Because Reagan wasn’t an Ivy Leaguer. Bush Sr. was the opposition to Reagan during the primaries, and the elites wanted to lock up the presidency so they could start filling their pockets. When Bush Sr. wasn’t doing enough to help fill the pockets of the Ivy Leaguers, Clinton got into the game.
What too many people ignore is that these elites are busy filling their pockets, regardless of which party they claim as their political home. As the recent insider campaign against Cruz shows, these people will not tolerate apostates. The real crime of Cruz in the last two weeks was being a traitor to his class - so the long knives have now come out.
Back when, Bush the Elder, etc., I don’t recall folks having a clear idea of what was going on. At this time many of us do have a fairly clear idea and hence the birth of The Tea Party. Cruz as something not seen previously, millions at his back who are through being lied to, realize how they are being ripped off, by whom, and to what order of magnitude. The thieves had counted on the folks being to dim to wake up in time. Now the Pelosis, McCains, and Reid’s have been caught with their hand in the till and their script just didn’t contain contingencies for such an impossibility.