Jonah Goldberg: Inherit the Wind. What if it takes a Democrat? (Maybe a Democrat should win)

National Review ^ | Feb. 16, 2007 | Jonah Goldberg

[Jim Robinson]

Does he pull many Democrat votes? Or is he too idiotic even for them?

[TAdams8591]

Yes he is.

[MCH]

"The problem is the WHO?"
I don't know, but it's not Giuliani, McCain or Romney. None of these guys are full blooded conservatives who can rouse the base, but each is burdened with a full load of baggage that will eventually pull his campaign down.

McCain = despicable, self-centered, RINO.
Romney = pretty face, empty suit.
Giuliani = gun-stealing, gay-liking, good communicator, otherwise good leader & fiscal/defense-oriented conservative.
Gingrich = damaged goods (impression, personal), good leader, idea-man, good communicator, definitive conservative.
Others = ZERO name recognition.

I totally agree with Jim - NO more luke-warm, pseudo-conservative, uninspiring Bush family members (or Clintons - obviously). We are a republic, not a monarchy. I greatly admire the current Bush's perseverence in fighting the radical Islamic enemy, but his bureaucratic, boring, politically correct, rhetoric-driven, non-confrontational approach to politics and "fighting" the Dims just ain't gettin' it done. So, what's our choice?

Is there someone waiting in the wings that can overcome the name recognition thing? If Newt runs, can he overcome his negative image? My wife, who's very conservative, doesn't like him because of his marital history & the Dims' past hatchet job on his character.

Can we trust Rudy to NOT side with the Dims to steal our guns? Risking flames - despite Keyes' (whom I greatly admire as a conservative speaker) passionate arguments, I don't care much about the abortion issue. If a bunch of libs wanna kill their babies & limit their future population - that's fine with me :). And Guiliani's insistence on not applying the word "marriage" to gay or civil unions (or whatever the hell the compromise term will eventually be) is about the best we can hope for in the long run IMHO. He'll just make it happen sooner than later.

So, who will it be!!??? Like someone else mentioned, regardless of the nominee, I GUARANTEE I'm voting "R" this next presidential election, just like the last. ANYTHING is better than a socialist, power-hungry, America-hating Dim who's Euro-cowardice appeasement tendencies will get a few million Americans killed sooner rather than later. But, I'd really like to not have to hold my nose while voting for once.

[FairOpinion]

Reagan was called "the great Communicator" -- he was very charismatic, in addition to being a conservative.

I don't know why there aren't stronger Republican presidential hopefuls, but we can only choose from those who declare their interest.

The primary is about a year away, and that'll go by pretty fast.

[TAdams8591]

Apparently, no matter who you choose, or what side you take, you are accused of having been bought.

[CutePuppy]

"Imagine Hillary with 250 dems in the House."

---

Can't. In the House Dems already have all the liberal districts' seats, and many of the conservative/"red" seats that they had for a long time and lots of new ones that were "engineered" by Rahm Emanuel in the last election - due to silly good-natured conservatives who keep voting "good old" local "conservative Blue Dog" Democrats, while not utilizing electoral political math skills to realize who will be in the leadership position and whose values will be reflected.

Also, the demographic shift in electoral map is benefiting more conservative Southern states and will be even more reflective of that after next Census. It's hardly possible for Dems to do better than they have now, after the "tide" where a lot of GOP was dispirited and didn't turn out - especially after rude awakening some are getting now from the "lesson" they taught both GOP and themselves. A lot of seats that Dems won marginally in conservative districts will certainly swing back in 2008, due to higher turnout in general elections, and lessons of "lesson", and GOP's "culture of corruption" will be less of an issue, and Dems' corruption and hypocrisy will be more illuminated (no thanks to dino-media).

Mathematically, in the House the Dems now have it about as good as it's going to get for them. After the "sweep", it's a long way down.

[nopardons]

Yes and I think that he has already started the process, sub rosa, in making a deal with someone he is certain is going to win not only the GOP primary, but also the general election.

[jveritas]

I am not very concerned about Hillary Clinton, her nasty character and very uncharismatic personality will destroy her at an early stage of the campaign. Many political analyst are greatly underestimating this terrible character problem of Hillary Clinton. Only one man that will really make me worry if he is the democrat nominee and that is Al Gore.

[Jim Robinson]

I'd take Haley or Sessions in a New York minute.

[TAdams8591]

"but we can only choose from those who declare their interest."

Exactly. We can only work with what we have to work with.

[jveritas]

We need to draft Bob Riley the governor of Alabama.

[nopardons]

Nader?

Have you forgotten his last numbers? yes, he pulls a quite a number of Dems, as well as the off the radar LEFTY KOOKS.

[nopardons]

We are in complete accord, I see.

[FairOpinion]

On FoxNews they were talking about Nader running, but made the point, that probably a very conservative person will run on some third party ticket, and he will likely syphon off more conservatives from the Republican candidate, than Nader will from the Dem candidate.

[onyx]

Jeff Sessions is supporting Giuliani

NOT TRUE.

Pete Session is supporting, Guiliani.

[nopardons]

So would everyone else here, but THAT is NOT going to happen!

We have what/who we have and that's that.

[nopardons]

"WE" can't draft anyone! That is NOT how American politics works.

[onyx]

No, it is not correct --- Pete Sessions is supporting Guilani, NOT Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama.

[nopardons]

What show was that on? I haven't been watching much T.V. these past few days.

[jveritas]

Who is the very conservative guy who will run and takes away conservative votes? Buchanan? I doubt it, because he is now a total lunatic. There have been always third party conservative and libertarian candidates and they take less than 1% of the votes in each election, I do not see that it will be different this time.