I really don't get it.
His Presidency was frought with economic problems, the Iran-Contra scandal rocked his leadership, and, in recent days, it's been shown that his policies contributed to the current proliferation of worldwide terrorism. Furthermore, for a large percentage of his time in office, he was unable to lead due to the onset of Alzheimer's. So why do they love him so?
My guess is that it's because Reagan lived and breathed the platform of the modern Republican Party. He laid the groundwork for the many initiatives that Dubya has picked up during his term in office. He pushed through an economic plan in keeping with the conservative ideal of feeding the rich.
That and he was the perfect rube.
It is my believe that the Republican Party capitalized on Reagan's failing memory and capacity to lead, and ruled by de-facto junta. Their worship of Reagan is little more than a thinly-veiled gloat in the direction of the Democrats: "See: we can put any schlub in office and make him a king." Dubya is, in my opinion, Reagan II. He's another perfect patsy. The non-intellectual who's so wrapped up in his own beliefs that he pays no attention to facts; a man easily swayed to any cause sold by the Snake Oil Salesmen with which the Republican Party has surrounded him...many of whom are serving in the same capacity with which they served Reagan.
With Bush, however, the Republicans may have beaten themselves at their own game. Now in too deep in Iraq, with economic disaster looming, and a public starting to question the leadership of this country, I believe they're starting to get a little scared. That is, I think, why they strove to get the Reagans miniseries pre-emptively pulled. Their house of cards is starting to fall.
All of this is my opinion, and I'd love to hear what others have to say on this matter.