I brought up gay rights to support my other point that today's conservatives have read a lot in to Reagan that was never there. I suppose his, or any President

I brought up gay rights to support my other point that today's conservatives have read a lot in to Reagan that was never there. I suppose his, or any President's expressed views on the drug war would be much more influenced by public opinion while holding office than as an ex-President. It was after leaving office that George Shultz became the first prominent Republican to call for drug legalization. People's opinions are slowly changing and there is overwhelming evidence that the drug war is failing and inimical to so many other values that conservatives (especially libertarian-leaning conservatives, which Reagan arguably was) There's certainly a big contradiction between where we have gotten to now and a man who promised to "get government off our backs" -- isn't there? But, as I said, it's a little silly to speculate and thinking about his positions over the years I can't come up with any major changes, so you have a point. I know what I would like to see, though.