Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan's name is being tossed about a great deal of late. Republican candidates are trying to convince the electorate that they are the true heir to Reagan and talk show hosts are describing themselves as "Reagan conservatives" and asking "what would Reagan do".

We are also hearing that "Reagan is dead" and that the Reagan coalition is no more and that we have to get over Reagan and move beyond Reagan.

Some conservatives are using Reagan's name so often and in such a way as to seem to be participants in some kind of cult of personality.

I want to say this once and to say it clearly:

The conservative political philosophy is not great and good because it was believed by Ronald Reagan, rather Ronald Reagan was great and good because he believed the conservative political philosophy.