Ronald Reagan is responsible for three apparently irrevocable changes to the GOP. First, of course, he created the bond between social conservatives and business interests that has been at the core of the party since 1980. Second, the GOP turned his tax cut into a kind of religious belief, even though he himself didn’t see it that way. Finally, he took a modest small government party that was more interested in balancing budgets than kicking ass and gave it swagger. It still has it today.
Reagan had it in spades; George W. Bush had it; and Trump has it, too, in his own inimitable way. But what does it mean? How does it apply to the current GOP candidates? And can the left swagger, as well? These questions will be answered in posts throughout the week.