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| Home Front: Politix |
| The Gipper at 100 |
| 2011-02-05 |
| In the 1970s, Reagan spoke often of a populist "prairie fire" of resistance to big government, and he saw the tax revolt as the match igniting the fire that swept him to office in 1980. Yet the Tea Party makes the "prairie fire" of the tax revolt look like a small campfire by comparison. It is distinct from and superior to the tax revolt precisely to the extent that it represents a populist constitutional movement, challenging out-of-control government in a way that goes beyond arguments about tax rates. It is exactly on this point that Reagan's far-sightedness and his legacy become relevant. During the 1980s, there was little popular ferment behind Reagan and Meese's campaign to revive constitutional originalism, but they pursued it anyway. When today's liberals disingenuously invoke Reagan against the Tea Party or Republican attempts in Congress to restrain the government, Reagan's constitutional views should be thrown in their faces. The tea partiers might well be considered Reagan's children. Several pundits suggested that the 1994 election, which delivered the first GOP House majority in 40 years, should be thought of as "Reagan's third landslide." If so, November 2 of last year could be regarded as his fourth. And if conservatives remain faithful to Ronald Reagan's principles and practices, it won't be the last. Happy 100th birthday, Mr. President. |
| Posted by:Beavis |