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Reagan's best moment, in my opinion, came at the 1992 GOP convention, when he followed Buchanan's rant with an optimistic speech that urged the GOP to respect others' opinions. I have to give him that one. Now, neither Buchanan nor Reagan are the face of the GOP - It became the party of Rush Limbaugh: Anyone who disagrees is traitorous, or stupid, or likely both. And as Limbaugh fades into the sunset (one can hope), he leaves us with the legacy of Coulter, Hannity, O'Reilly, Savage, Free Republic and the other hatemongers who are now the mainstream of the Republican Party. Politically, with DeLay, and certainly George W. Bush. Hate, wealth and power motivate them. Is that Reagan's legacy? Partly. He laid the groundwork, but I don't think he would approve of Limbaugh's legacy. Which has proven to be more lasting than Reagan's sunny words.
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