Who do you want to run in '08?
You know, in a thread about Romney, I was putting that same question to the folks that were hammering him. The point is well-taken, and I certainly don't want to be a naysayer.
In fact, I would say of those that are looking but not for sure running, Newt would actually be near the top for me. I would personally prefer Newt to Allen, who appears to be the "conservative" front runner.
Good grief. I would think that in a country of 265 million people, some 50 million of whom are probably legitimately conservative, we could do better than George Allen. How I wish Charlton Heston were not old and frail.
Now, all that said, I would definitely like to see Pence run. But I fear a) that he won't, and b) if he does, he will no longer be a Congressman and then he will retire from public life. This is unacceptable as Pence simply must carry our banner someday.
As between those that are currently running, I like Giuliani least. I like Romney, as I think he is a capable and serious human being. I fear he is not a conservative. I like Allen less, because though he might be instinctively conservative, I fear he is not a capable or serious human being.
I like Newt a lot and certainly wish he were our Speaker, or that he had served his full 8 years. But Newt is far from perfect as previously noted. He may never be President, but he has a role to play, I think.
At the end of the day, I want a man who can say that he is against prescription drugs, against McCain Feingold, for the war on terror, against wild spending, for entitlement reform, pro life and pro marriage (period...no exceptions...as if we should be trying to nuance these issues), and for appointing Thomas/Alito/Scalia types to the courts. And that he can do all of the above without looking like a crank. So far only Pence can do that. Which is a sad commentary....