I can't support either one. We need a conservative.
That'd be nice. But there aren't any. It really is rather astonishing how shallow the pool of candidates is, in fact on both sides of the aisle. The power players (like a Reagan) just aren't there.
The only consolation is that the democrats are in even worse shape. Hillary? Edwards? Kerry? ~This~ is the best they can do? Even their power players and "good" democrats (say, Zell Miller or even a Paul Simon) have faded from the scene and there's no new generation worthy of their priors, their betters.
I don't know if it is just the generally poisonous political atmosphere or what... but the quality of our leadership class is suffering across the board.
All that said, a real true hardcore conservative wouldn't win the next election anyway. The national pendulum is swinging away from the right and toward the left. Two terms is about all we usually can expect from one party, without some exceptional circumstances. Maybe we'll have that, but probably we won't. I don't like it either, but we would be blind to not recognize it.
Hillary will be easy to beat, unless we get stupid and run somebody like Duncan Hunter. I like him, and of all the people that will NOT be the next President, he's probably my favorite. Romney is in there somewhere too.
McCain gives me the willies. I don't think he can do it.
Rudy will win easily, if he runs. He will mop the floor with any dem that runs against him. Mainly because he has a command of the language and presents himself forcefully and articulately. He's still seen as a born leader, and people are naturally attracted to clear leadership. They just are.
Sure I wish he was a little more conservative on some issues, but on the one issue that trumps all the others-- the war on terror-- he gets it, and the voters will trust him there.
My .02