>These days the moderate libs recall Reagan with a certain fondness, and they even praise William F Buckley. It totally cracks me up. I've got news for those people - back in the 1980's they hated Reagan's/Buckley's guts.
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If you listen to talk radio, you'll understand why we look back with fondness on Bill Buckley.
In fact he was an effete snob from Yale who inherited millions and then complained about welfare queens who were looking for a free ride, so it's not hard to understand why I might have detested him and everything he stood for.
That said, he did his homework and presented the case for the conservative position with passion, wit, style and grace. I rarely missed his Firing Line show on PBS.
Also, Buckley was active in non-political causes. He was a factor in the release of Hurricane Carter.
Compare that to Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity and you'll understand why we might wish that it were Buckley instead of those people whom we were detesting.

Reagan is more complicated. I disagreed with his policies, voted against him both times and would again, but in retrospect I see his leadership qualities in a different light.
Compared to those who followed him he was an outstanding leader.
I think that it's useful to understand that and look for it in future candidates.