Should we blame Ronald Reagan for the state of the GOP today?

[NDN]

Of course we should. Reagan pretty much created the current GOP's unholy axis of fundamentalist lunatics, neo-con warmongers and crackpot pseudo-free market 'tax cut' fanatics. Also Bush is pretty much the logical conclusion of the party embracing his optimistic (to the point of being self-deluding), 'facts are stupid things' philosophy of politicking.

[NDN]

I have nothing against being optimistic. The problem is that Reagan was pathological in his optimism, beyond even just having 'rose tinted glasses.' The homeless? They were that way by choice, nothing to worry about. Black people? Racism isn't that big of a problem, really! Environment? You don't have to worry about it, after all trees cause pollution. The list goes on and on. Reagan (and the GOP) went beyond simply disagreeing with the left about how to solve America's problems -- he actively denied we actually had a lot of societal problems. The results have been nothing less than disastrous.

[NDN]

Those are just some examples. You're right that the majority didn't perceive those problems as directly effecting them so much as current problems like Healthcare now. That doesn't mean that his approach of denial wasn't any less bad however. You can't debate or remedy issues if one side flat out refuses to acknowledge them.

[NDN]

Well, maybe authoritarian trend given that the "tax-cut" crowd is still barely hanging on.

Well it depends on who you're talking about. Some of the tax cutting crowd are sincere fiscal conservatives, for good and for ill. Others are hacks who will bitch and moan about 'welfare handouts' and regulations, while adopting formerly keynesian/liberal ideas like tax cuts (without spending cuts), massive subsidies (for big business), etc.  These people don't care about 'capitalism' or any of the other pretty buzzwords they repeat ad nauseum so much as just being well off themselves. They're not necessarily authoritarian, but they're definitely hypocritical parasites.

And let's not even mention the 'Starve the Beast' types, they're even more devious (and may just accomplish their goal)...

[NDN]

I'd say Newt Gingrich is actually more to blame.

Nothing Newt thought up wasn't already in vogue by the time Reagan was in office. The difference is that unlike Reagan, he was actually a pretty competent person.

[NDN]

I'd say Newt Gingrich is actually more to blame.

Nothing Newt thought up wasn't already in vogue by the time Reagan was in office. The difference is that unlike Reagan, he was actually a pretty competent person.

Hey Mr. Ron Paul Revolutionary, are you aware that it is Ron Paul who we have to thank for Reagan?  Ron Paul was one of Reagan's earliest and biggest supporters.  I guess Dr. Paul must have bad judgment then.

Sure, and Reagan praised Paul. Doesn't matter a whole lot to me, especially since Paul doesn't make a lot of excuses for him.