... because the American populace was comprised of gullible boobs who fell for an attractive package.

Of course they were - and of course, we still are, all of us. How else do you think advertising works - especially television advertising?

Do you know more than a half-dozen voters (except here, perhaps) who know anything at all about the "ideas and principles" of the candidates other than the sound-bites they're remorselessly exposed to between innings or first downs?

Reagan was exquisitely packaged by the best in the business, complete with one of those heart-warmingly meaningless slogans so trendy in the late 70s and early 80s. "I'd like to teach the world to sing..." comes to mind. He also had the good fortune to be running against Jimmy Carter - who I admire deeply for his role as America's Best Ever Ex-President, but whose re-election defeat could be seen miles away, even before the Iranian hostage debacle.