Posted on 12/09/2004 5:38:16 PM PST by SussexCountyDE
Dick Morris gets it right by taking every side of the issue. If he had been a ouija board, it would have looked like a clock swinging back and forth between "yes" and "no" on every question.
I don't know how Rudy would play here. A lot of the ethnic Catholics here (myself included) are pro-Life and pro-2a which goes against Rudy. The Catholic life advocates are usually the most hardline against pro-abort Catholics. I don't think my mom will vote for Rudy under any circumstance because of the life issue alone. My dad's vote is easier for Rudy to get, but that's not a given either as he is also pro-life.
On the same note, Rudy's tough, and that is very popular here among much of the same crowd. John Engler's slogan was "Tough enough to bring Michigan back". If he wants to win here, he has to be very careful with the social conservatives here, and go hard-right with a populist streak on economic issues to gain some of those votes. Economic issues killed Bush here, along with the black turnout.
And I don't think Michigan blacks will warm to Rudy very much. I expect Amadou Diallo (shot at 40 times) to be rammed down the throats of voters in Detroit, Flint, and Saginaw to the same effect James Byrd was for Bush in 2000.
There are more social conservatives than economic conservative here, but both have to be staunchly united for a Republican to win here because of Detroit. Can Rudy do it? I don't believe so.
I understand that, back to back brothers as presidents creeps me out a little too. How ever, if the Bush II term is a success he could beat hillary. If nothing else, he would be a lock for the senate against Nelson in '06.
I'm one of the minority here who hopes she does run.
Step 1 - She needs to win re-election as senator in 2006 - and that could be a tall order if Rudy runs against her. This is where Giuliani can hurt Hillary the most and help the Republicans the most.......very high profile campaign, very expensive and, most importantly, her positions would become more evident to the electorate.
Step 2 - Along about the time of the 2006 election, Vice President Cheney steps down for a "u-pick-it" reason. Condi is chosen as VP. This does 2 things.....it will lessen the last two years as a lame duck status for GWB (Somebody has to be a threat to exact favors or "pounds of flesh" in Congress. It couldn't be Cheney since we know he won't run.). And, it gives Condi enough time to establish bona fides as a presidential candidate in 2008. So..........
If Hillary loses in 2006, she will be greatly diminished as a candidate. If she holds on to her senate seat, she will be tarnished and Condi will thump her badly. Finally......
Watch out for Bill Richardson or Evan Bayh....one of these gentlemen have every bit as good of a chance of being the dems nominee in 2008 as Hillary.
Just my take......
Lando
BTW - Rudy has a better shot against Hillary than Bill Richardson.
I love Condi, but Morris is full of crap. Hillary can't win. Remember the polls during the primaries, when there was speculation that Hillary would run? Her numbers were dismal.
Hillary couldn't get elected if she was the only candidate. her negatives have never fallen below 60%. Kwese Mfume could beat her.
That thing on the side of McCain's head.
Totally agree with your characterization of the state. Populist Republicans work well up there. I think McCain would have taken that state pretty easily. I always wondered if GWB was just too southern for some MI voters. Rudy would definitely have to make peace with social conservatives if he were to even get the nomination, let alone start worrying about which states he can win.
Hillary knows the political landscape has changed dramatically.
The political ground under her prez ambitions has shifted, and she is on very shaky ground.
I, for one, am not worried about any Dem candidate they would dig up. Losers, losers, losers.
Condi would have to establish some very serious conservative credentials ....as far as we know, she is not pro-life....and that is a must for a Republican candidate. She is out of the running is she so much as hints that abortion might be somebody's (gag) right.
Bingo
Liz, perhaps you are right. But, I think the shift in the black vote and even the women vote would offset that and then some. Condi would be very, very formidable.
BTW.....I've been off the reservation for awhile myself. I hope you are well and looking forward to Christmas and the New Year.
Lando
If he's bottling whatever juju he has going to still have a gig, I'll take two cases.
UnFreakingBelievable that this dude gets face time and cred.
I don't think Giuliani will run against Hillary in 2006. He just started an investment-banking firm, and I doubt his partners would have gone for it without a promise of 2 years of relatively undistracted commitment.
I think Black conservatives---- who are very, very savvy and sophisticated voters----would be as wary of Condi as white conservatives, if she starts spouting liberal social issue positions.
I'm fine Lando, and busy planning for the holidays, thanks.
One 3 letter word, JEB, can beat Hillary.
I'm voting for Mark Sanford, currently governor of South Carolina.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Most Conservatives underestimate how good a campaigner Hillary is. She won New York when many thought she had no chance. Now she's campaigning around the state and later she will expand her campaing nationally.
One question is how Ms Rodham will use the Patriot Act and who she will appoint to the Homeland Security and Intelligence Czar's offices.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.