[Leftcoast]

Yes, I do believe the Republican Party has moved very, very far to the right. 

Reagan would be called a RINO (Republican in name only) if he held his views and his record today.  He supported limited gun control (Brady bill), immigration reform including amnesty, negotiations and compromises with Democrats (Tip O'Neil and Reagan-legendary) and even raised taxes.  Of course he also said, "Government isn't the solution to the problem, it is the problem." 

There's a Reagan quote for everybody and his public bravado often didn't match his back room pragmatism so Reagan now is the ultimate republican Gumby - twistable to fit any viewpoint.  It doesn't hurt that like Gumby when taken out of the toy box and put on the modern campaign trail to provide a helpful sound bite he can't object.  The fit with the current crop of conservatives is Procrustean.  Look at the rancor of last night's debate and wonder how Reagan running now as Ronald "Smith" would have fared given his record on gun rights and immigration alone.

In my opinion this year's crop of Republicans also lack their idol's hopeful perspective and humor. Quantifying bitterness and vision is a subjective exercise so this may be only my opinion and like assumptions and certain orifices everyone has one of those.  Take mine for what little it's worth.

[Leftcoast]

Yes, I do believe the Republican Party has moved very, very far to the right. 

Reagan would be called a RINO (Republican in name only) if he held his views and his record today.  He supported limited gun control (Brady bill), immigration reform including amnesty, negotiations and compromises with Democrats (Tip O'Neil and Reagan-legendary) and even raised taxes.  Of course he also said, "Government isn't the solution to the problem, it is the problem." 

There's a Reagan quote for everybody and his public bravado often didn't match his back room pragmatism so Reagan now is the ultimate republican Gumby - twistable to fit any viewpoint.  It doesn't hurt that like Gumby when taken out of the toy box and put on the modern campaign trail to provide a helpful sound bite he can't object.  The fit with the current crop of conservatives is Procrustean.  Look at the rancor of last night's debate and wonder how Reagan running now as Ronald "Smith" would have fared given his record on gun rights and immigration alone.

In my opinion this year's crop of Republicans also lack their idol's hopeful perspective and humor. Quantifying bitterness and vision is a subjective exercise so this may be only my opinion and like assumptions and certain orifices everyone has one of those.  Take mine for what little it's worth.