Who won?

[BillB]

The party didn't want Reagan to win, either. He won a pair of landslides.

Mark,
The party didn't want Reagan to win in 1976 when he challenged Ford, and Regan didn't win.
The party structure didn't oppose Reagan in 1980 and certainly not in 1984.

The party still didn't want Reagan in '80. They knew they had no choice in '84.

The party elites have always resented the conservatives. If we are going to take the stance that conservatives have no place of power in the Republican party, then it is time to retire the Republican party.

I'll have to call you on that one.
Which GOP party officials(s) did not want Reagan 1n 1980?
Which candidate did they want? Bush? Connally?
I just don't believe it.

[jellowrestling]

BillB, the party establishment absolutely wanted Bush in 1980. They (GOP establishment) think that conservatives are a bunch of uncontrollable hicks and religious fanatics. They did then, and still do now, think that the opinions of the MSM reflect the country as a whole. They don't understand the appeal of Rush Limbaugh, Mark Levin, Michael Savage, Ann Coulter, and a host of others..., and think they appeal only to a tiny fringe of people.

The GOP establishment was unable to hold back the tidal wave of popular support for Reagan in 1980, first in the GOP primaries, and they were shocked at his big win in 1980. They still brush it off as a Reagan personality thing, rather than Reagan's appeal to the conservative nature of the American people.

[GFB]

BillB, the party establishment absolutely wanted Bush in 1980. They (GOP establishment) think that conservatives are a bunch of uncontrollable hicks and religious fanatics. They did then, and still do now, think that the opinions of the MSM reflect the country as a whole. They don't understand the appeal of Rush Limbaugh, Mark Levin, Michael Savage, Ann Coulter, and a host of others..., and think they appeal only to a tiny fringe of people.

The GOP establishment was unable to hold back the tidal wave of popular support for Reagan in 1980, first in the GOP primaries, and they were shocked at his big win in 1980. They still brush it off as a Reagan personality thing, rather than Reagan's appeal to the conservative nature of the American people.

Nailed it!

[millergrovesue]

They (GOP establishment) think that conservatives are a bunch of uncontrollable hicks and religious fanatics.

Well, there certainly is that faction - particularly in north Texas.

[BillB]

BillB, the party establishment absolutely wanted Bush in 1980. They (GOP establishment) think that conservatives are a bunch of uncontrollable hicks and religious fanatics. They did then, and still do now, think that the opinions of the MSM reflect the country as a whole. They don't understand the appeal of Rush Limbaugh, Mark Levin, Michael Savage, Ann Coulter, and a host of others..., and think they appeal only to a tiny fringe of people.

The GOP establishment was unable to hold back the tidal wave of popular support for Reagan in 1980, first in the GOP primaries, and they were shocked at his big win in 1980. They still brush it off as a Reagan personality thing, rather than Reagan's appeal to the conservative nature of the American people.

That is just simply not true. It was the exact opposite.

"Reagan was cruising in the “endorsement primary.” Endorsements from party bigwigs, as I wrote about Monday, are key in presidential primaries. They act as a seal of approval for voters, and in some cases, endorsers provide the machinery needed to get out the vote. According to data from “The Party Decides,” Reagan had 51 endorsements from party actors through March 1979. This included five senators, 23 House members, two state party chairs and one governor. Weighting for the position of the endorser (i.e., senators count for more than representatives), Reagan had an astounding 90 percent of endorsements by party officials at that point..."

http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/ted- ... ed-reagan/


Reagan (in 1980) was as far from being Goldwaterized by the GOP as any candidate has ever been, other than incumbent Republican presidents.

[jellowrestling]

BillB, the party establishment absolutely wanted Bush in 1980. They (GOP establishment) think that conservatives are a bunch of uncontrollable hicks and religious fanatics. They did then, and still do now, think that the opinions of the MSM reflect the country as a whole. They don't understand the appeal of Rush Limbaugh, Mark Levin, Michael Savage, Ann Coulter, and a host of others..., and think they appeal only to a tiny fringe of people.

The GOP establishment was unable to hold back the tidal wave of popular support for Reagan in 1980, first in the GOP primaries, and they were shocked at his big win in 1980. They still brush it off as a Reagan personality thing, rather than Reagan's appeal to the conservative nature of the American people.

That is just simply not true. It was the exact opposite.

"Reagan was cruising in the “endorsement primary.” Endorsements from party bigwigs, as I wrote about Monday, are key in presidential primaries. They act as a seal of approval for voters, and in some cases, endorsers provide the machinery needed to get out the vote. According to data from “The Party Decides,” Reagan had 51 endorsements from party actors through March 1979. This included five senators, 23 House members, two state party chairs and one governor. Weighting for the position of the endorser (i.e., senators count for more than representatives), Reagan had an astounding 90 percent of endorsements by party officials at that point..."

http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/ted- ... ed-reagan/

Reagan (in 1980) was as far from being Goldwaterized by the GOP as any candidate has ever been, other than incumbent Republican presidents.

I think you are misunderstanding what I said. Yes, there were lots of Republicans who backed Reagan, but five senators, 23 House members, two state party chairs and one governor are only a small fraction. I was there, and I remember that the party establishment was pushing for Bush until it became obvious that Reagan was a lock. Reagan wisely chose Bush as his running mate to bring the old school GOP on board. The March 1979 reference is more of a testament to Reagan's preparation and laying the groundwork for the '80 election than anything else, because in those days, campaigns didn't start two years before the general election, as they do now.