Posted on 12/28/2006 7:22:02 AM PST by areafiftyone
Every New Year, millions of people around the globe make resolutions to improve themselves. Usually, their extra time at the gym or increased studying doesn’t exactly change the world. But every four years a few people make resolutions that dramatically impact the rest of us. The men and women who decide to run for president of the United States in 2008 will leave an enormous footprint on our country and on each of us whether or not they win control of the White House.
In less than two years, we will elect a new president for our country. But in less than two months a group of folks will begin barnstorming the countryside begging, pleading, and plowing for support. These congressmen, senators, governors, and life-long politicians listed below will use every single day of 2007 to prepare for the election in November 2008.
Potential Democratic Candidates: Retired Gen. Wesley Clark of Arkansas; Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York; Sen. Christopher Dodd of Connecticut; former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina; former Vice President Al Gore; Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts; Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois; Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico; Gov. Tom Vilsack of Iowa
Potential Republican Candidates: Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas; former House Speaker Newt Gingrich; former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani; Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska; Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas; Rep. Duncan Hunter of California; former Gov. Frank Keating of Oklahoma; Sen. John McCain of Arizona; Gov. George Pataki of New York; Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts.
Of these major-party candidates, one democrat and one republican will survive the 2008 primaries. They will vie for the open Oval Office seat left vacant by the departing two-term president, George W. Bush.
Although my guess is as good as yours at this point in the game, I do have some ideas about who will make it to the primaries, and who will become the standard bearers of their parties. For the Democrats, the top three candidates are Hillary Rodham Clinton, Vice President, Al Gore and Barack Obama. All three have solid name recognition, plenty of money (with the exception of Obama), and enough political experience. Although, they each have their problems (Clinton is a left-leaning woman who stirs up vats of animosity. Obama is a bit too young and inexperienced. Gore is steadily reinventing himself.), these three will be the key democratic candidates in 2008, and in the end, will be a photo finish horse race between Clinton and Gore for the nomination. The Democratic winner: Al Gore.
The top three Republican candidates are John McCain, Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani. These three guys bring some serious star power to the game, and despite some minor flaws (McCain consistently upsets his conservative base. Romney’s faith and immigration problems have stirred up a lot of fervor. Giuliani’s three marriages and other relationship problems have been well chronicled.), each could become our next president. The Republican winner: John McCain.
So, the way I see it, in November 2008, you will have a choice of John McCain or Al Gore as the next U.S. president.
Giuliani, the former mayor of New York and 2001 Time “Person of the Year” will energize the Republican base and draw substantial support from independents who respected his handling of the 9/11 attack aftermath and liberal social views. He is a pro-choice Catholic, who supports same-sex civil unions, gun control, and embryonic stem-cell research.
Obama, the junior senator from Illinois, is the latest media created sensation, and made popular beyond his wildest dreams. His central stances and non-polarizing rhetoric make him likable to democrats, independents and conservatives. Time magazine named him one of the “World’s Most Influential People” for his work in America and around the globe. Obama did not have to cast a vote for the Iraq War (he was not yet elected) so the war cannot weigh him down. He opposes gay marriage (but voted against a constitutional ban), is pro-choice, for stem-cell research funding, supportive of affirmative action, and he opposes the death penalty.
Clinton, the former first lady and wife of a former president, has more money and resources than all the Democratic candidates combined. Her name recognition is global and she’s shown her willingness to appeal to conservatives and defend her liberal base as necessary. Though her negatives are in the high 40’s she stands the best chance of any woman in American history of becoming its first female president. With the love affair her liberal base and mainstream media is having with her, this should be an interesting presidential cycle.
Gore is the sleeper in this race. He has been on point with his positions of global warming and gaining many admirers. Many still feel that the 2000 election was taken from him and therefore deserves a credible shot at another chance. Gore has the money contacts and organizations now in place to make a serious bid for the White House.
The 2008 U.S. presidential election will be influenced by more than these three men and the campaigns they wage. For example, if there is a lack of progress in Iraq and Afghanistan, Americans may be looking for a Democratic president no matter whom it is. If the economy is down and the Democratic-led Congress has yet to have a positive impact, the country may look for Republican leadership in the White House once again. The point is; the political climate in the summer and spring of 2008 might choose our president for us.
However, assuming nothing drastic occurs, I will cast my vote for Rudy Giuliani. But I believe the Democratic charge will not let up and Barack Obama will be our 44th president. Regardless of my predictions, the latest polls, or the political climate, just keep your eye on all these people because their 2007 New Year’s resolutions are sure to impact all of our lives.
"...the powers to be..." You must be referring to the tens of millions of voters who have never heard of him.
After I find the pot of gold under the rainbow.
I'd have to vote for McCain. I cannot imagine the disaster a Gore Presidency would be.
Not even the Miracle Man, Obamasalama?
I like Newt........... a lot.
He says he doesn't consider himself a leader and would be happy developing a strategy for this country's future direction - one that both parties can buy into.
However, when Bush tapped Cheney to help him pick his VP, look what happened.
If Newt, can assemble a direction for the future that both parties can buy into, as he described on Meet The Press a few weeks ago, he will be the next president of the United States.
In a showdown between Newt and Gore - Gore gets clobbered.
In a showdown between Newt and Hillary - Hillary gets double clobbered.
In a showdown between Newt, Mc Cain, Guliani or Romney - Newt will do circles around all of them.
For this to work for Gingrich, he MUST develop a future direction for this country that both parties can buy into, and that the average American understands - and agrees with.
That's a very tall order but if anyone can do it, Newt Gingrich can. Hillary can't, Gore can't, McCain can't, Guliani can't and I don't know about Romney.
What I like best about Gingrich is that he is proactive rather than reactive and he's willing to tackle the biggest issues.
... imho
GO NEWT!!! Announce you're running and I'll go to work for you in Illinois. Promise!!!
In this day and age that is easily rectifiable.
Hunter is the ONLY hope the Republicans have for a government run on Republican principles and core American values.
Mitty is a liberal who changes his tune to fit the occasion.
McCain is a loose cannon and an egocentric traitor who simply does not deserve the title.
JulieAnnie is homophilic, pro-abortion, pro-illegal invaders, anti-gun, egomaniacal and has a long record of treachery regarding support for candidates of the party he allegedly claims he wants to represent.
If either of the three RINOS get nominated, Republicans would serve their philosphies and America best by voting for a good third party candidate, hoping the Democrat wins, and try to get a meaningful alternative party to the Bosheviks in the Democrat party established.
That is no example of treason.
Few worked harder than McCain to get the President re-elected he certainly did not commit treason towards him.
Don't EVER underestimate the gullablity of the American voter or the insidiousness of the leftist media - they LOVE this guy.
EXACTLY.
But before that - support Duncan Hunter.
"Wes Clark for the democrats would far and away be best for America. Clark is good in front of a camera."
Excpet when he turns sideways. Then ,like most Democrats, the light from the other side of the room shines through the ear facing you. No Demcorat is a good alternative for America.
As far as the Repubs are concerned, check out Duncan Hunter. I like Gingrich too and would support him if he got the nomination. As for the Media Three Stooges - JulieAnnie, McPain and "Mitty" - forget it. Let the Dems win and start a third party in 2009.
Not really. Every election we see candidates who have long careers before the public eye. Bush-Kerry, Bush-Gore, Clinton-Dole, Clinton-Bush I, Bush I- Dukakis, Reagan-Mondale, Reagan-Carter, Carter-Ford, Nixon-McGovern, Nixon-Humphery. Clinton was not a household name and needed Perot's nonsense to get him into the WH. Carter spent two years making himself known.
There are no examples of unknowns getting the nomination in recent history.
For me, Newt is in the lead.
He's got a bit of baggage, but so do Guiliani and McCain.
He does, like you say, have a tremendous advantage over both Guiliani & McCain....he dreams in Conservative PlayLand.
They dream in the liberal trashland.
He has his own website up, he's running his campaign now, few people knew anything about Clinton when he started, and he's a good man.
If you are really interested, check out his website, or if you are really ambitious, go to THOMAS and check out his Congressional Record - he's been down there a LONG time.
Who is Keating and where can I learn about him?
Many uniformed voters are cuahgt up in the Obama media love fest. There is a strong wave of anti-D.C. establishment attitude in the fruited plains. Many independents feel that Obama is good because he is a freshman Senator and not caught up in the good 'ol boys club.
For example, my father likes Obama because he is an "outsider" and talks a good game. According to him, Obama listens to everyone who disagrees with him. He really liked the fact that Obama visited Rick Warren's church to speak about AIDS preventation. He thinks Obama will be more friendly to evangelicals than Rudy, McCain , or Mitt. I know, it doesn't make much sense. But a lot of swing voters think the same way as my father.
That's the "VERY REVEREND" Jackson.
(What church does the "very reverend" Jackson belong to anyway? Does he have a degree?)
Just look at what happened in November.
I'm just stating my view that this empty suit won't make it through the process. His viability is a media creation.
The Cowboy from New ENgland?
Outwork, or outego?
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