CPAC has lost a lot of its luster in recent years. Three of the biggest CPAC contenders since 2007 have been Giuliani, McCain and Romney.
Maybe you call that conservatism at its best. I don't.
“Maybe you call that conservatism at its best. I don’t.”
I don’t. I don’t think Romney is the best conservative out there. What I do think he is, is the best balance between conservatism and electability for 2012 that can secure the nomination. In short, his perceived area of expertise - the economy (not to mention the budget deficit) - is as of now prime target in 2012.
I am guilty (in some quarters) of backing McCain in 2007-08. Fair enough but that battle is over and I’m not retreading it.
Giulini is not a great conservative in my view (although he did lay out a remarkably conservative agenda as far as NYC politics is concerned) and if anything George F. Will’s praise of him turns me off (can’t stand that man) - and most of all am deeply disturbed by his abortion views - however Rudy was above all a scrappy fighter and I found that attractive. However I would be taking a gamble admittedly of believing that he would appoint only strict constructionists. I didn’t take the gamble ultimately although I probably believed it and it was tempting. To be honest if Giulini had been the same exact candidate except being pro-life I would’ve probably settled on him over McCain.
In retrospect I think Romney would’ve been the best nominee in 2008 because of the economy. I didn’t see that coming that hard.