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.
And don't forget...that fat Kennedy is back to the senate from Massatwochits...
Yes, and my spelling and typos are atrocious tonight!
"I think we should look to a hispanic republican."
A hispanic that was a border hawk and pro-life would get my support all the way.
John Sununu with Hunter or Tancredo as VP
I don't think Rush is having fun now. I think he is very, very upset with Republicans.
In fact a Rudy / Lieberman ticket would be ideal.
Yes, for the Democrat Party.
FR constitutes a tiny, almost invisible fraction and, notwithstanding the hue and cries of the faithful to the contrary, a politically irrelevant group of observers with too much time on their collective hands.
What about Denny Crane??
I think your Rudy analysis is right.
If Hillary is the nominee, then the real Republican base will really be revved up to vote against her regardless of who is at the top of the ticket. But Rudy can compete in Blue states and maybe pull a purple state or two from her.
Speaking for myself, they'll need to put speed bumps in front of the booth I'll be so jazzed to vote against her.
NO NO NO NO HISPANICS.... NO NO NO
Mitt spoke at our convention in September and I couldn't find any fault with anything he said. He is a very excellent speaker. And he doesn't have the baggage that Rudy will bring. I have a little experience with Massholechusetts since NH has overnight turned into Mass Lite. Within 4 years, maybe 2, we will have all the wonderful trappings that you folks have and our way of life will be gone forever (no sales or income tax), mark my word.
Back to Romney: I'm not quite ready to jump on his wagon yet but at this point I'd have to say my support is his to lose.
From what I have seen it is the conservative politicians who rip him apart. And why? Because many conservatives get in office and then think we need them to run our lives. So when Sanford vetoes pork bills that conservatives put in he is ripped by those conservatives. He stands by the courage of hias convictions. Remember that many elected conservatives did not like RR because he challenged the status quo, and almost every politician likes the perks of power. Sanford is a threat to them. And that's what we need.
As much as I agree with your assessment, America won't put a Mormon in the oval office.
Even though it appears that the Evangelical XPian vote is marginalized (currently) , I believe they will mobilize to defreat a Mormon.
Mormons are non-XPian heretics and the evangelicals won't put up with it anymore than they would an Isrealite (Whom - personally - I would accept more readily than a Mormon).
Romney, IMO, is dead in the water. Giuliani is the only cross-country viable candidate, even though I disagree with his "culterally liberal" position.
Mormonism isn't a "religion" its a cult
He can't finesse it. He has to repudiate his liberal background.
The media isn't going to let a Dem's opponent get away with "finesse" LOL!
Mitt's an unknown to me.
Allen is the smartest and most capable of our candidates.
But he's broke now- no one can run for the nomination without big bucks.
historically, our successful candidates come from the pool of governors. Look there.
otherwise, forget it. historically others have died in office or been assasinated.
No Giulani. I don't want some Eastern Seaboard Not-quite conservative running for President. Haley Barbour? Now I know you're kidding.
Romney works because he isn't a native of that part of the country. Duncan Hunter is good, too.
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