would never put a liberal on the Supreme Court as Reagan did.
I loved Reagan, but he wasn't perfect either.
I think more people can relate to Sarah's life more then Reagan's.
All of the Tea Party members I know, would vote for Reagan.
Tell me what you consider a TP purest to be?? ;)
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2010/03/06/20100306politics-nowicki0307.html
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, perhaps Hayworth’s highest-profile ally in the state, previously was Romney's honorary Arizona campaign chairman, going so far as to stump for Romney and against McCain in the key early presidential-race states of Iowa and New Hampshire.
Arpaio said Romney's decision to back McCain won't diminish his respect for him.
“If he runs again, I'm sure he would like to have McCain support him,” Arpaio said. “Is that how politics operates? One day you're on one side, and the next day you're on the other side?”
Jason Rose, Hayworth’s campaign spokesman and political consultant, was Romney's state director during the 2008 race.
“Governor Romney is a good man who would make a great president,” Rose said in an e-mail when asked about Romney's choice of McCain over Hayworth.
TO vote for Palin, the Gipper would have to be a registered Dem - right?
‘Cause last I looked - Ronnie is dead, Jim
(Before you get your panties in a twist - (in his best Foghorn Leghorn voice )ITs A JOKE SON, A JOKE. You know Dead dems voting and all...)
Someone who could overlook the fact that Reagan foisted on us an east-coast, blue-blood anti-conservative Republican as his successor.
Reagan was the greatest conservative POTUS of our times, got America back on track...but I believe he would face fire and brimstone from the heel-biters of today for cutting and running in Lebanon, for signing Amnesty into law, to name just two, and I'm certain some "TP purists" would try to find a way to blame the DOE on him and the 12 million abortions that accured during his 8 years on him if he could come back from the grave and run in the 2012 GOP primary.
Time has erased the tradeoffs in some peoples' minds to the extent that they expect to find perfect candidates today fitting their cookie-cutter template.
Good points. Both had lives that were similar. Both had humble beginnings and that may be the reason the relate so well with the common folks. Both are not liked by the party elites, maybe because they have a moral compass.
Sarah may be more conservative, than Reagan, but not by much.
Unless the GOP finds a true conservative rather than a warmed over retread, than I am going to support Palin 100%.
Reagan would have wanted it that way.
then why bother sharing
All pro-life candidates get my vote. Almost 1/3 of all babies since 1973 have been aborted!!! Which one of those people would have been the next Ronald Regan?
The most dangerous place in the world for a person to be is in the womb in America!
You are right - relate is the key.
I know I’ll get flamed for saying this, but when I listen to Palin and Obama, I just don’t learn anything like I did from Reagan. They both talk in platitudes and generalities.
It is the same listening to Hannity - cliches ad-nauseum.
Maybe my problem is that I’ve heard too many political speeches and am jaded.
That said - I instinctively TRUST Palin. Her heart and mind are in the right place. I KNOW she will do what is best for the country. She will get the right people to right this country, and, unlike Obama, she has the genuineness, determination, and inspiration to lead the country.
And yes I would vote for and put my trust in Palin.
Ditto
Without the open borders the dems would really be hurting in every election. If in 2001 Bush would have got Reagan's Amnesty Bill put in law again, we would have the Mexican vote, and the dems would be the minority party by far. (that may why Reagan did it)
The Mexicans are very conservative naturally, We could have stopped the Obamacare and the socialist takeover of are country.
I now think that we present day Conservatives might have saved are country by doing want Reagan did.
So if your (and millions who think like) not voting for Romney under any circumstances means Obama gets another term, that's alright with you?
I’m pretty sure that it’s the dead Democrats that vote, not the dead Republicans.
Not only would Reagan vote for Sarah Palin, he would proclaim her “America’s most valuable resource.”
Indeed, but good luck with that.
Game, set, match.
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