Posted on 11/15/2006 6:40:46 AM PST by traderrob6
It's post midterms and it's time now to start evaluating the 08 Republican Presidential field.
Contrary to the toe suckers analysis there is indeed someone besides Rice that can beat Hillary but at this point only a few.
I like Rudy Giuliani , he has great name recognition, high favorables and he pretty decent on the campaign trail. He is however too liberal being pro-abortion, anti gun and considered by most to be both socially and fiscally moderate. The New York Press has a stack of files on him just waiting to be unleashed when the campaigns get hot and heavy. Should he survive that, many stalwart conservatives would find themseleves completely unispired and probably withhold their vote.
McCain had his chance. Aside from the animus held by many conservatives for him because of the multiude of sins he has committed over the last decade, many of us feel the man may not be all that mentally stable. The love affair that he has with the MSM has begun to erode and within the year will be completely gone. With a fair chunk of his base estranged and no press to prop him up, the McCain candidacy is doomed to failure.
Rice says she won't run and she may mean it. She has a lot to offer but I just don't see this happening for a number of reasons. Shoe in for Veep if she wants it.
Others: Unfortunately Newt Gingerich is too conservative to get elected in the present climate, as are Huckabee, Brownback and Tancredo. Allen of course is history and Frist, forget about it.
Which leaves us with Opinipundits choice for the 2008 Republican headliner.......... Mitt Romney. Mitt Romney is conservative enough to inspire the base but not so much as to be unelectable. He is good looking, smooth, articulate, and a proven executive with an impressive track record.
Romney is way ahead of the pack having an established PAC as well as a formidable political apparatus already in place.
If a man as conservative as Romney can get elected in Massachussetts, he can get elected anywhere. Unless a real impressive "dark horse" emerges from the shadows, Mitt Romney is the Republicans single best hope to re-occupy the White House in 08, PERIOD!
"socially and fiscally moderate"
Socially moderate???????
"Socially moderate???????"
Comment meant about Gulianni
You feel Gulianni is socially conservative?
Without moderate that means you have polar extremists as the only choices.
The world isn't always black and white.
Nope. The article sez that he is supposedly moderate.
"He is however too liberal being pro-abortion, anti gun and considered by most to be both socially and fiscally moderate.
I consider him to be very liberal on social issues.
The term "moderate" is being used in the classical MSM lexicon meaning left of center in the mold of Lincoln Chafee, Chuck Hagel etc etc.
"used in the classical MSM lexicon"
Much clearer now.
The problem we're facing for 2008, is that while we conservatives define the field and the terms for the primary, the MSM will define the terms and the field for the general election.
By our standards, Guiliani IS Liberal, but not by the generic standards imposed by the culture and the media.
Rule one of war, political or otherwise: know the terrain you're fighting on. . .
"Rule one of war, political or otherwise: know the terrain you're fighting on."
Good point in your quote above.
To win, we've got to solidify the base (i.e. Conservatives, Republicans and Libertarians) and then gain enough moderate voters to push us over the top---my opinion, that is.
Given that, we want the most conservative guy to win the primaries, but one that can also win over the center in the general election w/o alienating too many folks. This candidate has to be able to appeal to women, minorities, etc. to draw them away from the Dems (i.e. the expected Shrillary-Obama ticket). Tough to do in '08 w/Shrillary appealing to the leftists and angry/single white women and Obama to blacks. However, of all prospective candidates, Romney could do it best.
Why? Well, he's conservative enough to get most of the base to vote for him. And, he's telegenic enough, seemingly warm & positive enough to draw people to him. Don't know him and haven't met him, but that's just my opinion. Americans like warm & friendly people----partly why Reagan smashed Carter & Fritz Mondale---he had that "it" factor in spades over them.
Not that this should trump his beliefs, but it IS a factor that can't be denied. And, he's spotless in terms of corruption, marriage, etc.
I love Newt and think he's probably the best "thinker" in the conservative movement, but he won't win a general election.
Given my druthers, here's what I'd ask for:
Pres: Romney
VP: Santorum, Jeb Bush, Sanford, Mike Pence, etc...
AG: Rudy Giuliani
SECDEF: McCain (he's spot-on in the GWOT and Iraq)
White House Policy Advisor or RNC Chair (or both!): Newt Gingrich
Just my .02 for today!
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