Hmmm...in retrospect that WAS the first time the RINOs were celebrated and given a prominent place at the head of the GOP table, but also a hint of direction of things to come. Turned me off to the GOP as well, although I did vote for Viagra-Man :-).
Gotta disagree with ya pardner about Dole having any chance at beating Clinton. He ran an absolutely abysmal campaign. And IMO, the GOP tried to counter Bubba with moderate "compassionate conservative" with a RINO flavor and predictably got slaughtered. On the other hand also don't believe the GOP really wanted to win in '96, but rather set the table for future RINOs "leadership."
You're probably right. His campaign was painful to watch I do remember that much. How can a nation as great as the USA end up each and every election year with such pathetic choices in two parties? What was the point in not putting up a good challenger to Clinton. Even if they loose you still put up a good candidate to at least present the party platform. As one poster who used to be around likes to say you were waiting for them to get on stage and start singing "We are the world". Right now the GOP has a couple of decent possibilities in the conservative wings. Watch for the media to start offering up their liberal GOP choice any day now. I'm watching the Independents also. 2008 would be the time to really push for it IMO. Especially if the candidate for POTUS is more of the same.
I can't go with Condi though. The State Department isn't a good place to get political balance. I'm disappointed in the State Departments doings anyway. Too much coddling to rouge states and too much restraint and pressure placed on nations terrorist states have it in for such as Israel.
A Tancredo/Sessions ticket might be interesting though :>} Certainly that would be a welcomed opposing platform against the Dems than what we have seen since 1989.