Several notable Republicans are harkening back to the 1980's, while looking forward to 2012. On what would have been Ronald Reagan's 100th birthday, potential GOP presidential hopefuls are attending events remembering the former president. But along with adoration, some are seeking to compare themselves to the popular political figure and taking jabs at the current White House.

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin was perhaps the most pointed. At a Reagan dinner in Santa Barbara, California on Friday night, Palin claimed America is on a dangerous "road to ruin" because it has lost sight of Reagan's values.

"I probably consider myself a western conservative in the spirit of Ronald Reagan in that tradition because I know that he understood the small town pioneering spirit and values of hard work and rugged individualism. And love thy neighbor. Those are the values that we grew up with. Those are the values Ronald Reagan embodied. They are the values of his ranch," Palin said. At another event in Chicago Saturday night, several other 2012 hopefuls remembered Reagan. Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania were all at the Reagan dinner...