The fog of myth

There is little doubt that Ronald Reagan is a secular saint among "conservative" Republicans, including those self-identified as the "tea party." When you compare the historical record to the mythology of Ronald Reagan, however, his path to political sainthood may have been made easier much as the path to papal sainthood in an era devoid of a Devil's Advocate.

For it's the historical record that would make Ronald Reagan, if he were just now entering politics in our era of reactionary nihilism  triumphant, unacceptable to the political right.  Consider this summary:

"Reagan was a onetime union leader who extolled the virtues of collective bargaining. As governor of California, he championed environmental legislation and signed a bill making it easier to get an abortion. The only U.S. president to divorce, he incensed the Christian right by nominating a socially moderate judge, the future swing vote Sandra Day O’Connor, to serve on the Supreme Court. He cut sweeping deals with liberal legislators like Tip O’Neill, the Democratic speaker of the House. He signed a major overhaul of the U.S. immigration system that ultimately granted amnesty to some 3 million undocumented immigrants."

The last item alone would kill his chances.

Reagan, of course, understood postmodern symbolism in politics.  His campaign organization employed Lee Atwater who masterminded outreach to Southern racists by kicking off Reagan's 1980 campaign in Philadelphia, Mississippi.   But Reagan also understood, unlike the current crop of Republican politicians, that it is one thing to win elections with the votes of reactionaries, but another thing entirely to govern as a reactionary, or more aptly, not govern at all.

Time: Why the Tea Party Forgives Reagan’s Sins