Posted on 11/08/2006 4:58:08 PM PST by rodomila
George Allen is completely dead politically. He proved what I suspected - that he wasn't smart enough for the national spotlight.
Santorum would have been my first choice but his crushing defeat yesterday rules him out.
McCain is insane and a turncoat on taxes, judges and immigration. Many hard core Republicans, such as myself, would NEVER vote for him.
George W's phony, big government "conservatism" has poisoned the well for Jeb as Bush fatigue is now almost universal.
Hillary MUST BE STOPPED, but if I were a bookmaker I'd have to make her the odds on favorite.
So that leaves four possibilities for the good guys:
Condi Rice is a no go because she isn't sufficiently experienced. Frankly, I don't think she is up to the job and I think she would make Hillary competitive in the South which would be disastrous.
That leaves three sane guys right now with the name ID, credible experience and the brainpower to be Prez:
Newt Gingrich has the conservative bonafides but the media trashed him so badly in 1995 that, like Quayle, he probably can't win. He's also kind of fat and has an annoying, high pitched voice - two things that would hurt him in our superficial media dominated age. Also, the press would have a field day with his personal life.
Rudy has the brains and could be trusted to fight the war on terror. His pro-choice and pro-gay positions are definite downers for me, but would make the northeast competitive for Republicans and really throw a monkey wrench into the Hillary machine. He might be able to finesse these issues with the Republican right if he said social politics should be resolved at the state level and promised to name constructionist judges. He would also have to be solid on taxes, spending, immigration enforcement and economic growth. A little pow wow with Stephen Moore and Pat Toomey at Club for Growth should straighten him out.
The final, and I believe the best choice at the moment is Mitt Romney. I wish he wasn't a Mormon but he has the following going for him. He is running on the right - pro-gun, anti-abortion, pro-marriage etc. He will make us competitive everywhere. He is telegenic and articulate and so smooth on TV. He has been a phenomenally successful businessman. He has impeccable academic credentials. He is also the only Republican option who is still happily married to his first wife. There are those who will claim his record in Massachusetts is too liberal to be the Republican nominee. I would submit to you that politics is the art of the possible, and he did as much as he could do in that bluest of blue states. I for one will be delighted to have a candidate who can explain the issues who doesn't make me cringe during Presidential debates. We haven't had that since Reagan in 1984.
If not Mitt, who? And why? I would love to hear Freeper views if there is any other viable option I haven't considered.
If Romney picks a running mate with solid Christian credentials, it would diminish the Mormon factor.
"I think of the raw deal towards Bernard Goetz."
Manhattan DA Morgenthau prosecuted Goetz while Ed Koch was mayor.
Although I have heard of Minnesota, I have never heard of Pawlenty before;) Is he a good energetic Conserative?
He speaks the truth, with conviction and humor, and he speaks it well. Everyone likes him, including his enemies. He has the ability to bring people from opposite perspectives together. He's not afraid to give a dig at someone, but does it in such a way that you still like him afterward. He has gravitas with a soft side. And he's a Christian. He is a visionary, and here in Minnesota he is a big proponent of alternative energy. He is true blue, someone you can trust.
You can read more about him here:
http://www.timpawlenty.com/
Yes.but he a couple of drinks away from an MI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Would Rudy finish the wall? Be tuff on Countries taking our money and bad mouthing us? Be tuff on the UN? Do tax cuts?
The RNC needs gutted!!!!!
The men and boys usually wear coats and ties. Hair looks clean and well groomed (no dreadlocks). Shoes shined, etc.
Many years ago, the company I worked for merged with a Utah company. Several Utah execs (Mormons) were transferred to our headquarters in Oklahoma. Got to know some of them well, and I was impressed with the lives they led. They looked, and acted .. well .. clean cut.
So, P.J., this is the closest I can come to answering the question.
Would Rudy finish the wall? Be tuff on Countries taking our money and bad mouthing us? Be tuff on the UN? Do tax cuts?
___________
I would trust him as much or more so than ANY other candidate to do those things.
case in point : SUSSA . You even jabbed him/her and he was agreeing with you.
Maybe. But most people on this thread think that's who we should run in 08. I don't want a true conservative anyway. Everyone thougth Bush was, and he is not.
Maryland is south of the Mason Dixon line. Do you know what happened to Michael Steele? While he was in the line waiting to vote, black Americans jeered at him. A good man lost that election. So yes, I think Southerners just might prefer a white socialist....and even northerners...case in Point - Lynn Swann.
I agree with everything Rudy said in your post # 434. Thanks for posting that. I want him to put security of our country first.
To me the candidates religion preference is no big deal (except if the candidate is a Satanic Worshipper)... I think you are right.....
I never thought Bush was a Conservative. He is a Christian but his economics are Keynesian and he was Talking his Daddy's "kinder gentler" talk from the beginning. That kind of talk means it does not matter what his principles are, he is going to warp them around to get along. He always sounded to me like a Rockefeller Republican who was good on defense. But he proved out different even there with his Johnsonesque approach to this war. Johnson lost his job for his hearts-and-minds stuff. Bush lost his Congress for it.
I don't know who I want to be the Republican nominee for 2008 but can we PLEASE, PLEASE, PRETTY PLEASE find someone who hasn't been caught up in a sex/adultry scandal? Please? Isn't there someone? Newt, Giuliani, McCain....If they had issues respecting their marriage vows, what makes us think that they would be able to respect their vows to us? We railed at Clinton (rightfully so) for years and now we are talking about electing someone who has also cheated?
*sigh* It depresses me that these people who could really be great can't keep it in their pants.
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