He was a rare man that inspired people of both parties. Think of Obama's 2008 election and all the huge crowds and social networking and other technologies he used to get out his vote. Then think of Reagan getting 56% of the popular vote in his reelection bid, compared to Obama's 53% first time and 50% second. Reagan would have had 56% of the vote his first time, too, but there was a strong ex-republican 3rd party candidate in that race.
And for all of Obama's reputation of being the great orator, Reagan repeatedly gave speeches that historians rank among the greatest in history. For example, Reagan scores 6 of the top 100 here:
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/top100speechesall.html (FDR scores 5). Most people around during his day remember his "shining city on a hill" speech. I don't know of any Obama speech _that_ worthy of being remembered, do you? FDR, certainly - "Yesterday, December 7, was a day that will live in infamy." Or JFK, "Ask not what your country can do for you" (where did democrats go wrong and lose that attitude?).
Reagan stands out from republicans who preceded him and who followed him. His rhetoric was Libertarian. From his first inaugural address, he said the following, "In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem."
He was oh so right.
Recognize the Libertarian rhetoric:
"Those who say that we’re in a time when there are no heroes -- they just don’t know where to look. You can see heroes every day going in and out of factory gates. Others, a handful in number, produce enough food to feed all of us and then the world beyond. You meet heroes across a counter -- and they’re on both sides of that counter. There are entrepreneurs with faith in themselves and faith in an idea who create new jobs, new wealth and opportunity.
There are individuals and families whose taxes support the Government and whose voluntary gifts support church, charity, culture, art, and education. Their patriotism is quiet but deep. Their values sustain our national life.
Now I have used the words “they” and “their” in speaking of these heroes. I could say “you” and “your” because I’m addressing the heroes of whom I speak -- you, the citizens of this blessed land. Your dreams, your hopes, your goals are going to be the dreams, the hopes, and the goals of this Administration, so help me God."
