Search For New Reagan
by Jeff Crouere  

A few days ago, the nation recognized the birthday of a great man, Ronald Wilson Reagan, the 40th President of the United States.  

Reagan was born February 6, 1911 in Tampico, Illinois. During his amazing life, he was a lifeguard, a college football player, a radio announcer, a movie star, a union leader, an author, a columnist, a governor and most importantly a two term President of the United States. In addition, he was a loving husband and father of not only his four children, but also the conservative movement. Reagan’s legacy for both his party and country has been vast.  

As President, Reagan had two very successful terms. He restored pride in our country after the dark years of Watergate and Jimmy Carter. He rebuilt our military, he revived our economy and he brought down the Iron Curtain “without firing a shot.” His historic tax cuts of 1981 led to a massive economic recovery, a boom in the Stock Market, 20 million new jobs, and a reduction in unemployment, inflation and interest rates. By the end of his term, the budget deficit was moving down, as the military build-up had been accomplished and the Soviet Union was collapsing.  

Reagan united social and economic conservatives under the GOP banner and expanded the party to capture of votes of millions of “Reagan Democrats.” He won two electoral landslides and accomplished significant legislative victories, in spite of a Democratic majority in Congress. Today, public opinion polls place Reagan atop all U.S. Presidents in American history. His influence cannot be overstated, it was enormous.  

Ever since Reagan, the Republican Party has been on a quest for a similar type of leader to no avail. However, in politics, hope springs eternal and the 2008 race has now begun, earlier than ever before and the Republicans are engaged in a wide open contest. The three leading candidates are former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, U.S. Senator John McCain and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. All three are claiming the mantle of Reagan and why not? No Republican president in recent history has been more successful either as a candidate or as President.  

So, the search is on for another Reagan. The GOP is not searching for another Richard Nixon, or another Gerald Ford, or another George Bush, Sr. or Jr.; the activists in the Republican Party want another Reagan. They want to relive the glory years, not dwell on the current difficulties.  

At the present time, the party is in the doldrums, led by a President with historically low poll numbers and the Democrats now controlling Congress. The GOP is reeling, suffering from the effects of an unpopular war and an unpopular President. In many ways, George W. Bush is no Ronald Reagan and not only does the general public understand that, but the leadership of the Republican Party understands it as well. In this race, the candidates for President are running away from Bush as much as possible, trying to distance themselves from his unpopular policies. Most grassroots Republicans desperately want to find a nominee who will not only be resolute in the war on terror, but also unyielding against illegal immigration and waste in government spending.  

So, as the 2008 GOP race begins, the Republicans will begin their search for another Gipper, a nominee who is principled, polished and popular and can lead the party to take back control of Congress and receive a mandate to fight the terrorists, control the borders and restrain government spending.  

In essence, the grassroots of the party is demanding that the Republican Party nominate a true conservative once again, in the mold of the most successful Republican President in modern history, Ronald Reagan.      

Jeff Crouere is a native of New Orleans, LA and he is the host of a Louisiana based program, “Ringside Politics,” which airs at 8:30 p.m. Fri. and 10:00 p.m. Sun. on WLAE-TV 32, a PBS station, and Noon till 2 p.m. weekdays on several Louisiana radio stations. For more information, visit his web site at www.ringsidepolitics.com.