Republican presidential nominee 2008

[Reader of news]

Here is a list of possible candidates: -Rudy Giuliani -George Pataki -Bill Frist -Rick Santorum -Bill Owens -Mark Sanford -Chuck Hagel -Mitt Romney -Sam Brownback -Condoleezza Rice

[inquest]

This same shortcoming is what hurt Bob Dole in '96, and another good example is the guy who challenged Swarzenegger in the primaries in CA...he was so memorable, I forgot his name already.

Dole was hurt more by the fact that he had no real platform, just a bunch of flaccid platitudes. And McClintock was plenty electable. This was proven by polls which asked people whom they would actually prefer as governor.

Just MHO...I like Tancredo but realistically, he doesn't have a chance in a national election.

He has a considerably greater chance than Santorum, whom many people here say is electable. The public is not going to vote for someone perceived as a "religious righter".

[Gothmog]

Check out post #99 -- Sen. George Allen was VA Gov.

[Blessed]

>GOP -- Sen. George Allen VA -- <

He needs a personality. He came off as a light weight against Corzine on Meet the Press yesterday.

[inquest]

Just about everything.

I see. You have no real point to make, so you're just blowing smoke. Very typical indeed for your crowd.

Here's a little brain teaser for you. If you think Bush's amnesty plan is so popular, then why hasn't it been passed yet? Why is the GOP leadership waiting for the lame duck session to act on it?

[PJ-Comix]

I haven't included Jeb Bush because he plans to retire in 2007, after leaving the Governor mansion.

Retire from State politics.

What do you think?

That you're WRONG. You should have kept Jeb on the list. He is definitely going to be in the running. Plus since he speaks FLUENT (with almost no Gringo accent) Spanish I think he could capture over half the Hispanic vote which makes him a formidable candidate for President.

[inquest]

I can understand though if you don't care at all about winning which you don't seem to.

Give it up. You're not convincing anyone.

[PJ-Comix]

My girlfriend is from Venezuela and is completely apolitical (she doesn't even have much of an opinion one way or another about Hugo Chavez) but when she sees Jeb Bush on Spanish language television speaking fluent Spanish (with hardly a trace of an accent) she gets very favorably animated. Ditto for her Hispanic friends. And if a Republican can win at least half the Hispanic vote in 2008 he would be a shoo-in.

[Gothmog]

I missed that, he must have had a bad day. I remember when he ran for Gov. in 1993 (IIRC). He was very good, take no prisoners. Plus, he took out an incumbent Sen. (Robb) which is tough to do.

[PJ-Comix]

I cannot concentrate on '08, but McCain might run in '08 add him to your list.

Maybe not. McCain is already about 65 years old. Has skin cancer (ever notice that big patch on his face?). And is the author of the WORST piece of legislation in years which has FAILED completely (McCain-Feingold).

[oyez]

I like to hear Jeb Bush's name thrown in to agitate the libs. I remember back in the early '60's when the Democrats taunted a Kennedy Dynasty. Turnabout is fair play,

[onyx]

I wrote "might run" ---

McCain is 68 years old right now.
I know about his skin cancer too.
I am just telling y'all that another
run might be on his mind.

[azcap]

Bush-Romney would be a great ticket. I think the talk of Bush-Fatigue is real, but it is only a media phenomenon. He would get nominated and the networks would say "will America really elect another Bush" the requisite 1000 times and then they would just have to get on with it. Jeb is a good conservative Republican. He locks up the South, his home state of FL, TX by default, and his Spanish (language and family) give him a big boost in states like AZ, NM, NV, & CO. Romney is strong as a VP for all the reasons listed in earlier posts and his only weakness (religious stereotype) is overcome by running with Bush. If Romney could deliver MA it would be all over but the shouting.

 

[MarcoPolo]

Amen to that! God bless them.

[inquest]

I like to hear Jeb Bush's name thrown in to agitate the libs.

And how exactly would that advance conservatism? Agitating them over something of principle is a necessary step. Agitating them over something stupid is just going to enable them to win over more of the undecided masses.

[Texas_Dawg]

If you think Bush's amnesty plan is so popular, then why hasn't it been passed yet?

Did I say it was?

[Texas_Dawg]

There are a lot of so-called conservatives at FR who believe that going out of their way to bash Hispanics (they're not racist, of course... sigh...) is a good way to get conservatives elected.

[Reader of news]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1179303/posts

"Jeb Bush said he doesn't want anything to distract from his brother's reelection campaign -- especially talk that he is looking to succeed the president in 2008.

Bush continues to publicly say he will return to private life in Miami once he leaves the governor's mansion in January 2007.

SNIP

One friend of Jeb Bush says he sees the governor's plan to maintain a low profile in New York City as proof that he is not planning to mount his own bid for the presidency any time soon. Saying that the 51-year-old Bush is a ''young guy,'' former Florida House speaker John Thrasher says Bush has plenty of time to plan a run for higher office.

''I think he's trying not to create expectations,'' said Thrasher. ``I think he's going to take a break. I think he and his family are ready to go back to Miami.''

[HapaxLegamenon]

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN)

[Gumdrop]

A strong record as governor and conservative - Minnesota's Tim Pawlenty. And, he's rather good-looking too and quite young yet. I think Tim's star is going to rise in the next few years. Although, I do not know whether he's be interested in a national spont on a ticket. He's a great speaker.

[inquest]

If it's not popular, then that kinda disproves your earlier suggestion that candidates adopt their positions based solely on popularity. Oftentimes they adopt a position based on how well it will serve the interests of those with the most power. NAFTA, the WTO, CAFTA, and the FTAA are cases in point. They all have strong bipartisan support, but very little public support (which, again, is why the WTO had to be passed during a lame duck session in 1994).