The carpetbagger was selling Reagan like a good politician and leaving the rest of us to connect the dots. Cant tell you how many discussions with friends I had in 2000 who said, He's gonna be like Reagan. I'm right about this AND I was living in another chad hanging state called Ohio back then.
I worked on Reagan's campaign, as well, sadly as both of the Bushes; for which I need to do penance.
Few people "heard" what W said and inferred what you did.