“These are different times than Reagan’s time, pugnaciousness is precisely what is needed.”
Maybe so. What’s needed is to change voter’s minds, which requires getting their attention, including drawing their attention away from other attention-getters.
Trump’s good at getting people’s attention. His job becomes convincing them that his ideas are good, other ideas are bad, and that he’s a decent, honest person.
“Reagan was the last great president” translates to:
‘Trump is a meanie!’ and ‘Aren’t I clever?’ in blubberspeak.