""It seems RINOs are taking over.These days the definition of a conservatives means whatever anyone wants it to mean.What do you think about 08?""
if you think RINOS are taking over you must be very new to party politics. RINOS have less influence in the GOP today than they did back in the 1970s and 1980s.
the problem is that since conservatives have won som many elections since 1980 and have suffered so few set back (1986), they have become very demanding that members of the GOP be philoshopically pure.
Both Senators from ME are called RINOS frequently,m but few here sem to realsie that both Snowe and Collins are more conservative than the constituents they serve.
The RINO's have certainly taken over Ohio. When the Bob Taft/Jean Schmidt tax hikes passed in 2003, only 8 out of 62 Republicans in the House voted against it. Of course, those 8 are the "bad Republicans" for not supporting their RINO leaders Taft and Householder. The 54 tax-hikers are the good Republicans according to the hierarchy.
I'm still taking a wait-and-see approach for 2008. My inclination is to think we need someone from outside the DC beltway so we can put a fresh face on what will be 6 continous years of Republican-only rule. And besides, Governors run better than Senators anyways. Though I'd support a DC insider if that person was revealed to be the best candidate.
If Jeb Bush ran I'd look hard at him. As long as the Democrats run Hillary they can't bash Governor Bush on the nepotism issue. I'll definitely take a look at any conservative Governor in a blue state, such as Tim Pawlenty in Minnesota. Isn't Carcieri in Rhode Island also conservative?
Things can change in 2 years when the race really gets hot, so I'm not too focused on names right now. I just know I'll be taking a long look at any clean, conservative governor who's popular in their state who isn't a tax-hiker like RINO Bob Taft.