Reagan went where a party more reflected his own values.
He left the Democrat Party for that reason.
Reagan would not even recognize the GOP today, because it’s even more to the Left than the Dems were when he left them.
Principled Conservatives will go where their values are extolled and reflected.
They are no longer reflected in the party of the GOP-e, which is become nothing more than a satellite of the DNC. All the Ruling Class cares about is control of the money and the power it gives them. They care not a whit about the fundamental underpinnings that make Conservative principles, nor the Constitution or the Republic they were supposed to uphold and defend.
Reagan’s quote at the top of this thread is about the GOP, not the democrats. He worked within the party to change it.
The GOP-e didn’t create a weak field and didn’t cause the notMitt opposition to remain disunified.
Becoming more disunified behind even weaker candidates fixes nothing. It only helps our enemies.
The party ain’t the problem.
That's not what Reagan did during the time of his words at the top of this thread. He was fighting within the GOP against those he called 'traitors'. He didn't leave, he didn't blame 'the party' he stayed and fought and won.
This was in 1966, for governor. Later, when he lost the presidential nomination to Ford, he didn't leave the party either. He endorsed Ford in a rousing speech, one that helped him gain support for the next primary.
Reagan didn't blame the GOP, he didn't run to some one-horse party to avoid those he knew he had to defeat eventually anyway. He stayed and fought and built and changed the party.
The lesson we should take is, it is time to do this again.