I wasn't alive then but I'm sure the lefties had a problem with it.
No, they didn't. Reagan spent quite a lot of time in Santa Barbara just as Nixon had spent quite a lot of time in San Clemente. And none of it raised an eyebrow. It was just a part of business as usual until the rabid-right got fired up after 1994.
That is such a red herring its not even funny. He hasn't vetoed any because every bill thats reached his desk has increased spending. Because Democrats aren't serious about cutting non-defense spending. And if you listen to his rhetoric, it is quite obvious that his position is consistent with that premise.
What non-defense spending should be cut? And don't give me that pork, waste, and fat crap. Give me some examples of agencies and programs where you think cuts could and should be made. Here, I'll give you some fries with that. These are all the spending items from the FY 2011 budget that totalled at least $25 billion...
Social Security old age & survivors ($601 billion)
Military operations & maintenance ($318 billion)
Medicare Part-A ($261 billion)
Medicaid grants to states ($260 billion)
Net interest payments ($251 billion)
Medicare Part-B ($241 billion)
Military personnel ($154 billion)
Military procurement ($137 billion)
Social Security disability ($131 billion)
Unemployment insurance ($83 billion)
Food stamps ($80 billion)
Military R&D ($77 billion)
Federal retirement ($73 billion)
Medicare Part-D ($67 billion)
Supplemental security income ($53 billion)
Veterans pensions ($53 billion)
Military retirement ($52 billion)
Earned Income Tax Credit ($47 billion)
VA hospital care ($46 billion)
Federal highway programs ($43 billion)
Student financial assistance ($38 billion)
National Institutes of Health ($32 bilion)
Section 8 housing assistance ($29 billion)
Placeholder for PPACA startup costs ($25 billion)