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Myopic Eeyore's avatar

Understood. Will shut up after this bc I’ve already outstayed my welcome. but think that analysis (like the con inc of today in the opposite direction) doesn’t acknowledge that Reagan’s agenda and rhetoric addressed a particular set of problems that existed in 1980. that agenda solved many of those problems (directly w the economy and indirectly w the USSR). The GOP, instead addressing new issues in the 90s -- like immigration and entrenchment of the civil rights regime -- chose to adopt a zombie approach of repeating Reagan’s rhetoric and enacting ever more ideological versions of his policies that didn’t make sense given current conditions. Think you are confusing this zombie Reaganism w the man himself. (Note too that Buchanan, who tried to update the GOPs agenda to face a new reality in the 90s (including immigration) was in Reagan’s admin and has remained v pro Reagan; Reagan also endorsed HW much later than expected in the 92 campaign and his public silence helped juice Buchanans campaign early on)

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Instauration's avatar

"Americans hate crime and disorder, but many are programmed to think the criminals and rioters have legitimate grievances."

Only if they are black criminals and rioters.

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