KEATING FOR PRESIDENT?

Real Clear Politics ^ | December 02, 2006 | Robert Novak

[FloridianBushFan]

Former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating, in a recent lunch with veteran Republican political consultant Ed Rollins, explored the prospects of his making a run for president. Rollins replied that he should run only if he could raise a sufficient war chest.

Snip...

The rationale for Keating's presidential ambitions is the absence of a clear and viable right-of-center presidential candidate now that Sen. George Allen has been eliminated by his defeat for re-election in Virginia. Keating is a conservative and a prominent Catholic layman who at one time was a prospect to be George W. Bush's running mate in 2000.

[FloridianBushFan]

Don't know a lot about him. Does anyone think he would have a chance?

I guess let the bashing begin as it does in all of these threads about possible 08 contenders.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

Is he into compassionate (socialist) conservatism? I want someone with a moral sense who doesn't believe in big government.

[Lunatic Fringe]

...now that Sen. George Allen has been eliminated by his defeat for re-election in Virginia...

I don't remember reading this in the American Politics Rule Book! Just because Allen lost his Senate race, it does not eliminate him as a viable candidate.

"You won't have Nixon to kick around anymore..."

[alice_in_bubbaland]

I like and would consider voting for him. He is a Roman Catholic as I am. Is the country ready for a Catholic Pro Life President? Sadly, I don't think so.

[kjo]

He'd have to do a Jimmy Carter: move to Iowa and campaign for two years. It's doable, but unlikely. Carter had the MSM mostly on his side, always protraying him as a gritty, down-to-earth conservative Democrat. In addition, Carter had the extra-factor of being from the South; that was new and different in 1975-'76. Today it's old hat.

I don't see it. Looks like we get McLame, Rudy, or Romeny. Hold your nose and take your pick.

[furquhart]

I thought that Keating had something in his background which kept Bush from taking him as VP in 2000.

[WinOne4TheGipper]

It isn't 1968 anymore. Isn't Reagan the last president to have had "time off" between his last political office and the presidency?

[Coldwater Creek]

I really like Frank Keating, but he has some baggage that might be a problem, including his wife!

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

If McLame, Rudy or Romney are our choices then the Dems win even if we win.

[MizSterious]

Ex-governor of Oklahoma running for President ping!

[kjo]

Exactly. That's why the MSM, which is the Dem pimp media are pushing these guys.

[Coldwater Creek]

I'm not a Catholic, but I can't understand why you think that Evangelical's would not support a pro-life social, fiscal conservative!

[republicanwizard]

Yeah, except Nixon lost because of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Allen lost because his IQ doesn't come close to being in the triple digits.

[AdvisorB]

One thing is clear, there won't be a McCain-Keating ticket in 2008 or any other Presidential year.

[Coldwater Creek]

I could be wrong, but I think that the baggage came after 2000. Keating is former FBI. What happened probably wasn't illegal, just unethical.

[Torie]

"During the United States presidential election, 2000, Keating, while still Governor of Oklahoma, was considered a potential candidate for the Republican nomination of Vice President of the United States under George W. Bush. After Bush choice Dick Cheney, and won the Presidential election, Keating was a contender for U.S. Attorney General in Bush’s administration. However, he was rejected when it was reported that from 1990 through 1997 Keating had accepted gifts of nearly $250,000 from mutual fund pioneer Jack Dreyfus. Keating publicly stated that the gifts were fully disclosed and were approved by the Federal Office of Government Ethics."

I don't think so.

[Diver Dave]

I don't see it. Looks like we get McLame, Rudy, or Romeny. Hold your nose and take your pick.

Did you just tell me to pick my nose?
I'll trade ya a black one for a green one.

Oh.... I was speed-reading. Never mind.

[Torie]

Keating ping.

[kjo]

Cuban Missile Crisis was in 1962; Nixon lost in '60.

[LdSentinal]

I don't remember reading this in the American Politics Rule Book! Just because Allen lost his Senate race, it does not eliminate him as a viable candidate.

Yes it does. If a Republican can't win Virginia he can't win the presidency.