You need to understand that Reagan SOLD conservatism. He didn't compromise jack, he outlined the reasons why conservatism was so much better than knee-jerk liberalism. Reagan put a smiley face on conservatism.
Just because Reagan appealed to independents and cross-over Democrats doesn't mean that he was a compromising liberal scumbag like McCain is. Conservatives are not going to vote for McCain, they are not going to canvas the yards and do political activism for McCain. The GOP is DEAD...
Reagan compromised all the time. He was a politician, he could accept half a loaf with as much aplomb as any of them.
He was a great salesman of course, but that was a unique and rare skill. That is one big reason he is held in such high esteem.
But Reagans don’t show up on demand, and you can’t expect anybody in particular to be a Reagan. We have what we have and it is proper to do the best we can with the material on hand.