Even with Reagan, we still had liberals running congress. Reagan cut taxes and rebuilt a defense system marginalized by the once upon a time WORST president ever, and the successes enjoyed by Clinton were the result of conservative control in the legislature.

I do not see how conservativism is destroying the country unless you try to attribute authentic conservative status to everyone who claims to be a conservative.  John McCain claimed to be a conservative in front of certain audiences as did Trent Lott, Tom Delay, Bart Stupak, and Lyndon LaRouche.  These are all people who want to grow the size of government while exerting more control over people. What they claim to be is irrelevant.