My initial memory is Reagan got a lot of traction from the Misery Index. The feds fake the numbers too much now.
I think all the benefits available now from the fedgov (financed by fake $$) really have skewed the impact of a bad economy.
Obama seemed to have no trouble winning in 2012 with $4 gas, 8% unemployment, surging food prices, and trillion dollar deficits.
I remember wearing a tshirt with Mickey Mouse giving the finger to Iran, and learning what ‘stagflation’ means.
I remember my WWII Sicilian grandfather praying to his home-altar for Reagan to win, and celebrating when he did. Reagan personally waved to me when I was 17 and the only one on his motorcade route right outside where I worked in downtown Austin and I was the only friendly, waving one, anchored away from the moonbats with NoMoRon signs.
I remember the first time SDI was demonstrated conceptually on CNN and hootin’ and hollerin’ about it. My only conservative friends at UT campus were spooks in training, busy stalking the SDS and I learned a LOT about Gorbachev.