The Spectator is right: the Dems are playing for 2008...so who do WE want to run in 2008

Vanity | 1/15/04 | self

[Salgak]

OK, gang.

Barring a catastrophe or another 9/11 attack, it's pretty much a given that President Bush will be re-elected in just under 10 months from today. That's been already listed here on FR today. And Jay Currie has a VERY good point. The Dems KNOW they've already lost this election, and are using it to position for 2008 and, God Help Us, Hillary.

Who do we have / want who is in position to run for the Republican nomination in 2008 ???

Given that President Bush would want to have his successor continue his policies, who you all of you think is a worthy successor to George W. Bush, and our best defense against the Hildebeast ???

[Revolting cat!]

Agreed, but Rice with DeWine sounded so good! (There is no other US senator with gastronomic attributes, I checked.)

[JohnnyZ]

Frist would have to deal with the Senate curse.

Yeah . . . but --

Why do senators have a hard time getting elected president? Is it because they don't project leadership? Or because they're self-important blow-hards who hang out in the world's most exclusive club? Is it because they only have contact with voters every six years?

I think if Frist were to run he'd lay out in a compelling fashion what a Frist Administration would look like, and what its priorities would be. His electoral success in Tennessee was staggering. He is a solid conservative. And he'll have the money to run a good primary campaign.

[kevao]

Pres. Bush's proposal if you must, but at least it's a constructive approach to a nearly impossible situation.

LOL! President Bush's proposal is already doomed to failure, and for the very reason you mock me -- impossible enforcement.

Tell me, My2Cents, what employer is going to hire a "documented" illegal and pay him at least minimum wage plus benefits while a stream of undocumented illegals, willing to work for even less, continues to flood the labor market?

The President's proposal won't do one damned thing except spark a whole new wave of illegals to come into this country to take jobs away from the moron aliens who price themselves out of the market by registering.

[kevao]

By the way, you said I "hide behind the statement that this behavior is 'illegal'" What does that mean?

[JohnnyZ]

Since you seem strongly pro-life, I find it interesting that your tag line is one of Barry Goldwater's most famous quotes. Goldwater was, in the end, pro-choice

Barry Goldwater was, in the end, a lot of very much not conservative things.

[Pubbie]

"Why do senators have a hard time getting elected president? Is it because they don't project leadership? Or because they're self-important blow-hards who hang out in the world's most exclusive club? Is it because they only have contact with voters every six years?"

All of the above - basically they are too entwined in the Bowels of Washington.

"I think if Frist were to run he'd lay out in a compelling fashion what a Frist Administration would look like, and what its priorities would be. His electoral success in Tennessee was staggering. He is a solid conservative. And he'll have the money to run a good primary campaign."

My only problem with Frist is that we desperately need a Border Control candidate to run in 2008 and i don't think Frist is a Border Control candidate.

The only potential candidates that want Border Control are Owens and Sanford.

Everyone else is squishy on the issue.

[JohnnyZ]

Agreed, but Rice with DeWine sounded so good!

Better than Bush with Dick?

[AuH2ORepublican]

I forgot about Governor Don Carcieri of Rhode Island, whom JohnnyZ mentioned. Along with Pawlenty, the pro-life conservative Carcieri, who won the governorship with 55% in the most Democratic state of the union, is someone to keep an eye out for. His biggest problem is that he's from a tiny state that the GOP probably wouldn't carry even if he was the VP candidate and which is in a region with very few winnable states. Ceteris paribus, I'd much rather have a Midwesterner like Pawlenty on the ticket. The Great Northeastern Hope of the GOP was Brett Schundler of New Jersey, but unfortunately he lost to McGreevey in 2001 when the RINO establishment did everything it could to ensure a conservative didn't get elected. Had Schundler won the governorship in 2001 and run New Jersey like he ran Jersey City, he'd be one of my top choices for president or VP in 2008.

And if Herman Cain gets elected to the U.S. Senate from Georgia in November, he'd be a bold choice for VP in 2008. Sure, he'd only have been in politics for 4 years, but as a real-life Horatio Alger story who would be the only black in the U.S. Senate (where he'd surely be a force in favor of individual Social Security accounts and other conservative causes), he could convince millions of conservative blacks (most blacks are socially conservative and agree with the GOP on many issues) to come over to our Party. Herman Cain would give us most of the benefits of nominating a Colin Powell or a Condi Rice without sacrificing our conservative principles. But he has to win the Senate primary first!

[Clemenza]

Anyone but that Gungrabbing, baby killing, big spending, tax raising, union coddling, pro-illegal alien (instructed police not to arrest illegals), cross-dressing, sodomite supporting, two-timing former Mayor of New York.

Rudy for Governor (or Mayor again in 2005), not for President.

BILL OWENS BABY!

[Pubbie]

"I forgot about Governor Don Carcieri of Rhode Island, whom JohnnyZ mentioned. Along with Pawlenty, the pro-life conservative Carcieri, who won the governorship with 55% in the most Democratic state of the union, is someone to keep an eye out for."

Ehh I don't like Carcieri as a POTUS candidate because of the Regional issues - even though he is very Conservative.

We'd be better off running Santorum (To get the Rust Belt), Owens (To Get the West) or Sanford (To get the South).

[Clemenza]

Bill Owens and my former Governor Jeb Bush are the best governors in America, bar none.

Now, I'm back with King RINO Pataki, to be replaced in 2006 by Eliot Spitzer (even worse).

[jaz.357]

The one clear choice: Frank Stallone!

[Gritty]

because his name is Bush most of the country would start in about the Bush monarchy

Unfortunately, you are correct.

However, having hillary and bill back in the White House could be seen as the same thing, and for even better reason. That said, hillary is still well on her way to the coronation, despite all that and be assured the Media will never let the word "dynasty" pass their lips when gushing about her.

From what I understand, Rudi is very pro-gun control, pro-abortion, and very much of a RINO, despite his magnificent leadership during 911. He would easily beat hillary in NY, but the rest of the country is questionable.

So far, I like J. Bush, Allen, Santorum, Barbour or Owens at the top of the ticket. They all have elective experience and would run a good race. For the second line, I would go for Rice, Hayworth, or any of the above who don't make the first cut,... perhaps even J.C. Watts.

The important thing is not letting a RINO onto the top of the ticket and putting somebody in second place who can draw on his/her own, much like Cheney does. They should not be a RINO, either, but in the case of Rice she brightly shines in a lot of needed areas, not just in the sex and race department.

[Pubbie]

I'm stuck with John Rowland!

:(

[Pubbie]

"Boy this thread sure tells one how culturally moderate/liberal FR has become...geez."

Quite you uppity Conservative! - you need to to pipe down and accept the Pro-Abortion, Pro-Illegal Immigrant, Pro Palestinian, Pro AA Condi RINO Rice because she CAN WIN!

(Sarcasm/)

[MainFrame65]

Guilani is good on defense and leadership as well as other issues like crime, but dead wrong on abortion and gun control, and thus dead wrong on the Constitution. What kind of judges would he appoint? Sorry, because he would be a good candidate, but I would have trouble voting for him.

Rice, if she could get herself elected as governor somewhere first, could be a terrific candidate, but she has the same issues problem as Guilani. Pro-choice (even if "reluctantly") and pro-AA on race, so also weak on the Constitution and unlikely to appoint the right kind of judges.

100 senators think that the Senate is the perfect place to learn to be a president, which to me is the perfect reason to NEVER choose someone from the Senate (or the House, for that matter) who has no other qualifications. Can somebody name a great - or even good - president who was elected there from the Senate?

So I tend to look at governors first, followed by the military. Below that, perhaps a cabinet officer (for experience with large issues and organizations) with legislative or very strong business background. And I want to have some answers about how they view issues, particularly issues with Constitutional implications.

I like Jeb Bush. I understand the dynasty issue, but I think he would be on everybody's short list if his name were Jones instead of Bush. I think he has been right on issues, and a forceful leader unafraid to confront his opponents. I also think that he has learned some lessons from watching his brother operate under frightening circumstances.

I also like Bill Owens and George Allen, about equally, and believe that I could happily vote for either of them. Haley Barbour needs to succeed in Mississippi before he could be ready, but that might be coming.

I think that the Bush-Cheney team has redefined the office of Vice President as a true senior executive instead of a "lady in waiting", and it will never be the same again. The Clinton-Gore version was a limp-wristed shadow of what it has become. But it will require a new kind of VP, with the executive competence of a Dick Cheney to carry the load. I do believe that Rice would be up to the task, but it could also go to an appropriate Congressman or Senator with business experience, like Bill Frist. Such an EXECUTIVE VP could be prepared for the presidency, unlike Al Gore.

[adam_az]

You're gonna have to change your Freeper name to "President Billybob."

;)