[JPhillips]

If Reagan were alive I have no doubt he'd shape himself into what could get elected. He was a gifted politician and not so much of an ideologue that he would sacrifice electoral success for purity.

However, the policies that Reagan supported as a governor and President would make him toxic to today's GOP that sees people like Bob Bennett, Lindsey Graham, John McCain, Dede Scozzafava, etc. as too liberal.

He negotiated with the Soviets, when today a new START treaty is being opposed by much of the GOP.

He left Beirut, when today's GOP would say he cut and ran.

He traded arms to the Iranians, which would get AIPAC and its supporters to oppose him.

As a governor he signed into law a permissive abortion bill. That in itself would be hard to overcome.

He had a very close relationship with Tip O'Neill and negotiated with the Dems on almost everything.


The Reagan that the GOP reveres is a caricature of the real man. He's become an ideological guidepost, but the real man was willing to compromise on almost any detail to forward his larger goals. IMO he was certainly conservative enough, but in today's GOP it's hard to see how his actions wouldn't be attacked as too liberal, too weak, and too godless.