Thanks.
What an ugly situation. I thought for years that one of W's failings was not grooming any successors. Normally it's the VP, but W picked one who (A) is an excellent VP, (B) would make a good candidate and president, (C) was not going to run, period.
You are 100% correct -- there is a total void. We didn't concentrate enough on electing good Conservative Governors either -- now states like OK have a liberal Dem heading them. We nominated the wrong candidates to run and took everything forgranted that the Country was turning conservative because that is what the pundits told us.
We were clobbered here statewide in OK with a social conservative at the top of the ticket with no real plan to fix the State just that he would be better than the current Governor -- worst run campaign I have ever witnessed. So Governor Sleeps a Lot will be here for four more years and is a huge Clinton supporter. We have a pro-abortion liberal Lt Gov now -- first time since 1994 a Republican hasn't held that seat. We had a Republican running for State Senate that isn't 100% pro-life (being kind) who beat out a 100% pro-life Dem.
After the 2006 election here in OK, I knew I had to support someone who could win and I agreed with on the WOT, etc. After getting clobbered statewide, I knew even in OK we could not nominate for President someone that couldn't reach out across the board to various groups.
I love Dick Cheney but that was one of the drawbacks in naming him VP. Even look at the cabinet -- there is no one there you could draw on to be a candidate. Our State Parties have done a louzy job as well in recruiting good statewide candidates for Governor so we could draw from there.
Am hearing from other Freepers that did the same research and came to the same conclusion -- we don't have a bench. That's why I would rather support Rudy who I agree with completely on the WOT, smaller government, less taxes, national security and appointing judges like Alito, Roberts, and Scalia to the SCOTUS and other federal benches. I want a candidate that can win and beat any DemocRAT out there!