sixdrift a.k.a. neuronstatic: What have the Republicans done for us in the last 40 years? Plenty.

This is just a cursory overview by the way.

Richard Nixon

Pursued reforms in welfare, heath care, civil rights, energy and environmental policy, many of which were struck down by Congress.
Created the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Energy Policy for advice on oil policy and supported the Clean Air Act of 1970.
Established the Environmental Protection Agency.
Insisted that Congress broaden the U.S. Civil Rights Commission mandate to include sex discrimination and signed all civil rights legislation passed by Congress, including Title IX, which banned sexual discrimination in educational benefits.
Expanded enforcement of affirmative action.
Supported the Constitutional amendment lowering the voting age to 18.
Used the "peace dividend" from reducing troops in Vietnam to finance social welfare services and enforce civil rights through the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Oh yes, and basically ended our involvement in the Vietnam War started by J. F. Kennedy.

Ronald Reagan

Started the Strategic Defense Initiative which ultimately led to the bankrupting of the Soviet Union's military spending and ended the Cold War.
Stopped rampant inflation that resulted from Carter years.
The reduction of nuclear arms with the signing of the INF treaty together with Mikhail Gorbachev on December 8, 1987. This treaty eliminated all cruise missiles with a range of 500 to 5,000 kilometers.
Achieved an agreement in April of 1988 with the Soviet Union over their withdrawal from their occupation in Afghanistan. Not only was the war was ended, but also this was the first time in 33 years that the Red Army withdrew from any conflict voluntarily.
The nomination and eventual appointment of Sandra Day O'Connor to the Supreme Court, who became the first female Supreme Court Justice.
The rescue mission of Grenada on October 25, 1983 that deposed of the communist leaders who gained control through a violent coup and rescued the 800 American medical students held captive there.
The Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 which budgeted $1.7 billion to fund the war on drugs in America and increase the severity of punishments for drug related offenses.

George Bush Sr.

Shortest war in our history, Desert Storm, went in to halt Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, and did so.
Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) with nuclear powers.
Americans for Disabilities Act that prevents discrimination against individuals with disabilities.
Revision of the Clean Air Act, deemed by many to be the most significant environmental legislation ever passed.

George W Bush

Took an economy in recession from Clinton years and spurred new economic growth with tax cuts he promised before election, and delivered on.
Rejected the Kyoto global warming treaty so loved by Al Gore, the environmental lobby, elite opinion, and Europeans. The treaty was a disaster, with India and China exempted and economic decline a certain result. Everyone knew it, but only Bush said so and acted on it. Yes it was a good thing to reject that horrible treaty so that a better one could be produced.
Medicare Prescription Drug Modernization Act, bringing affordable prescription drug coverage to the seniors of America through expansion of Medicare.
Taking action against terrorists before escalation on American soil. And yes, all the intelligence agencies knew that was coming and all of Congress supported it until it seemed politically beneficial for them to distance themselves from it. Action taken against terrorist centers saved thousands of innocent American lives.
Taking out Hussein in Iraq putting an end to decades of crimes against the Iraqi people and other people of the region, and in particular, the Kurds which were nearly exterminated in Iraq under Hussein's rule.
Support of Israel that keeps the tide of Islamic extremists at bay in the Middle East, regardless of what you think of the Israelis.

sixdrift a.k.a. neuronstatic