(08-08-2023, 05:20 PM)homebiscuit Wrote:

(08-08-2023, 04:01 PM)MarleyJag Wrote: I sometimes wonder how Reagan would do in today's political climate. As great an orator as he was, I suspect he'd be less successful with today's sound bite oriented media. So is Pence a Reagan Republican but with stunted communication skills? I feel that Pence is more hawkish on defense than Trump which feels kind of 1980s-ish.

Reagan, as with other politicians, were a product of their time when oration, and just basic decency, was more closely observed. I don't think any of them could have thrived in today's climate. Could you imagine a political opponent cracking up on stage about a joke like Mondale did when Reagan remarked about Mondale's "youth and inexperience", or even more, a candidate with a self-effacing sense of humor?  Obama was the last one with enough grace for either. You won't find that in today's divided politics. I won't get into the bare-naked bias of the media as compared to those days. 

Pence is actually better at communication that most think. He was a radio show host for years. My guess is he wisely believes the less said the better, but he's already said enough that I wouldn't support him because of the reason I cited before. I agree, he has that Reagan hawkishness about him, which isn't a bad thing given the world circumstances right now.