Cowboy George (Allen) hailed as the Reagan for ’08

Sunday Times ^ | October 16, 2005 | Sarah Baxter

[West Coast Conservative]

A TOBACCO chewing, horse-riding, cowboy boot wearing politician called George could be the Republican party’s choice for president in 2008. With George W Bush in political freefall, speculation is intensifying about his successor. The rising star among conservatives is George Allen, senator for Virginia and former governor of the state.

The son of a famous American football coach, Allen is a minor figure compared with prominent rivals such as Senator John McCain and Rudolph Giuliani, the former mayor of New York, but he is more politically mainstream and potentially acceptable to Republican stalwarts.

Bruce Allen, general manager of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers pro-football team, has no doubt that his elder brother can go all the way to the White House. “He has always been a leader,” he said. “I would never underestimate what he is able to do. He’s very real and that’s what makes him special.”

Those close to Allen’s unofficial campaign place his chances of winning his party’s nomination at 60-40. Although no senator has won the presidency since John F Kennedy, Allen has hands-on experience as a governor and a folksy, populist touch.

No matter how smart his suit and tie, he is never separated from his “lucky” cowboy boots. Nor will he ever give up his chewing tobacco and spittoon, according to an insider, although he is said to be a Virginia gentleman rather than a Texas swaggerer like Bush.

Sean Hannity, an influential right-wing radio and television host, has been boosting Allen’s prospects by comparing him with Ronald Reagan, a friend of Allen’s father, and declaring him capable of winning every state in the South against Hillary Clinton, the Democrat favourite.

[Stellar Dendrite]

i would support allen over guiliani or mccain, that's for sure.

[strategofr]

" "Media Shield Law Would Cover Al Qaeda"."

Pence is wrong here, but I'm not sure that one thing disqualifies him. I never heard of this guy before.

[Panic in the Streets]

Ha, nice catch, didn't even think about that...

[spokeshave]

"Can you imagine left-wing reaction to George Allen winning the presidency? "And we thought Bush was bad!"

A spitton in every classroom....and send all the lefty teachers to tobacco chewing 101.

[Havoc]

If it ain't gonna be rudy, I'd prefer a nobody from the midwest - a farmer or maybe a mill worker.. someone who's used to reality..

[ClaireSolt]

What I want to know about governors is how is their executive-management and how well do they work with legislatures to get programs passed. What is Mike Pence's experience bewyone the House of Reps?

[Galactic Overlord-In-Chief]

You are completely failing in your attempt to build a case against his candidacy. Everything you say sounds perfect for a Republican presidential candidate.

I'll say. One of the great satisifcations of 2004 was to stick it to Michael Moore, the rest of Hollywood, the MSM, and the anti-war left of the Democratic Party, and let them know that they do NOT represent the majority of Americans, and that their opinions are not popular. If Allen gives them coniption fits as well, than bravo.

For all this talk about Hillary, I'm amazed that no one points out that she ran five points behind Al Gore in 2000 in her senate race. She did 55% in a liberal state. How is that supposed to make her uber invincible for the general?

[SDGOP]

Sad thing is i think that on alot of these Allen threads its Gipper08 and his brigade bashing Allen that compromises more of the postings than anything else. Heck i'm sure if you counted all the users in the thread and summed up their posts Gipper08's would be in the top 2 everytime. Glad to see someone else noticing that him and the pence brigade just hop onto these threads and pump their candidate while bashing Allen.

[Aetius]

I'm open to the idea that she run as the VP candidate, but if that is not appealing to her, but a future run for the Presidency is, then she should go back to California and try to win something there. Maybe she could wait and run for governor in 2010 or challenge Boxer whenever her seat is up again.

For all we know, she may turn out to be a great campaigner, but she may also turn out to be a disaster. Better to test and find out in something other than the biggest election of all.

[BillyBoy]

>> It would work for me. Southern/Western Governors elected President in the past 50 yrs. <<

Psst. George Allen is a lifelong resident of an central east coast state. Sorry to dissapoint.

[R. Scott]

Nor will he ever give up his chewing tobacco and spittoon, according to an insider …

MSM will have fun with that.

[Nick The Freeper]

The FEC is suing the Club for Growth. Here are two links -
http://www.washtimes.com/national/20050919-100153-6316r.htm
http://www.clubforgrowth.org/blog/archives/025644.php

[Ligeia]

Senator Allen rides Western Star (Wes) at the 'Welcome Home the Troops' rally in Woodstock [Va] on Saturday (10/8).

Senator George Allen

Thanks for the ping!

[tiredoflaundry]

*swoon*

[OldFriend]

Allen's campaign promise was that he would not support special rights for gays.

He then voted for the legislation giving special rights for gays.

[tiredoflaundry]

bump

[hershey]

Allen is extremely interesting to watch on TV. Very self possessed, genial, even folksy. But oh my, under that guy next door--hey, get me a beer next time you're up -- exterior is someone else entirely. His brain is working all the time. If he gets the nomination, he'll be hard for the dems to beat. Men will love him, and so will women.

[TASMANIANRED]

Virginia right?

[B4Ranch]

George Allen could just as well run for the Dems position in the White House as far as I'm concerned. I don't want to ever see him as POTUS!

George Allen on Immigration
No stance on record.

George Allen on Free Trade
* Voted YES on establishing a free trade agreement between US & Singapore. (Jul 2003)
* Voted YES on establishing a free trade agreement between the US and Chile. (Jul 2003)
* Voted YES on extending free trade to Andean nations. (May 2002)
* Voted YES on granting normal trade relations status to Vietnam. (Oct 2001)
* Voted YES on removing common goods from national security export rules. (Sep 2001)
* Rated 67% by CATO, indicating a pro-free trade voting record. (Dec 2002)

George Allen on Immigration
No stance on record.

George Allen on Gun Control
* Voted NO on banning lawsuits against gun manufacturers for gun violence. (Mar 2004)

[traviskicks]

Any news on the FEC and the Club for Growth?
----

No, it's been very quite on that front.... If you see anything let me know.

Allen spoke at a CFG convention recently (froget where), along with a pretty good all-star cast of Conservatives.