Posted on 12/01/2006 12:05:51 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
With the recent defeat of Sen. George Allen (R-VA) and the surprising withdrawal of Sen. Bill Frist (R-TN) from the presidential race, the right wing of the Republican Party is running out of candidates for president in 2008.
For the centrists within the party, the likely candidacy of Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and the possible option of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani offer attractive possibilities, but whom do the conservatives have to put up against them? Surely the GOP is not about to embrace the pro-choice, pro-gay rights, pro-gun control, pro-affirmative action, pro-immigration Giuliani. (He's fine with us, but not with the party base.) Nor are they likely to find favor with John McCain, co-sponsor -- with Ted Kennedy -- of the immigration amnesty bill, supporter of the rights of detainees to avoid "torture," sponsor -- with Joe Lieberman -- of the anti-global warming initiative, and the original framer of campaign finance reform. Conservatives are also likely to hold his membership in the so-called "gang of fourteen" against him. Back in 2005, he joined six other Republicans and seven Democrats in backing confirmation of moderate judges without a filibuster. Trusting such a person with control over judicial appointments may be a nonstarter on the right. (Again, we're OK with all this, but you don't win in South Carolina with these positions.)
So whom does the right have to put up?
(Excerpt) Read more at vote.com ...
For which party? Certainly Hagel can not win a republican primary.
If there's no chance for a Presidential candidate from the House, then it's time to make a Pence for Indiana Governor a frontline campaign.
That's the problem. The party has been so over-run by the big-government types such that an authentic small government conservative like Chuck Hagel has little to no chance at the nomination.
Did you just say Frank? Barney?
Gimme a break? Willya?
Maybe Guiliani should be the Democrat candidate. Strong on defense--socially liberal. Might work.
Also, has John Kyl expressed any interest in running for Pres.? I guess that with Sen McCain of Az. running, it kind of shuts Kyl out--except maybe as VP.
Where he loses republicans is his role as gadfly and his support of illegal immigrants vis a vis social secutiry benefits, an amnesty of sorts, etc.
Chuck ain't gonna be the nominee but it won't be because he is not a social or fiscal conservative.
And Hagel has been very unsupportive of Bush foreign policy.
Yup, he's a gadlfy. It all stems back to John McCain losing in SC. Neither McCain, Hagel nor Graham ever got over it.
I can predict what won't happen. The Republican party will not embrace the conservative base. Just the opposite. The party will instead move further to the "center" (that's left for those of you in Rio Linda).
The Republican Party will not develop a backbone and call the Dems on their lies.
The party will not blame the liberal wing of the party for its failure(s).
collage=college
That's right. And who ever heard of Jimmy Carter before he ran for President?
The GOP has no conservative to run?
Why have a GOP?
My understanding was that many detractors don't like him due to his foreign policy views, specifically on Iraq. Personally, I think this is one of his strongest points, as he has consistently been shown to be correct in his asssertions.
On immigration, Hagel supported the guest worker bill in the Senate, including a path to citizenship. I think that we have to secure our borders for security reasons, but we should loosen our immigration laws and make it easier to become a U.S. citizen. This will simultaenously give us the low-wage workers that we need without having millions of unknown people in the country, since they no longer have any incentive to come illegaly. Given the the U.S.'s long inconsistency on border issues (i.e. talk tough but look the other way because we need the workers), it's hard to fault the illegals for taking job opporunities that were available and better than anything in their home country. I think this is pretty similar to Hagel's position.
As far as social security benefits, welfare, etc. for illegals, small-government types like Chuck Hagel (and myself) favor reducing and/or eliminating a lot of these entitlement programs across the board, so the effect of illegal immigrants because much smaller in that respect.
Yeah, I like Fred. He's a pretty good actor, too.
Tom Selleck--my oh my. I'd vote for him anytime--even if he didn't run.
(.....and to the strings, the woodwinds, the brass, the percussion............).
Leni
Your understanding is wrong. The republican base doesn't care for Chuck Hagel because he held a grudge against Bush for the SC primary in 2000 and went out of his way to slam Bush with the talking heads.
And BTW, Hagel voted for the war in Iraq.
On immigration, Hagel supported the guest worker bill in the Senate, including a path to citizenship. I think that we have to secure our borders for security reasons, but we should loosen our immigration laws and make it easier to become a U.S. citizen. This will simultaenously give us the low-wage workers that we need without having millions of unknown people in the country, since they no longer have any incentive to come illegaly. Given the the U.S.'s long inconsistency on border issues (i.e. talk tough but look the other way because we need the workers), it's hard to fault the illegals for taking job opporunities that were available and better than anything in their home country. I think this is pretty similar to Hagel's position.
Ronald Reagan tried that. Result? 13 million more illegals.
As far as social security benefits, welfare, etc. for illegals, small-government types like Chuck Hagel (and myself) favor reducing and/or eliminating a lot of these entitlement programs across the board, so the effect of illegal immigrants because much smaller in that respect.
:-} Right, which is why Senator Hagel voted to extend SS benefits to illegals in May 2006.
Like I said, Senator Hagel has a very conservative voting record. And also like I said, Hagel won't be the nominee despite his impressive social and fiscal voting records.
Man, I wish Cheney could run.
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