Quote:Conservatives are worried that they'll lose some of their voter base if they turn away from social issues.  Just looking at guys like Rick Perry and Rick Santorum, and my wife and I (who used to vote Republican) could never vote for them.  Conservatives want to get out a certain portion of their voter base, and feel they can't win without it.  Probably because their fiscal policy isn't really all that different from liberals.  Of course it's also turning some conservatives more liberal.  I'd say I'm closer to the green party than the libertarian party, though I once considered myself Republican.  My views have changed over time to be a little more liberal (with some libertarian leanings, and some green party leanings)

 

What they don't realize is that they are losing an even more important demographic -- the rich voters who are starting to be more Compassionate Conservatives that turn to Democrats because they have the answers for their social policy.  

 

If Conservatives want to get back into it, they're going to need to prop up someone who is likable.  They had it with George W. Bush -- who though he sometimes could appear dumb, was at least relateable.  He knew how to play a crowd.  The Democrats learned their lesson when John Kerry (who I'd say had the personality of a sponge, but that would be an insult to sponges.) lost to the one guy they were sure couldn't beat a loaf of bread.  (A loaf of bread beats a sponge).  Obama knew how to relate to a crowd.  I'm not sure Republicans know how to do that.  Most of their candidates are either guys who have never had a day of hard work in their life, or guys who work hard but can't relate to your average American because of differing viewpoints regarding social issues.  They need someone who can step forward, and relate to people.  They're looking for the next Reagan, but they apparently forgot that Reagan was an actor -- that he wasn't just a politician.  He came off as strong, but relateable.  You can try to copy Reagan's policies all you want.  But if you don't have the personality, it won't matter.  


"The nine scariest words in the English Language are:  "We're from the Government, and we're here to help."


The man was, no matter what flaws he had (and like all politicians, he had many) very quotable.  And not for all the wrong reasons.  He also had a sense of humor.


""My fellow Americans, I'm pleased to tell you today that I've signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes."


The republicans need a personality.  And they need to be able to relate to the average American (which has changed in the last twenty years).  I'm not sure they have any of those left (at the national level)

 

I can somewhat agree with what you are trying to say, but I think that there is something that needs to be understood when it comes to Ronald Reagan.

 

Yes he was an actor earlier in his life/career, but what he was not was a politician.  By that I mean that he wasn't a career politician, much like what we have today.

 

Reagan wasn't born and raised with a "silver spoon in his mouth".  He grew up as pretty much an "average American".  He embraced hard work, and had a good grasp on "what was right and what was wrong".  He took responsibility whenever there was something wrong under his administration, rather than either try to cover it up or place blame elsewhere.  He was a leader and not a ruler.

 

I do agree that he was very quotable, but yet, I do also believe that he truly said as he believed.  His notes and speeches weren't written by "advisers" or a team of speech writers, they were written by him... by hand.  I had the opportunity to visit the Reagan Library, and one of his famous quotes which is a favorite of mine is written on his tombstone.

 

"I know in my heart that man is good, that what is right will always eventually triumph, and there is purpose and worth to each and every life."

 

Ronald Reagan honestly cared about this country and the people that live in it.  I have no doubt in my mind that he truly was trying his best to serve his country to the best of his ability.  Was he always right?  Probably not.  However, I don't think that there is a President since him that had that same kind of ethic.  I believe that pretty much every President since him was all about "the party" and all about politics rather than what is right or best for the country.

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