I think that was a very different time. We had not gone through so many lies and betrayals by Republicans posing as conservatives. Reagan had a ready sort of political apparatus which could attract voters to him and to the party. Will there be another figure of Reagan’s stature? I hope so, but I don’t think whoever it is will find the Republican Party as useful or viable vehicle.
But we can spot them, now, and we can respond immediately to them when they try to snow us. We didn't have that capability even 20 years ago, before x42 got into office. That's why it seems so much more contentious now; we can react much more quickly.