My short list might be (listed alphabetically within tier):
Top tier:
Duncan Hunter
Fred Thompson
Mid tier:
Sam Brownback
Jim Gilmore
New Gingrich
Mike Huckabee
Mitt Romney
Tom Tancredo
Tommy Thompson
Bottom tier:
John McCain (I don’t like him, but I’d probably take him over any of the below)
Ruled out:
Rudy Giuliani (pro-abort, etc liberal)
Chuck Hagel (turn coat)
Ron Paul (against the war)
You and I agree on the top two. Perhaps you could pass that on to one of the rabid dogs running loose around here. I pinged you earlier but you haven’t responded yet.
Take a look at THIS DOCUMENT and see what I'm talking about. It's lengthy and clearly demonstrates Romney's liberal record. He's not nearly as bad as Giuliani, but he's FAR too liberal.
Here's more:
The REAL Mitt Romney (YouTube Video)
"I believe that abortion should be safe and legal in this country. I have since the time that my mom took that position when she ran in 1970 as a US Senate candidate. I believe that since Roe v. Wade has been the law for 20 years we should sustain it and support it." Boston Globe, Oct. 26, 1994.
"I respect and will protect a woman's right to choose."
Mitt Romney, in a 2002 letter to the National Abortion Rights Action League.
"Mitt Romney supports the strict enforcement of gun laws. He is a supporter of the federal assault weapons ban." Romney for Governor website
Bump, thanks for posting that list of candidates and how you view them.