Posted on 01/05/2008 3:12:12 PM PST by PlainOleAmerican
Days after the first 2008 primary contest in Iowa, only two things are clear. One of the following five men will be the Republican nominee for 2008 and nobody knows which one.
Mike Huckabee - Mitt Romney - Fred Thompson - John McCain - Rudy Giuliani
No matter how we feel about any of these five men, one of them will be the Republican nominee for 2008. Each represents a very different idea of what it is to be “republican” or “conservative.” The time to make excuses or nuanced explanations for past policy positions has passed. The time to choose the next leader of America’s conservative movement, the Republican Party, has come.
Which of these men we choose through the primary process will determine how well the Republican Party can unite next November to defeat the Democrat nominee, be it Obama, Edwards or Clinton. The wrong choice will leave the party fractured and divided on ideological lines, and the door for another 1992 styled Democrat victory wide open. The right choice will bring all Republican voters into the booth for an Election Day victory.
It’s Time for Republicans to Take a Stand
Iowa voters sent a clear undeniable message. They took a stand. But what did they say?
Iowa Republicans chose Mike Huckabee, an affable guitar playing former Baptist minister who was Governor of Arkansas. A quick tongued jovial man who speaks the language of the common average American, with a pulpit styled sense of humor and a gentle ease of delivery.
Why did Iowa choose a Southern Pastor for President?
He’s clearly not the most conservative candidate in the race. He’s also not the most qualified, the best known or the best funded.
But he is the most “likable” which is to say, someone the people feel they can “trust.”
The Jilted Lover Syndrome
Conservative voters across this nation are still angry over the past performance of the Republican controlled congress and the Republican White House. Both spent money like a drunken Kennedy at a Martha’s Vineyard lawn party, fought for open borders like Howard Dean counting illegal voters at the border and allowed what should have been a six month mission in Iraq to drift into a five year police action while Bin Laden still slips around Pakistan untouched.
In short, Republican voters don’t trust Republican politicians much more than Democrat politicians, whom they don’t trust at all.
So, beyond a resume’, a list of perfect conservative votes or the distinguishing backbone of an obvious leader, voters are looking for someone they can “trust” to carry out whatever their promises might be. After all, broken promises are worthless promises.
Slick vs. Substance – Rhetoric vs. Reality
Liberals have always fallen for slick rhetoric over substance or reality. But conservatives have always preferred real substance, less impressed by slick rhetoric from sly salesmen.
Jilted by the last Republicans they put in power, they are being even more careful than normal in choosing the next leader of their party, as well they should. As a result, the race is far from settled. But the message is clear… Slick isn’t going to cut it in 2008. Reality will trump rhetoric in the Republican primary process, or Democrats will win in ’08.
The Five
Rather than writing my opinions about each of the five potential nominees, I am interested in testing the fire in the belly of the average Republican voter. I want to know if Republican voters are really ready to unite behind conservative principles at the foundation of the Republican Party, or if they are still trying to negotiate the middle ground, split hairs and nominate a candidate aligned only marginally to the right of the Democrat candidates.
Assuming that one of these five men will indeed be the ultimate Republican nominee, which do you feel is best qualified to carry the conservative agenda of the Republican Party forward in the 2008 general election?
Vote only once please. Visit http://www.jb-williams.com to cast your vote. The results will be the subject of my next column, so please vote before Midnight Monday January 7, 2008.
JB Republican Primary Poll
Which candidate do you support for President?
Fred Thompson 70.9% 95
Rudy Giuliani 11.2% 15
Mike Huckabee 6.7% 9
Mitt Romney 6% 8
John McCain 5.2% 7
total votes: 134
This format is much better and gives a candidate a better chance to shine. I really believe that this time around we need a true articulate leader and not a politician!
Go Fred.
The only thing Rudy or Romney are guaranteed is that they will join Bob Dole and Pat Buchanon as people who once ran for president. neither is electable with or without the Republican nomination. Log cabin republicans will vote for them, and a few partisans. but Dole’s disastrous showing is the pinnacle either of those two could aspire to.
A leader with backbone and conviction to set of principles and values worthy of our trust...
GO FRED GO!
Agreed...
But all Ron Paul can accomplish is a Rudy or Romney nomination...
We need a bumper sticker that says "Leader - Yes! Politicians - NO!
.
“and allowed what should have been a six month mission in Iraq to drift into a five year police action while Bin Laden still slips around Pakistan untouched.”
OK, that makes me REALLY MAD. President Bush went on TV and told the American people that this war would not be won quickly.
And let’s just invade Pakistan while we’re at it so that we can get Bin Laden. (sarc)
Grrr.
My horse, Hunter, isn’t in the race so I’ll throw in for Huckabee.
Voted.
Horse hockey!
Of course, those polled are not self-selected. In these types of polls, no sample size is large enough to validate the results.
That, of course, is a lunatic statement, but on the average intellectual level of most posters on FR the last few years.
Here’s a snapshot from
01/04/2008 7:56:54 PM PST
DROPOUT.JAN08.(F)THOMPSON
Fred Thompson to drop out of 2008 Presidential race on/before 31 Jan 2008 M 35.0 99.0 75.0 114 -4.0
He was trading at 75.0, down from 79.0. It was actually up by ~40 points, not just 25. See for yourself at Intrade.
You are correct. In September and October (and November and December), Paul's supporters will be assailed on FR as unpatriotic, and worse, for giving a big yawn to whichever pseudo-conservative socialist might be the nominee to succeed the current pseudo-conservative socialist.
But what dispassionate, honest observer can blame them for the yawn when one of the milder statements made about them is, "Most of his supporters aren’t Republicans and all of them are anti-war and anti-national security?" The GOP is going to have a hard time, no matter which lightweight the Dims nominate, because it lost its principles at least 7 years ago.
The war on terror would take years. Iraq didn’t have to...
Unless your guy is winning.... LOL
If you aren’t anti-war, anti-national security, anti-foreign involvement and anti-20th century, you’re not for Ron Paul...
Thems the facts...
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