The Party of Reagan ...

How did conservatism go from where it was in the 80's with The Party of Reagan to where it is today?

I can't really call myself a true conservative, but I am definitely conservative-friendly. Every online political survey I've ever taken has labeled me somewhere right of center to varying degrees, but I find less and less alignment with our national conservative leaders.

I just read an opinion piece by conservative political commentator, Adam Kinzinger, on Why Republicans are turning against aid to Ukraine. Mr Kinzinger is a USAF veteran of Iraq & Afghanistan and was also a Republican member of Congress from 2011 through January of this year. In his piece he says:

Gone is the party of Reagan, which was steadfast in its stand against tyranny. In its place is rising a GOP that seems immune to the world’s need for American leadership and uninterested in the suffering of a country we should aid until the fight is over.

Obviously, Mr Kinzinger in his essay and I in my post here are talking about Ukraine and Russia. One is led by an authoritarian tyrant who invaded the other, a fledgling democracy trying to shed the systems and institutions put upon it after decades of Soviet rule.

The Party of Reagan would not have taken a nanosecond to decide who to support in this conflict. Sure, they would've approached Ukraine about cleaning up some things (which they are doing), but none of that would have deterred The Party of Reagan from supporting Ukraine to the successful end of this conflict.

So, to my conservative friends ... Help me understand the thinking here? And in your explanations, please avoid the words Trump and/or Biden. Both of them are short-term blips in the history of this great country and in the development of western civilization & democracy.

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hippyjoe1955 · 70-79, M

Ever heard of the Overton window? The same question needs to be asked of the other side. What happened to the democrats of JFK?

Burnley123 · 41-45, M

@hippyjoe1955 This is the first thing I have ever hearted by you!

GeistInTheMachine · 31-35, M

@hippyjoe1955 FDR says "hello. "

He should have packed the courts.

hippyjoe1955 · 70-79, M

@GeistInTheMachine FDR was part of the problem. He was not the guy portrayed in common media.

GeistInTheMachine · 31-35, M

@hippyjoe1955 You think anyone to the left of Reagan was part of the problem. And everything is some tier of conspiracy, yes?

What would your ideal society look like? I mean, besides getting rid of trans and gay kids or whatever.

Burnley123 · 41-45, M

@GeistInTheMachine

You think anyone to the left of Reagan was part of the problem.

To the left of Atilla the Hun.

GeistInTheMachine · 31-35, M

@Burnley123 At least the Huns were honest.

hippyjoe1955 · 70-79, M

@GeistInTheMachine No I am simply capable of looking with unbiased eyes and FDR was not the lovable good guy everyone thinks he is. The great depression was the result of his policies. Had he not been the man he was the depression would not have been as long or as deep.