I'm sorry, but Donald Trump is a mind-blowing political tactical commander. Think of how Reagan signed the stupid original amnesty deal compared to how Trump handled it. Even Reagan supported the Brady Bill.
It’s relative. For example, I don’t think the evangelicals of the 80’s would have been as willing to overlook some of Trump’s personal flaws back then.
And don’t get me wrong ... I’m not disagreeing with any of your policy comments, I just don’t think Trump could have even gotten elected in the 80’s, or if he somehow did, I don’t think his style of governing would have worked as well then as it does today.
Oh, and FYI ... genteel is correct, meaning refined. Gentile means someone who is not Jewish.
Of course there’s always “gentle”, as in Bush Sr.’s kinder and gentler nation. And then there’s also genitals, as in Trump’s debate guarantee that he has “no problem in that area” ... which I guess is a good example of my point, being that Trump commenting on his genitals works well in today’s reality TV culture ... but I think the reaction to that in the 80’s would have been completely different, don’t you?
Oh, and to also reply to some other comments ...
I lived through the 80’s too (in fact my first presidential vote at the age of 20 was for Reagan). And yes, I have seen that Oprah vid of Trump.
In fact, Trump, as you know, was being asked even back then about running for president, and I’m sure part of him has been considering it for a long time ... and I think to some degree he also knew that the timing for someone like him wasn’t good in the 80’s, and I think he picked the exact right decade to make his run for president (and I’m so glad he did, as none of the others would have scored as well in the midwest and prevailed over Hillary).
Another factor on timing is that while anti-establishment sentiment was on the rise back in the 80’s, and was enough to help Reagan, with his limited political experience as governor of California, prevail over both his primary and general election opponents that had far more experience, I don’t think that sentiment was strong enough back then (as it is now) that someone like Trump, with no political experience, could have broken through.
Trump is running rings around every politician, journalist, liberals, foreign leaders, dictators and all. They couldn’t figure out what is going on and keeps them on their toes. At the same time, Trump is accomplishing great things, reversing the destruction of our country. Reagan did not have to face what Trump is facing now. This is a completely new world where you have to think completely different than the 80’s.