I can agree with that to an extent, but I also think part of the difference lied with how Reagan handled the media, and his ability to disarm them. It’s a skill that IMHO Palin needs to work on. Believe me, I’m rooting for Palin, I want very badly to see her do well, but she won’t win by merely preaching to choir, she is going to have to convert a lot people, who right now, won’t even consider voting for her.
My interpretation is that Republicans had a hostile media in Reagan’s time and that Reagan (and Nixon) brought out the worst in them, but both Reagan and Nixon occasionally got a breather to be treated as Republican leaders and the attacks were not so completely thorough, personal, all encompassing and made up, mostly they were of a nasty political nature.
George W. actually got sympathetic media assistance to get him through his primary against his more conservative opponents.
Governor Palin on the other hand was set upon before the general public even knew who she was, the media attempted to smother her from the VERY FIRST DAY, and make her stillborn to prevent her from ever having a political future or influence, and it never let up.
Just those first three days of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday coverage (Aug, 2008) were so vile and nasty that many freepers will never forget that weekend, America had never experienced anything like it, and it has never let up, they come at her from every angle, every venue, with attacks geared to hurt her with every possible audience, it even covers all of her family members to make sure that no niche, such as teen girls, or daytime watching women can find anything positive to associate with the name PALIN.