What Would Ronald Reagan Have Thought Of The Tea Party?

[Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey]

Well? IMO he would've supported it, though he might have had a hard time winning a Republican primary if tea partiers got hold of Ronald Reagan's fiscal record as President or Governor. I think though, that he would've been ideologically in sync with the tea party (economically anyway), though his record might not show it, at least in the balanced budget part (governing as an economic conservative is very very hard to do).

[krazen1211]

Well? IMO he would've supported it, though he might have had a hard time winning a Republican primary if tea partiers got hold of Ronald Reagan's fiscal record as President or Governor. I think though, that he would've been ideologically in sync with the tea party (economically anyway), though his record might not show it, at least in the balanced budget part (governing as an economic conservative is very very hard to do).

I think he would have appreciated it, if something like the tea party had come up in 1978 or so.

Reagan is the kind of guy who would held the wide, but shallow Republican coalition together. The tea party would have been another cog in that wheel.

A lot of it is luck with timing.

[CathKhan]

Reagan basically ran as the 'Tea Party candidate' in 1968 and 1976. However, despite his rhetoric the Tea Party might have actually opposed him with his record on fiscal responsibility and taxes. I sometimes wish I could go back in time or something and have him get his economic act together.

[feeblepizza]

I pretty much agree. He would've supported it, but I doubt the Tea Party would support him given his fiscal record.

[Sibboleth]

If you're a sick bastard this is just too easy.

[Χahar]

The California Republican Assembly was made of proto-teabaggers.

[True Federalist]

Remember the Eleventh Commandment.  "Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican."  However, Reagan only followed it when he was the candidate.