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.
I'm no longer on the Allen bandwagon, but I'm leaning towards Rommy right now.. His religion does not bother me at all..
We are going to have to dig deeper to find a true conservative. Mike Huckabee, governor of Arkansas, is a better option if he could raise the money. It won't necessarily have to be a lot.
Haley Barbour. Mark Sanford. Actually, Jeb Bush might even stand a chance if his brother works well with the DemocRATS for the next two years. You just never know.
re: Rudy and SCOTIS :
Rudy has already stated what kind of Justices he would name. He stated that he would have picked Scalia as Chief Hustice.
re: Rudy and SCOTIS :
Rudy has already stated what kind of Justices he would name. He stated that he would have picked Scalia as Chief Justice.
The Mormom issue might be a problem in some red states.
Though Mormons insist they are Christian.
Rush touched on this slightly today. Who is out there to lead in the GOP forward from here? He doesn't see anyone and neither do I. It took them 12 years but the Commie 'RATS managed to torpedo every Representative from the GOP freshman class of 1994. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the two 'RAT crooks, Menendez from Joysey and Wm. Jefferson DemocRAT-LA will be headed back to Congress.
Normally I don't like vanities, but your analysis is good. I'm not sure if I agree with your conclusion though. We need to think outside the box, political experience way overrated, business experience should be enough IMO.
I agree 100%. I've never understood why many freepers are so anti-Romney. I'm sure he's not perfect, but if we could go along with George W-stands-for-guest-Worker Bush...
I always liked a Rudy candidacy. I know that most Freepers would say he is not conservative enough (actually I also knwo that if most freepers knew me, they woudl consider me a RINO). If we don't have somebody like Rudy running the country, then I am concerned about the kind of country we WILL have. So ...Rudy/Romney?.
What is his stand on immigration. That is the #1 priority right now to me.
That's how Rudy blunts the "pro-choice" albatross.
The race is between two: Romney or Rudy. Sanford if he gets in. Newt has too much baggage. Everyone else is a midget with little or no chance whatsoever. I'll vote for whomever is the nominee.
Don't you just love how we have progressed as a nation and are able to select the leader of the free world and the most successful economic entity in world history based on rock solid criteria such as that.
Rudy Giuliani / Haley Barbour
NO NEVER EVER another BUSH. NEVER !
Romney is another big gov't Republican (expanding socialized medicine in MA) and he couldn't even count on his own state in '08. It's Rudy or Hillary, take your pick.
I'd support Mitt if he picks a Duncan Hunter type for the undercard.
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