Romney is getting ready for '08

Townhall.com ^ | 6/16/05 | Bob Novak

[LRS]

A Romney running for President? I feel like I am in a time displacement...

[Gipper08]

With Romney,Pataki,Giuliani,and McCain all running this is our chance to get a real conservative in there. We need Mike Pence in 2008! If we do not start shrinking government in 08 will we ever? Let the RINOs split their vote.

[SteveMcKing]

Being from MA, maybe it's time for me to really get involved in this stuff! I love Romney.

[Gipper08]

"I feel like I am in a time displacement..."

You are. This is 64 and 76 all over again.The 08 debate will decide the future of the party,conservatism,and therefore the country.Are we conservatives or aren't we?

[linkinpunk]

Romney may be the best that one could expect in MA, but I think the GOP can do better.

See below:

Adviser says governor faked stance on abortion- Asserts Romney not 'pro-choice'

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1415645/posts

[mewzilla]

I'm a Dem and I wouldn't vote for the guy.

[LRS]

As it stands today, I think the conservative position is stronger than it was in either '64 or '76. Of course, it isn't '08 yet, and things can change (if the libs get their way and manufacture another fear based "crises"), but while some things never change, our technology does, and the libs don't control the flow of information anymore...

[Sybeck1]

Being in the south and knowing how important church is here, a Mormon can't win below the Mason Dixon. Call me bigoted if you will, but I know the Southern Baptist are a big block of voters here, and won't vote LDS.

[ASA Vet]

Veronica, Help us out here.
Are any of these the "real candidate?"

[Sybeck1]

Has Pence stated he's running? There hasn't been a President from the House since Van Buren I believe.

[Gipper08]

Conservatism may or may not be stronger now.Do we all have the same definition of conservatism? If we assume conservatism means the IMPERATIVE to shrink big government then conservatism is weaker now than ever.

[Gipper08]

No,He has said it is way to early for that.If he announces early that would affect his duties as RSC chairman and the cynics would question his every move(which are many) It is best to fly under the radar for now and build a base.Garfield and Lincoln both went from the house.

[SteveMcKing]

How could they vote for Hillary instead?

[Sybeck1]

Bill was a Baptist right? No seriously, I doubt this Romney could get past South Carolina, just like McCain couldn't.

[Mad Mammoth]

I wish former Senator Jesse Helms was young enough to run for President. You want a REAL conservative?

He's one of the few remaining.

[sittnick]

Lincoln had not been in the House for over 15 years, and Garfireld was Speaker. Lincoln had the advantage of a FOUR way race that allowed him to win with 39% of the vote. We won't have that this time.

I like Pence, but of the papabile, I would go with Brownback, and then Allen.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Lincoln had not been in the House for 12 years, having just served the one term and not running for a 2nd. He was actually offered, but refused, the Governorship of the Oregon Territory. James Garfield never served as Speaker, though did serve in the House, but he was a Senator-elect when he took office as President.

[LRS]

What I was driving at, was that communication has strengthened our position. In '64, the left knew how to manipulate the media when it came to reaching the masses. They were able to destroy Goldwater. '76 was post Watergate and Viet Nam. Again, the concept of voting Republican was successfully portrayed as an act of pure evil. As things stand as I write, I doubt they could get by with these tactics today. Of course, things can change, as things change at a more rapid pace in our modern age. That's why the left is trying so hard to make hay with the "mistreatment" of prisoner story. The left is in desperate need of a mushroom cloud obliterating a little girl picking daisies commercial, or proof of Republican misdeeds to hang their hat on. Even then, because they don't control the free flow of information (which is why they fear the Internet and talk radio), I can't see them getting by with it (like trying to pass off hokey documents on CBS.)

On the subject of the battle for control of the party, yes, it can get a bit sticky. But the more liberal wing of the Republican Party, has not strengthened it's position since McCain's failed run. In fact, I think their antics, siding with obstructionist Democrats, has made them weaker in the eyes of the rank and file.

As for the broader subject of what defines "conservatism", well, your are correct. There are wings of the Republican Party that are after their "share of the pie". The Republican Party is a coalition party, of varying degrees of libertarianism, lying in bed with those who believe in varying degrees of Big Daddy Government themselves. The glue that has brought us together is the failure of 40 years of outright liberalism (perhaps I should outright communism.)

In any event, the roll back of government is not going to be successful no matter who we vote in as president in '08, if we don't change the courts, and that has to take place now.

As for myself, I don't know who I will be supporting in '08 at the present. However, even at this early date, I can say who I will not be supporting in the Repub primaries, and that will be any one who reminds me of McCain...

[Gipper08]

Only Pence can unite fiscal,Social,immigration,and second amendment conservatives.Brownback's only support would come from social conservatives.Allen has the support of political insiders,political junkies etc.Allen will have a problem getting die hard pro life support and die hard fiscal conservative support.I am not interested in half of a conservative for President.