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.
Um I guess this was written before Edwards did his BIG DIG photo op!
Which one of us is going to run as a third party candidate?
That won't do it. He has to get 270 electoral votes.
If you can't make up your mind between a guy with an 80% conservative voting record (McCain) and a guy with an 10% conservative voting record (Gore), then you deserve four years of Al "Bill Clinton is one our greatest Presidents" Gore. Have fun with Al and don't say you weren't warned when he royally screws you. I, for one, will be voting AGAINST envirowacko policies, abortion on demand, tax payer funded embryonic cloning, gay "unions", repeal of the patriot act, and selling our country to the red Chinese. The guy you "couldn't vote for" will be there the whole time to remind you he would have opposed those things.
I'll be voting for a guy who hates "the disingenuous filmmaker" Michael Moore over a guy who has profusely apologized to "the real President" for backing Nader over him.
Al Quada thanks for you being unwilling to support someone who will keep the patriot act and is committed to winning in Iraq over someone who is eager to repeal the patriot act and cut and run. If enough Americas feel the same way, they can vaporize plenty of Zionist pigs in their next jihad.
That said, there's a problem with history: Rudy has never lost a primary to someone else and then had to campaign for them. And if it's nasty, he's support may be tepid at best. Rudy strikes me as someone who can hold a grudge.
My Presidential Predictions for 2008 (Armstrong Williams)
How much was williams paid for this piece???
A Michigander and so-called moderate Republican said two days into his Presidency: "When you wish for a government that can give you everything you want, be careful because that same government can take from you everything you have." God rest his soul.
Gore and Kerry are both damaged goods. This should be Clinton, Obama, and Edwards, and Obama will fall by the wayside, leaving a two-person race.
It won't be surprised to see Edwards get it based on electability. Frankly, I'd rather see Edwards in there than Shrillary or Osama Obama.
I doubt very much Rudy would hold a grudge. Rudy has too much on his plate and too much going for him to be that petty. He's very popular and could even run for Senator or Governor or anything else. He'd probably back the winner of the Republican primary and campaign for him. I'm sure he will be at the Republican Convention giving one of his speeches!!
What kind of spin could make 49 other states vote for him and still hold the votes of New York's anti-gun naturalized immigrant families and friends? He would have to blatantly lie to one set or the other.
If it came down to McCain and Gore, I suspect I would risk soiling my pants and vote for Bob Barr.
I suspect that Mike Huckabee will make a stronger showing than anyone currently can imagine.
Three of the last five Presidents have been Southern Governors.
Duncan Hunter seems to be running aa a protest candidate and that's about where he's going to stay. Brownback seems to be saying whatever people want to hear. Like it or not, the GOP primaries will be dominated by the moderates-McCain, Giuliani and Romney. We had eight years of a big-government, Christian Fundamentalist nanny-stater in the White House and people are looking for change.
Not so fast. You're already forgetting that the voters replaced Santorum with Rendell (another empty suit).
I just have a problem getting that picture in my mind's eye.
Yeah, I can see him holding out for a good Cabinet position of his choice. Just not SCOTUS, thank you very much.
If he is a good conservative, I wish him the best. There are not enough of them in elected office.
from Dec 28th.
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