That's more of a point of view, than an accurate analogy. I could use the same names, but pair up Cruz = Reagan, and make a good case for it.
Walker is a fine Governor, but few outside of the most astute political junkies on the right, even know the first thing about the man, personally. There's simply no buzz around his name, due to the fact that he's not actively seeking to be a leader of the conservative right. He's barely made a ripple here at FR, even though he's done an outstanding job.
Like Walker, there have been a ton of great conservatives who could have done an excellent job as president, but they didn't have that 'It' factor that's necessary to draw people to them. Reagan had 'It', and so does Cruz (who, by the way, isn't just another Senator. The man is A+ in all the right categories).
Not long ago, I was of a mind that a presidential candidate HAD to have major executive experience, such has having been a state Governor. I'd still like to see that in our presidents, but we've reached a crisis point in this country that has caused me to set that aside in deference to other, more important leadership qualities.
Ted Cruz has all of the qualities I'm looking for in a president, and he's got my vote if he asks for it.
If Ted Cruz is our 2016 nominee the analogy will match Goldwater, not Reagan. Great conservative but he’ll get crushed. He is Goldwater different time, same result. Don’t find out the hard way.
if you want a contemporary Ted Cruz analogy it’s Nancy Pelosi. Leftists love to hate Cruz just like we love to hate Pelosi. Democrats will NEVER win the House with Pelosi because the American middle finds it easy to hate Pelosi in a way they just can’t get riled up about Boehner, and leftists just don’t get it. Ditto Cruz - he’s our Pelosi, a great conservative, but despised by the middle for the government shut down. The shutdown is our Obamacare and it’s costing us perhaps 5% in the polls right now.
What we need - and I hate to say this - is a charismatic spokesman for our cause. We all assume that Reagan proved once and for all that free markets and peace-through-strength were good policies. But we have a new generation that “knew not Joseph” so to speak, who know not Reagan, who know not Carter.
Chris Christie is NOT my favorite “conservative” but he knows how to handle east-coast media snobs. When they argue with him they lose and when it’s over they know that they’ve lost.
east coast media: Minimum wage should be $15/hour
Christ Christie: That’s a stupid idea because... parents... kids... aspire.
east coast media: You’re fat.
That’s where Christie’s girth becomes an advantage - when liberals know they’ve lost the argument they resort to blatant,transparent ad hominems, which merely serves to underscore the extent of their defeat.