[alessandrofiaschi]

Instead this ticket: Rice-Coulter.

[Moose4]

If not 2008, then Sanford definitely looks good down the road in 2012 or 2016. He's young, telegenic, intelligent, articulate, and doing a good job to try and get a financial handle on things here in South Carolina. He's somewhat hamstrung by the fact that SC has one of the weakest executive branches of any state government. The Legislature really runs things down here, and he hasn't always been able to carry them along with him.

}:-)4

[luciuscrassus]

thought you'd be interested.

[inquest]

The article is short on discussing his actual conservative credentials. It doesn't even go into what his positions are at all. But I don't just want to know what his "positions" are; I want to know what he's actually fought for. And if he hasn't fought hard for anything, then I'm not interested; I'll stick with Tancredo.

[First_Salute]

Mark Sanford for President

[Digger]

Yet the powers that be are already planning for the future. Karl Rove, the liberal Republicans from D.C. the Corporations whose dollars own half the congressmen in Washington - all these are even now planning for the future. Conservatives have been outflanked for years by the Dark Force within the Republican Party. Consider the GOP's three last Presidential choices, George H.W. Bush, Bob Dole and George W. Bush were all elevated above better men to receive their parties nomination.

So true. This is why we need a viable conservative 3rd party.

[JohnnyZ]

In summary:

"Bush is evil! Sanford for President!"

Not exactly the best way to win people over.

[ChuckK]

Sanford would undoubtedly sweep the South and West, from Florida to Montana.

Any Republican candidate should be able to do this.

The only area, necessary to secure would then be the Mid-west.

This is why Tim Pawlenty would be a better choice.

[fish hawk]

I'm pretty much into politics and I never heard of him. By the way welcome to Free Republic, I see you just joined today.

[bigjoesaddle]

Any relation???

[RockinRight]

Amen!!

Ping!

[RockinRight]

As for the liberal, 'Bush' Republicans, a careful choice of an Eastern, moderate running mates, perhaps Governors Mitt Romney or George Pataki, or Senators Judd Gregg would secure them.

I disagree here. While Bush is definitely not the fiscal conservative we'd hoped him to be, most Bush voters would support an heir to Reagan like Sanford without having to put in a fuzzy moderate running mate, methinks.

[Dan from Michigan]

My problem with this article is that it's more of a Bush bash instead of a pro-Sanford article.

Being up here in Michigan, I want to know why Sanford is such a great guy. Especially since I don't know that much about him(although I've heard good things.)

[Lady In Blue]

It's too bad that you didn't use this space to talk more about Sanford and his family. Our President is a good man and a great President. Gov.Sanford might need his help one day so it's best not to bash President Bush. I was kind of leaning towards Sanford but now,thanks to you, I'll go with someone else.

[RockinRight]

The hard part is that Sanford himself has said he doesn't plan to run for President...

But other things he's said suggests he's open to it but not waying now. Here's his reply in 2003 (during an interview with Columbia World publisher Warren Smith) when asked about his political future:

It is interesting, because everyone comes at you with the crazy ideas. You ought to do this, and you ought to do that. It is very important in life, in politics, not to get ahead of yourself. One of the most valuable lessons that God ever taught me was this: The only day you’ve got is the day you have. You don’t have yesterday, and you don’t have tomorrow.

For instance, if I had planned to run for governor when I was in Congress, I would not have voted some of the ways I did. I remember a whole host of votes where it was me alone or me and Ron Paul. Votes that were not in my best interest politically, but I wasn’t worried about it because I thought they were the right votes.

Sounds to me he's open to the idea!

[traviskicks]

signed the petition. we need someone to slash and burn the federal government.

[slowhand520]

Samford on the issues:

http://www.issues2000.org/Mark_Sanford.htm

[Osage Orange]

Fred Sanford..I'd consider.

Your guy...I've never heard of.

Welcome to FR...

[CWW]

Mark was my fraternity brother at Furman University in South Carolina. He's the real deal and a great guy. What you see is what you get. His family is from the low country -- Buford, S.C. If you are a conservative, he's your man. If you are pro-second amendment, he's really your man. I remember as a young student when I went to his hunting cabin on the S.C. coast and saw first hand his love of duck hunting. Very impressive. His father died my sophomore year and I remember how touched I was that he buried his father under a favorite family tree on their farm.

Also, although Mark is well off, not just from his family's success but for his own success, you would never know it. He drove a beat up old vehicle in college and wore bean duck boots and khakis that were fraying at the bottom. Very unpretentious. He's a true renaissance man -- he can converse comfortably with kings and paupers.

Mark is truly a man of integrity, and he is very bright. I personally will volunteer to work on his campaign here in Alabama.

[mombrown1]

George Allen for President 2008. He is the only one that can beat the Clintons.