Yes but Reagan's tide didn't lift all boats. It increased the wealth of the top 10% and the bottom sank into the ooze. That's the problem with sayings like these, they don't match up to reality. Great if you're into boats though.

Every Western economy soaks the rich by your definition. It's called progressive taxation. All indications are throughout the world that it works well and doesn't bankrupt the rich. They just distribute more money to the lower classes who live better, have more holidays, higher wages, benefits, etc. There's still plenty of rich people there.

Democrats have always had the poor as their base, Repbulicans have the rich as their base. I see no change in that. The idea of Republicans caring about the poor is pretty ludicrous.

As to Republicans favoring the ruch only, that seems to be pretty obvious with Bush's policies. Hardly anything from him has gone to anyone but the rich. And that's a fact, though I do agree it is odd that they can hold office doing that.

I think everyone has answered the question of what income level qualifies someone as rich versus poor over and over. Statistically Bush has favored the top 10% enormously and hardly anyone else. In fact everyone else is probably worse off as they get a share of paying off the deficit and little else.