Posted on 11/08/2004 1:44:46 PM PST by fidelio
I know we have four more years of The Man in The White House, but I am curious as to what other Freepers think of possible 2008 candidates.
Here is my potential staring grid:
Rudy Giulliani (NY)
Sec. Colin Powell (NY)
Sen. Bill Frist (TN)
Gov. Jeb Bush (FL)
Sen. John McCain (AZ)
Gov. Mike Huckabee (AR)
Gov. Mitt Romney (MA)
In my opinion, Giulliani may be the force here. Although he will need someone to balance out the ticket and appeal to the base. My thinking would be Huckabee, a former Baptist minister who has dumped 110 pounds in a year and is also a "Man from Hope."
Thoughts?
Whoever it is, the party must VET all the candidates extensively and let the primary voters know if something's up. I think McCain would be good, I don't know why people call him a lib, perhaps I don't know his record well enough.
You've got that right. Anyone who thinks Giuliani has a chance doesn't understand the republican grass roots as it is now constituted.
Sen. George Allen of VA was previously governor of VA.
If all goes well, it will be Jeb Bush.
I discussed this with my wife this weekend, and we agree. Jeb, or anybody else named Bush for that matter, is a non-starter.
Its not that I dont like the Bush family, nothing could be further from the truth. My problem is, even I will be having a "bush hangover" by 2008 and having one family with three presidents in 20 years seems a little monarchal, even to me. Lets spread the wealth around a little. We're a country of 290 million. There is absolutely no reason that ONE family should get three Presidents.
Just my .02
Hm. I always liked Huckabee, but didn't he undergo some political problems a few years back that might translate to baggage? Maybe I'm thinking of someone else...
He's also posted here on Free Republic, hasn't he? I remember his name coming up a few times in the 2000 election.
My dream ticket would be Jeb/Rudy, but it's not gonna happen. Giuliani won't win the nomination, he's off a bit too much to the left on social issues, and that'll cost him points, and Jeb will probably be too much Bush family members after two decades of having one in office (GWHB 80-88 as VP and 88-92 as Pres, and GWB 2000-08). So we need someone else as the frontrunner, preferably a strong conservative Governor. I think we'll see someone unexpected grab the nomination in the end.
Where's Condi?
former governor, now U.S. Senator George Allen.
1. He's bald.
2. He's bald and short.
3. He's bald, short, and wears glasses
4. He's a short bald guy who wears glasses and speaks with a slight lisp.
5. He's a short, bald Italian-American who wears glasses and speaks with a slight lisp.
6. He's a short, bald Italian-American from New York who wears glasses and speaks with a slight lisp.
That adds up to an awful lot of baggage in this age of packaged candidates. And I haven't even mentioned his political stands!
Sec. Colin Powell (NY)-- Won't run. VP would be a step down from Sec. State.
Sen. Bill Frist (TN)-- Acceptable to base but comes across as too weak to make a good president. I like the guy but he doesn't seem to have the gut for the presidency. He has the air of a VP.
Gov. Jeb Bush (FL)-- Won't run, may run for Senate. People won't want to put the same family in a third time.
Sen. John McCain (AZ)-- If he survives the primaries will become president. Possibly the most popular politician in the US, even if he doesn't deserve the popularity. Is more conservative than many here give him credit for, even though I agree his chumminess with dems over republicans is annoying.
Gov. Mike Huckabee (AR)-- Maybe.
Gov. Mitt Romney (MA)--Strongly convservative with appeal to liberals. Would lock up the women's vote and has shown he can run against a Dem woman and win without being seen as a bully. He'd be the strongest candidate.
To start, throw out the Senators and Jeb Bush. The former can't get elected as President and the latter will not win due to the inherent American distaste for dynasty. Jeb Bush will be a better candidate a few more elections down the line, say, in 2016 or 2020.
His time has come and gone
His time has come and gone
that's a good point. There could very well be "Bush fatigue"...
George allen exactly
"Sen. George Allen of VA was previously governor of VA."
Top notch. Name recognition is a big issue, and he, along with several others, desn't have it, yet.
Guiliani and McCain have it, as does Hillary.
To get recognition for the person favored by the WH, maybe he/she could serve the last two years as VP?
After winning big by going Conservative, what the devil possesses anyone to think that going Liberal is going to be the key in 2008??
Yeah, but we have to amend the Constitution for that.
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