[Smokin' Joe]

You got it. With nothing to choose from, no real difference on many core issues (remember 'family values', anyone?), the base will fail to be energized and just not vote or vote third party.

The lesson of the midterms was no one wants Republicans who act like Democrats, and a couple of good people got caught up in that backlash, too.

In the meantime, the Dems shifted to the right with their campaign rhetoric and took the swing vote.

Let's not repeat that in the POTUS election.

Anybody else notice Hillary morphing to the right over the last year? That reinventing stuff can be potent with the DBM beating your drum endlessly, waaay out of proportion for a junior Senator. She will get gobs more free 'face time' to weave a new web of lies for '08--and those who do not remember will buy in. New (young) voters have traditionally been fertile fields for the Democrat plow, and after being heavily manured, generally yield well for them.

Whoever goes up against that will be picked apart if the opportunity presents itself, and the media will orchestrate one, if need be.

Frankly, Rudy would be shredded. He does have a place at the table, so to speak, and can do the party a lot of good, but not as the candidate for POTUS.

[SUSSA]

Republicans will be a minority party for decades if they nominate Giuliani. Republicans can't win by trying to out Democrat the Democrats.

[justshutupandtakeit]

You must be looking at a different person if you believe ANYONE can "shred" Rudy. He chews up and spits out opponents on a regular basis.

[Luis Gonzalez]

"...the Dems shifted to the right with their campaign rhetoric and took the swing vote."

The center elects, so if the GOP swings a bit to the left, the swing vote comes back to them.