Posted on 01/07/2007 9:51:28 AM PST by kellynla
It wasn't so long ago that conservatives believed that George Bush's presidency would usher in a political realignment that would last for decades. But as the right looks forward to the next election, something close to panic is setting in. Surveying the leading G.O.P. contenders for 2008, direct-mail guru Richard Viguerie pronounces "not a one of them is worthy of support from conservatives." Says Craig Shirley, a public relations executive who represents many conservative groups and who has written a book on the Reagan revolution: "There's anger, there's angst, there's dismay in the conservative movement." Some activists, Shirley adds, have even begun talking quietly among themselves about forming a third party.
All that worry might seem premature, given that the Iowa caucuses are still a year away. But the race for the Republican nomination is already taking a shape that alarms many conservatives, especially the Evangelicals who were so crucial to Bush's re-election in 2004. None of the top three potential Republican candidates considering a bid to succeed Bush has a record that makes the right entirely comfortable. Senator John McCain originally opposed Bush's tax cuts, supports looser immigration policies, voted against a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage and was an architect of the deal under which Senate Democrats retained their right to filibuster Bush's judicial nominees. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani is in favor of gun control, abortion rights and same-sex civil unions. And outgoing Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney espoused liberal views on gay rights and abortion when he was running for office in Massachusetts, though he has disavowed them as he has moved into national politics. Many conservatives had high hopes for Virginia's George Allen and Pennsylvania's Rick Santorum--until they lost their Senate re-election races last year.
(Excerpt) Read more at time.com ...
If Dan Quale is smart, and he is, he won't run again because he has no chance to win the nomination. IMO
The media has portrayed him as a laughing stock since the day Bush 41 picked him for VP.
Exactly, why does the liberal media always stick its nose into Republican political affairs?
okay name one...'cause George Will hasn't come up with one...
sw
Rudy would have to renounce his views on abortion, gay marriage, and immigration in order to get the nomination. I don't think he intends to do that.
On the other hand, he would be tough with terrorists.
I admire your confidence. Cheney is about the only politician out there who's polls are lower than the president's.
If you had stopped right there, you would still be correct.
It has been 14 years since Quayle has left the public's eye. A great campaign can change long-ago perceptions. How does it go? A week is an eternity in politics? How about Nixon's 8 years? Quayle can reemerge if he wants: it's upto him. Either way it's certainly not upto you.
Duncan Hunter of San Diego is looking better.
Due to immigration concerns..I could not vote for Guilliani,McCain or Romney. If it was them or Hillary..I think I would suggest that Hillary would make things so bad that it would swing the country back towards a conservative...
I would love to see Jeb run but I think Barbara Bush was correct when she said "The country has had enough of the Bushs for now".
well if you have someone better, don't be bashful, name 'em!
Jeb seems like a very good candidate, but I guess he really isn't interested right now.
Run Cheney run.
How about Cheney/Hunter for '08. Has a nice ring to it don't you think?
All you Cheney people...STOP DREAMING...stop it. It'll never happen. At least waste your time here by discussing things that actually have a chance of happening.
Quayle cannot be elected for because of one, simple word:
POTATOE
and that's the long and the short of it.
How 'bout Cheney/Rice....cause ya know the 'Rats will run Hitlery/Obama
It won't be Cheney and he couldn't win if it were. Newt is too much a policy guy, he'd be a great VP. Condi Rice could win, but she's not expressing any ambition, plus she's got time. Romney is pretty much unknown.
Neither the RNC nor DNC cultivate a deep bench or have developmental plans to nurture candidates who can win elections years in the future, instead they just let big money and politics sort it out. Planning for political succession is no different than succession planning in a business. Failure to do it puts the enterprise at risk of extinction.
If the R nominee turns out to be McCain or Guiliani, it may precipitate the rise of a Conservative Party. WAnd that would be a good thing!
Never say "never!"
and of course if you have someone better, name 'em!
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