No, that was way too close. But we'd have done fine if Bush could speak clearly and articulately.
If in a year the primaries start up and it truly looks like no other candidate could articulate the conservative message in a way that would resonate with the voters, the question of "electability" might have some merit.
Right now, the goal is to get a good conservative into the "electable" category. Rudy already is way ahead of democrats. We don't need to spend a year building him up. We need to spend a year finding someone who can take his place.
Except for the few people who actually like ALL of Rudy's positions, I don't see why the majority of Rudy supporters can't support pushing conservative candidates out front to see how they do, rather than being so defeatest already to spend their time trying to demoralize the rest of us.
I would note that I spent some time attacking the hunterites who were so completely against Rudy that I thought they were self-destructive. I'm trying to keep options open for the election. But the Rudy people have really pushed me against him with their amorality and pragmatism.
they will have to enter the race - Gingrich, Thompson, whomever.
I am not sure what happened this time around with republicans. the way this race has "setup" here in the early going, was quite predictable. and the portions of the base who are upset with particular candidates - also predictable. why no other candidates saw this as an opportunity to get in, I don't know.
but at some point, if nothing new emerges, we have to play the hand we are dealt. we can't just "fold".
I'm trying to keep options open for the election. But the Rudy people have really pushed me against him with their amorality and pragmatism.
--
ditto