It would seal the deal that many “conservatives” are economic welfare cases. I say no to protectionism. Can I call you a new deal FDR Republican?
I think Reagan crushed Mondale because of the Harley Davidson tariffs and the voluntary import restrictions imposed on Japanese automakers, among other protectionistic policies he backed. Ultimately, I think this was important because it sent a signal to Rust Belt manufacturing workers being shellacked by layoffs that the GOP cared about them. While free trade is not a bad overall policy, exceptions might have to be made as a concession to electoral trends. I'm not talking about Brazilian-style economic autarky, but targeted tariffs and sanctions to address public concerns.