Would Ronald Reagan now be a Democrat...

[Laika]

The Republican Party has moved so far to the right that I think you can now plausibly argue and debate that Ronald Reagan would today today a Democrat.

In 1948, Ronald Reagan campaigned for Harry Truman (a Democrat). Most of what he says here is to the left of Bernie Sanders in criticising republicans and corporations. To todays ear, this could reasonably be the rhetoric of a “communist”. It doesn’t belong in the Democratic Party at all...

Although certainly not a fan of “big government” Reagan was relatively pro-environment and supported some form of regulation. He was also responsible for US involvement in the treaty against CFCs to reduce the hole in the Ozone layer.

Reagan’s final speech as President would be entirely out of place in the Trump era Republican Party as it was one celebrating the role of immigrants in the U.S. Reagan also signed the immigration reform and control act of 1986, which made it illegal for employers to hire illegal immigrants but also granted an amnesty to three million illegal immigrants (those who has entered the county prior to January 1st 1982).

Although this isn’t a complete examination of Reagan politics that were ultra conservative in 1980, we have to take a step back and recognise how far we’ve gone to the right in the past 40 years. We’ve lost the sense that you can be conservative on some issues and liberals on others and instead are pulled further and further to the right. On these issues at least, Ronald Reagan is too moderate to be a Republican today and would be branded as at least a “liberal” if not as a socialist and a communist.

Do you think Reagan would be a Democrat today? Or would he be a Republican and be the wrong end of Trumps tweets for being “soft” on immigrants who are bringing “drugs”, “crime” supposedly in to the US and who are “rapists” as Trump put it?

What do you think?

 

[Kangaroo Feathers]

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Is George W Bush a Democrat?

 

[Revoltingest]

The Republican Party has moved so far to the right that I think you can now plausibly argue and debate that Ronald Reagan would today today a Democrat.

In 1948, Ronald Reagan campaigned for Harry Truman (a Democrat). Most of what he says here is to the left of Bernie Sanders in criticising republicans and corporations. To todays ear, this could reasonably be the rhetoric of a “communist”. It doesn’t belong in the Democratic Party at all...

Although certainly not a fan of “big government” Reagan was relatively pro-environment and supported some form of regulation. He was also responsible for US involvement in the treaty against CFCs to reduce the hole in the Ozone layer.

Reagan’s final speech as President would be entirely out of place in the Trump era Republican Party as it was one celebrating the role of immigrants in the U.S. Reagan also signed the immigration reform and control act of 1986, which made it illegal for employers to hire illegal immigrants but also granted an amnesty to three million illegal immigrants (those who has entered the county prior to January 1st 1982).

Although this isn’t a complete examination of Reagan politics that were ultra conservative in 1980, we have to take a step back and recognise how far we’ve gone to the right in the past 40 years. We’ve lost the sense that you can be conservative on some issues and liberals on others and instead are pulled further and further to the right. On these issues at least, Ronald Reagan is too moderate to be a Republican today and would be branded as at least a “liberal” if not as a socialist and a communist.

Do you think Reagan would be a Democrat today? Or would he be a Republican and be the wrong end of Trumps tweets for being “soft” on immigrants who are bringing “drugs”, “crime” supposedly in to the US and who are “rapists” as Trump put it?

What do you think?

He once was a Democrat.
But his reasons for leaving the party still stand.
Were he a young Republican today....full of youth, pi$$
& vinegar....I'd expect him to steer the party differently.

 

[Augustus]

Do you think Reagan would be a Democrat today?

FWIW, his VP Bush snr voted for Hillary in the last election.

 

[Stevicus]

Do you think Reagan would be a Democrat today? Or would he be a Republican and be the wrong end of Trumps tweets for being “soft” on immigrants who are bringing “drugs”, “crime” supposedly in to the US and who are “rapists” as Trump put it?

What do you think?

I tend to doubt that he would be a Democrat today. Although I have to admit that when he was running for election and all during his tenure in office, he seemed to be the focal point of a mass wave of conservatism and a major shift in the tone and culture of American politics. This certainly had an effect on the Democratic Party, who appeared to be hitting the skids at the same time. I saw Mondale's drubbing in '84, and the footage of Dukakis the Tank Driver in '88 is still laughed about today. As a result, the Democrats ostensibly felt that they'd better change, or else they'd get left behind again.

I don't think I'd characterize Reagan as "soft" on immigrants. However, America has always had a somewhat strange and inconsistent history when it comes to attitudes on immigration. The right-wing is okay with immigration as long as they see it as a supply of cheap, exploitable labor.

 

[Laika]

I tend to doubt that he would be a Democrat today. Although I have to admit that when he was running for election and all during his tenure in office, he seemed to be the focal point of a mass wave of conservatism and a major shift in the tone and culture of American politics. This certainly had an effect on the Democratic Party, who appeared to be hitting the skids at the same time. I saw Mondale's drubbing in '84, and the footage of Dukakis the Tank Driver in '88 is still laughed about today. As a result, the Democrats ostensibly felt that they'd better change, or else they'd get left behind again.

I don't think I'd characterize Reagan as "soft" on immigrants. However, America has always had a somewhat strange and inconsistent history when it comes to attitudes on immigration. The right-wing is okay with immigration as long as they see it as a supply of cheap, exploitable labor.

I don't see the President who said "Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall" chanting "build the wall!" somehow. I don't recall Reagan supporting family separation and putting children in cages as a deterrent against illegal immigrants. There also wasn't a "Muslim ban" after the Iranian Revolution either.

In Trumps book (as a standard for what passes as the Republican Parry now), I'm pretty sure that would be called being soft on immigration.

 

[epronovost]

I still think Reagan would be a Republican, but he would probably be considered a more moderate Republican capable of some compromises once in while and generally respectful of American political institutions a bit like John McCain. Immigration and foreign relation would probably be the two points where he would be most critical of the Trump administration. His position on civic rights of minorities and women and on fiscal policies would be most similar to that of Trump. His tone was equally populist, but less vulgar and blatantly dishonest than that of Trump.

 

[Rational Agnostic]

The Republican Party has moved so far to the right that I think you can now plausibly argue and debate that Ronald Reagan would today today a Democrat.

In 1948, Ronald Reagan campaigned for Harry Truman (a Democrat). Most of what he says here is to the left of Bernie Sanders in criticising republicans and corporations. To todays ear, this could reasonably be the rhetoric of a “communist”. It doesn’t belong in the Democratic Party at all...

Although certainly not a fan of “big government” Reagan was relatively pro-environment and supported some form of regulation. He was also responsible for US involvement in the treaty against CFCs to reduce the hole in the Ozone layer.

Reagan’s final speech as President would be entirely out of place in the Trump era Republican Party as it was one celebrating the role of immigrants in the U.S. Reagan also signed the immigration reform and control act of 1986, which made it illegal for employers to hire illegal immigrants but also granted an amnesty to three million illegal immigrants (those who has entered the county prior to January 1st 1982).

Although this isn’t a complete examination of Reagan politics that were ultra conservative in 1980, we have to take a step back and recognise how far we’ve gone to the right in the past 40 years. We’ve lost the sense that you can be conservative on some issues and liberals on others and instead are pulled further and further to the right. On these issues at least, Ronald Reagan is too moderate to be a Republican today and would be branded as at least a “liberal” if not as a socialist and a communist.

Do you think Reagan would be a Democrat today? Or would he be a Republican and be the wrong end of Trumps tweets for being “soft” on immigrants who are bringing “drugs”, “crime” supposedly in to the US and who are “rapists” as Trump put it?

What do you think?

Very unlikely. The Democratic party has also shifted to the left, especially on social issues, compared with the 1980s. Someone with Reagan's positions likely could not even make it to the primaries in the 21st century.

 

[Stevicus]

I don't see the President who said "Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall" chanting "build the wall!" somehow. I don't recall Reagan supporting family separation and putting children in cages as a deterrent against illegal immigrants. There also wasn't a "Muslim ban" after the Iranian Revolution either.

In Trumps book (as a standard for what passes as the Republican Parry now), I'm pretty sure that would be called being soft on immigration.

I don't think there was that much of a public clamor for "building the wall" back in those days. But it was a lot different in terms of how American society was in terms of illegal immigrants. It was probably much worse and much harsher when I was a kid. I don't think Reagan supported family separation or kids in cages, but it's entirely likely the Border Patrol and INS (as it was called back then) were probably doing that already to some degree.

It was different when Reagan was elected (1980) in that the politics and culture were not quite the same as they are now. I think a lot of what we're seeing now on the right may be a reaction to how the country has changed since the Reagan years.

Reagan's primary focus was on anti-communism and his desire to increase America's defense spending. Despite the Iranian Revolution and an apparent escalation in terrorism, the primary focus was on the Soviet Union. Iran's government didn't appear friendly to Soviet interests, and Reagan even appeared to view them as useful in the Iran-Contra affair.

 

[ronki23]

Reagan was for free trade and low taxes. He also opposed abortion. Republican.

He didn't want government to spend a lot but Cold War required it to be so. When he was governor he balanced California's state budget.

 

[Shad]

I don't see the President who said "Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall" chanting "build the wall!" somehow. I don't recall Reagan supporting family separation and putting children in cages as a deterrent against illegal immigrants. There also wasn't a "Muslim ban" after the Iranian Revolution either.

That wall had a different purpose. Do some basic historical research.

In Trumps book (as a standard for what passes as the Republican Parry now), I'm pretty sure that would be called being soft on immigration.

Actually the Dems tricked Reagan by promising reform then voting against it. The reforms that did pass are the very laws Trump is enforcing along with Clinton laws and agreements.

 

[Subduction Zone]

Reagan was for free trade and low taxes. He also opposed abortion. Republican.

He didn't want government to spend a lot but Cold War required it to be so. When he was governor he balanced California's state budget.

It is not much of a claim to point out that he balanced California's state budget. States cannot run long term deficits. A balanced budget is a must.

 

[pearl]

Do you think Reagan would be a Democrat today?

I think that would have been up to Nancy.

 

[LuisDantas]

The Republican Party has moved so far to the right that I think you can now plausibly argue and debate that Ronald Reagan would today today a Democrat.

You are overestimating Reagan, as most everyone does. He was no John McCain. As I recall, he was not even a Marco Rubio.

He would have drifted slowly and ever more insanely towards insaneland as most of the visible Republican politicians did in the decades since. For all we know or could expect, he would be another Lindsey Graham these days.

 

[LuisDantas]

I am dead serious, @Laika . I mean each and every word of it.

 

[Laika]

I am dead serious, @Laika . I mean each and every word of it.

I know. It is funny thinking how Reagan as a free-market ideologue supporting Goldwater in 1964 would become an unprincipled autocrat-loving careerist, but this is the fate that has fallen the Republican Party within my life-time. The myth of Reagan and the man himself are not the same and it's why the current generation hide behind Reagan's myth because they can't live up to it.

 

[LuisDantas]

I know. It is funny thinking how Reagan as a free-market ideologue supporting Goldwater in 1964 would become an unprincipled autocrat-loving careerist, but this is the fate that has fallen the Republican Party within my life-time. The myth of Reagan and the man himself are not the same and it's why the current generation hide behind Reagan's myth because they can't live up to it.

Come to think of it, I don't expect that if 1974 Richard Nixon time-traveled to 2016 he would find it in him to support Donald J. Trump's candidacy either.

Political parties are an interesting kind of beast. They appeal to politicians because they are huge behemoths that may lend them visibility, but to a large extent that means inviting them to play down their actual stances and ideas in order to conform to the party line and hopefully become more influential down the line.

We have seen how deeply the Republican Party changed for the worse in just the latest four years. I have little reason to hope that a modern day Reagan would be so exceptional as to avoid going through the same transition.