Reply #10: I disagree that Reagan was the start of the winger

[POAS]

cliff dive. I think he hit the national scene on the crest of a winger wave.

My age falls somewhere between both the above posters and my memory somewhat differs.

To me the anti-war movement of the 60's and 70's started the right on the path to Reagan. When Nixon was forced to resign the nuttiness magnified and then the various disasters under the Carter administration paved the way for Reagan and his cronies.

In the 70's and then in the Reagan campaign Lee Atwater perfected the politics of destruction and mentored people like Karl Rove to further the extreme agenda well into the 21st century.

Reagan was the manifestation of simmering hate and "government is the problem" thinking that the Republicans, then and now, perpetuate. Rather ironic when you consider that the anti-government anti-war movement is probably what got the ball rolling in the first place.