What if: Reagan in 76 and 80...

[Goldwater64]

I've been pondering two questions. I mean them in all seriousness and they require only two simple answers:

What do you think Reagan's opinion of Ford was in 1976? A) Strongly Liked, B) Liked, C) Disliked, or D) Strongly Disliked

Do you think Reagan would have been the nominee in 1980 if he had not, at least nominally, publicly supported Ford?

I don't really know the answer...your thoughts appreciated.

[bucfish]

Well as Reagan Famously said, "Libertarianism is the very heart of Conservitism" But yet McCain is so neo-liberal versus Ford being somewhat conservative compared to Carter. If unity is what you seek with Ford it would be possibly but with McCain it is out of the question as he stands for nothing truly Republican!

[acptulsa]

Reagan, iirc, nearly took the nomination from Ford by playing to anti-Nixon sentiment in the party. Yet, appointed or not, Ford was the incumbent and that's hard to beat. The act of opposing Ford painted Reagan as a reformer, which is something the party desperately needed at that time, but is another task Reagan failed at.

[bucfish]

Yeah Reagan failed at alot but remember Hinckley and also remember Bush Sr was his VP a Neocon and former CIA director. Reagan had to be good. Remember him saying onetime something to the effect, what power do I have I am just the president.

Reagan and his oneliners. If only others saw how the elitists all over the world want to destroy America, using socialism as their weapon. May the GOP wake up and may we be free again as I have never known true freedom in my life time just as Einstein said he never had freedom in his!