Conservative core seeks a contender

The Los Angeles Times ^ | January 20, 2007 | Mark Z. Barabak

[Clintonfatigued]

For decades, the conservative movement has been the animating force of the Republican Party, providing the ideas and energy that catapulted candidates to the GOP presidential nomination and, often, the White House.

But as conservatives survey the 2008 field — and, particularly, the early Republican front-runners — many are despairing. Sen. John McCain of Arizona, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former New York City Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani have all broken with conservative orthodoxy at one time or another. Many activists have neither forgiven nor forgotten.

"There's absolutely no contender that is a bona fide conservative," said K.B. Forbes, who has worked for a number of conservative candidates and causes since the 1990s. "We have insiders, squishes and moderates running for president."

The candidate closest to the heart of social conservatives, Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas, plans to formally launch his White House bid today with a speech in Topeka. But even those who admire Brownback, and especially his Senate leadership opposing abortion, same-sex marriage and stem-cell research, question the viability of his candidacy.

"Brownback has to prove he can win," said Richard Land, head of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, the nation's largest Protestant denomination.

Land sees different problems for the three leading GOP hopefuls. "Most social conservatives at present are uncomfortable with McCain," he said. "They're appalled by Giuliani." As for Romney, Land said, "He has to convince social conservatives he's become one of them."

It's a striking state of affairs, given the ascendance of the conservative movement since 1964. Although he was crushed in the general election that year, Arizona's Barry Goldwater wrested the Republican Party from its Midwest and Eastern roots, starting a realignment that eventually turned the GOP into the party of Ronald Reagan, the Sunbelt and the

[stm]

Paging Mr. Tom Tancredo.....Tom please pick up on the white phone....Tom Tancredo, the white phone.

http://tancredo4prez.blogspot.com/

[mad puppy]

The LA Slimes talking about Conservatives? Beware!

[loreldan]

"There's absolutely no contender that is a bona fide conservative,"

That's because conservatives took themselves out of the race this past November. They stayed home to protest Bush, and because of that their main promoters like Santorum and Allen lost.

[EagleUSA]

It's just the LA Slimes selling liberalism and its "virtues" again....nothing new.

[loreldan]

No thanks.

[fremont_steve]

Well - there is certainly Mr. Tancredo - but I'm also thinking Ambassador Bulton would be an interesting option if he'd be willing to do it. Think of how the libs would whine! ;-)

[kinoxi]

But even those who admire Brownback, and especially his Senate leadership opposing abortion, same-sex marriage and stem-cell research, question the viability of his candidacy.

I thought it was embryonic stem cell research that's opposed. Must've been an honest oversight. /s

[sheil7134]

Rush Limbaugh or Savage needs to step up to the plate!!

[NormsRevenge]

squishes? :-?

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

That's because conservatives took themselves out of the race this past November. They stayed home to protest Bush, and because of that their main promoters like Santorum and Allen lost.

That's not true. The GOP abandoned blue-collar & other "supermarket" issues so you had a lot of these independents and people who don't normally vote go out and vote for the Democrats. Plus voters get fickle when the same party controls Congress & the WH.

That's why there should be a Giuliani/Hunter or a Romney/Hunter ticket for 2008.

[kinoxi]

Yikes!
:)

[loreldan]

Savage needs to just come out and admit he's a Democrat. I would definitely go for Rush though.

[PhiKapMom]

They stayed home to protest Bush, and because of that their main promoters like Santorum and Allen lost.

Exactly! Now they are not happy with the choices. I was a longtime Allen supporter from OK, and we all know what happened to him. They also voted 3rd party in some instances which also helped take out Republicans and now have a hard time finding a candidate? If they are staying home in 2008 to teach another lesson because the candidate is not conservative enough, then we need to be reaching out to new groups of voters for 2008. I will vote for McCain if he is the nominee and for anyone on here that knows me, knows that is going to be hard to do, but I will vote for him in lieu of ANY Democrat. Notice the Dems that were touted as being conservative -- sure cannot tell it by most of their votes.

[loreldan]

I haven't seen any statistics that said turnout for Independents and usual non-voters was higher than normal.

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

I live in Iowa and just this am went to a small brunch with Tommy Thompson. I was only moderately impressed. He was a little too populist for me.

So far, I've also attended events with Brownback, Romney and Tancredo.

I've probably been the most impressed with Romney and Tancredo. Tancredo's speech was about the threat of radical Islam and to make no mistake as to who is our enemy.

Romney was polished. I know about all the background on all these guys so I'm only talking about their speeches.

[loreldan]

I agree. McCains my last choise but I'll take him over Hillary or Obama or Edwards.

[rbookward]

Obligatory reference to Duncan Hunter. He needs to make more noise and get noticed in a Good Way.

[Dog Gone]

Brownback isn't going to get any traction. He'll drop out after the South Carolina primary, if not sooner.

If I had to guess, it's going to end up being a Guiliani/Romney ticket or vice versa.

[proudofthesouth]

Two contenders:

John Cox

http://www.cox2008.com/cox/

Duncan Hunter

http://peacethroughstrengthpac.com/Home.aspx