Posted on 02/09/2007 12:30:35 PM PST by areafiftyone
Paul wrote last night about the "stature gap" that Republican Presidential candidates enjoy over their Democratic counterparts. This morning, the Washington Times, reporting on a reunion of Reagan administration alumni, describes a different sort of gap between the three front-runners and the party's conservative base:
Many conservatives say they pick "none of the above" when faced with a choice of Arizona Sen. John McCain, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani as the 2008 Republican presidential nominee.
"When I look at these top three guys, I think of Shania Twain singing 'That don't impress me much,' " said former House Majority Leader Dick Armey, referring to the popular country singer.
Such dissatisfaction with the leading Republican presidential candidates is widespread among the party's conservative stalwarts, including many of the 150 alumni of the Reagan administration who attended an annual reunion at the Heritage Foundation on Tuesday night.
It is true, as I've written before, that one oddity of this year's race is that none of the three front-runners lines up squarely with the core of the party. Each is, in one way or another, a bit off-center. Nevertheless, I find the kind of talk described by the Times grating.
For one thing, while there has always been a streak of isolationism on the right (as on the left), the international retreatism that the Times attributes to Armey and others in the group does not represent the mainstream of today's conservative movement. And the article's implication that there is some sort of conservative groundswell for Chuck Hagel, on isolationist grounds, is ridiculous: every conservative I know would rather tar and feather Hagel than nominate him.
Beyond that, when, exactly, has this country ever elected the sort of pure conservative that this group, as depicted by the Times, yearns for? These Reagan alumni have perhaps forgotten how disappointed conservatives were through most of Reagan's administration. (Remember "Let Reagan be Reagan"?) And who, if we put Reagan to one side, is the conservative paragon that the current candidates don't live up to? William McKinley, maybe? I can't think of anyone else in the last century.
The current crop of candidates is not perfect; what crop ever was? But they are strong leaders of extraordinary ability. And Giuliani, McCain and Romney are united on the key issue of our time, victory in the war against Islamic extremism. If a purer conservative wants to get into the race, fine, and I might well back him. (And, no, I'm not talking about Mike Huckabee or Sam Brownback.) But conservatives need to get over any fantasies they may harbor about the Gingrich administration that never will be and the Reagan administration that never was, and get on with the business of electing the best possible--and I do mean "possible"--candidate in 2008.
(((((PING))))
Last paragraph is right on!
Thanks, A51!
"But conservatives need to get over any fantasies they may harbor about the Gingrich administration that never will be"
Follow the big money and that will tell you who the realistic candidates are. It's easy to click on an online poll for Duncan Hunter or Newt Gingrich, but look carefully at the number of people who have put their money with their mouth is and that will tell the real tale. People tend not to waste their money on pipe dream candidates, especially the saavy large donors.
So many bloggers are saying that lately.
You got that right! The big three are Rudy, Romney and McCain. That is what it is going to boil down to.
Where did they get this sh!t from?
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Agreed on the 'money quote' of the article - the last paragraph.
The reason the GOP won't nominate a pure conservative (whatever that is) in 2008 is because there isn't one conservative of national stature since Reagan who has emerged to lead the faithful. Rather than complain about the current crop of top-tier candidates in the Republican Party, why aren't conservatives taking stock of the movement and asking why the dominant political ideology in America isn't producing any real leaders? The bankruptcy of leadership is indicated in that some here on FR actually take seriously the suggestion that Michael Savage should run for President.
UGH!
If Hunter gets the nomination, I'll support him 1000%. But he has no money, and no real organization. At this point, his campaign can't be taken seriously. In fact, to pin all conservative hope on someone who may not even break double-digits in the primaries will be a colossal embarrassment for conservatism. All that may change, but Hunter is quite literally running out of time.
The fact that many consider the founding members of the three wives club to be conservatives shows how much cultural drift there has indeed been.
These stalwarts have forgotten that 'you can't go home again'. Far too many more important situations have developed since 'their good old days'. We are faced with situations that are pertinent to our survival as a society. It is time to work on the problems of today and tomorrow. The problems of 15 or 20 years ago have been solved or are no longer relevant.
The mythology surrounding all this is really astounding, isn't it?
Right on!
Bump for Logic
I know it is. And scary too that they will let the Democrats win all because of a fantasy that is going nowhere very quickly.
BINGO!
If only some could come to grips with this.
Are you guys just being a realist or is that how you actually want it to be?
All DH really needs is exposure. And George Bush could give that to him in less than one hour. Duncan Hunter could instantly become as well known as Hillary if President Bush asked VP Cheney to resign for health reasons and nominated Duncan.
Would you still support Duncan Hunter if he suddenly were in the media spotlight and was considered "electable"? If he were given the nod for VP by Bush today, would you support him for Pres?
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