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

Well, then we go with the process of eliminaion.

Giuliani - too liberal, lots of baggage, will drive away the Christian right and gun owners. There goes the south, there goes the presidency.

McCaine - ahem, you've got to be kidding me.

Romney - very doubtful, too many flip flops, unreliable, too much baggage to overcome.

Gingrich - will look at him if he decides to run. Some baggage, but good man.

Duncan - looks ok to me, solid conservative, patriot, some non fatal baggage, not much name recognition.

Tancredo - looks ok to me, solid conservative, solid on national security, don't know of any baggage, unpopular with Bush supporters, little name recognition.

Ron Paul - antiwar libertarian. No thanks.

Brownback - weak.

Huckabee - likable conservative, weak on border security. Wouldn't push the hottest issue besides the war.

We disagree on some of your opinions, on that list.

Will you really go third party, should one of those whom you say is okay to good doesn't make it past the first of second primary?

#159.. excellent diagnosis.. I agree..

The ultimate question that all "conservatives" should ask themselves: "Do we want a democrat candidate to be in the White House because we do not like the Republican candidate?". It is a very simple question and the answer for it is very simple yes or no. I hope that vast, vast, vast majority will answer "NO".

Your list is spot on.

I want you to consider Jim Gilmore and add him to your list. He's the former governor of Virginia, a conservative Republican, pro-life, board member of the NRA, appointed pro-life, social, and economic conservatives to his staff, served in the military, chaired the 'Gilmore Commission' which established the Office of Homeland Security, works for a homeland security company now, signed partial birth abortion ban, signed parental consent law, served as Chairman of the Republican National Committee, very anti-tax, and is liked by conservatives but isn't considered "extreme".

He filed papers (exploratory committee) to run for President last month. I just found the following additional information on his campaign website:

Courageous. Consistent. Conservative. Former Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore has exactly the credentials that most Republicans are looking for in their nominee for President of the United States.

Jim Gilmore served as a U.S. Army counter-intelligence agent in Germany during the Vietnam era.

Jim Gilmore served as a tough, crime busting local prosecutor in Virginia.
Jim Gilmore served as a popular, no-nonsense Virginia Attorney General.
Jim Gilmore served as a Governor who was a champion of the taxpayers.
Jim Gilmore served as Chairman of the Republican National Committee.
Jim Gilmore served as Chairman of a national commission on prevention and response to terrorism.

On the issues, Jim Gilmore is a leader Republicans can trust to stand for low taxes, secure borders, support for our troops, protection of our 2nd Amendment rights, the preservation of life and the defense of traditional marriage and family values.

Cutting Taxes
As Governor of Virginia, Jim Gilmore, cut 16 different taxes totaling $1.5 billion, created more than 250,000 new jobs and gave the state its lowest unemployment in 40 years. As Chairman of The Advisory Commission on Electronic Commerce, Jim Gilmore led the national fight to block taxation on the internet and helped repeal federal communications taxes in place since 1898. As a candidate for President, Jim Gilmore supports efforts to reduce taxes including making the Bush tax cuts permanent. Jim Gilmore believes high taxes are too great a burden on the nation’s economy and on working families. As President, he will work to close tax loopholes, reduce runaway spending and create jobs and opportunity to help end the nation’s culture of dependence.

Stopping Illegal Immigration
Jim Gilmore is, as are most Americans, a descendent of immigrants who came to this country legally to seek the American dream. And, he believes that dream should remain attainable for those who obey the law. However, there should be no amnesty for those who are in our country illegally. As a forceful advocate for homeland security, Jim Gilmore knows that we must secure America’s borders to protect our country. We will not be able to deal successfully with those who are in our country illegally until we have secured our borders and stopped the entrance of additional illegals. We must re-examine our existing immigration laws and develop a better program for temporary workers as well as requiring employers to verify workers are here legally.

Defeating Terrorism in Iraq
As a former member of the U.S. military who volunteered to serve during the Vietnam era, Jim Gilmore is strongly committed to supporting America’s troops in Iraq and around the world. As Governor, Jim Gilmore directed the state response when Virginia was attacked on 9/11. As President, Jim Gilmore will do what is necessary to defeat terrorism and to protect the vital interest of the citizens of the United States. Jim Gilmore supports increasing the number of troops as necessary to enforce civil order in Iraq and giving our military men and women a clearly defined mission that will allow them to defeat the terrorists who are threatening our security. Jim Gilmore strongly rejects the calls of those who demand a pullout of U.S. forces from Iraq on a fixed timetable because it would swiftly lead to chaos and America’s defeat.

Protecting the 2nd Amendment
Jim Gilmore is a member of the National Rifle Association’s Board of Directors and has spent much of his life working to protect our 2nd Amendment rights. Jim Gilmore believes the right to keep and bear arms is entitled to the same protection as every other amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Jim Gilmore believes gun ownership is based on the American tradition of personal responsibility and he is committed to protecting the rights of hunters, sportsmen and gun owners. As Governor, Jim Gilmore created Virginia Exile to put those illegally using guns in jail. His efforts as Attorney General and Governor, including the abolition of parole, truth in the sentencing of criminals and juvenile justice reform, reduced Virginia crime rates to a 25-year low. As President, Jim Gilmore will continue to work to get guns out of the hand of criminals and he will forcefully oppose any new controls on gun ownership.

Preserving Traditional Values
As Governor of Virginia, Jim Gilmore time and time again stood solidly for the sanctity of life and the preservation of traditional family values. Jim Gilmore’s leadership led to successful legislation which he signed into law that created a 24-hour waiting period for women seeking an abortion, required parental notification for minors seeking an abortion and banned partial birth abortion. Jim Gilmore created the Virginia Abstinence Initiative and dramatically increased funding for adoption services. Jim Gilmore signed into law legislation banning human cloning and went to court to try to prevent the removal of a feeding tube and save the life of coma victim Hugh Finn. Jim Gilmore believes marriage is the union of one man and one woman and as President will oppose gay marriage and so-called civil unions.

Achieving Energy Independence
The United States today imports 60 percent of its oil, a situation that places our economy and our national security at risk. Jim Gilmore believes we can do better! As President, Jim Gilmore will launch a national energy independence project called American Energy Freedom, a NASA like effort to motivate and stimulate American ingenuity and technology using research and development tax incentives to help free our nation from its dependence on foreign oil within 25 years. In the meantime, Jim Gilmore will push for steady and dramatic increases in domestic energy production and an increase in the size of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Jim Gilmore also will support expanding our use of alternative fuels like ethanol, making dramatic improvements in battery technology for plug-in hybrid vehicles and the long-range development of hydrogen power for vehicles.

I think that this is someone that we could get behind. He's not quite as conservative as Duncan Hunter, but he's plenty conservative. He has a much more polished appearance and he has a better executive record as it pertains to electability.

Please add him to your list and put some strong consideration in supporting him. I'd heard he filed, and I had a conservative friend tell me to check him out, and I just did that when putting this post together and I really like what I see. Tell me what you think.

I'll second Gilmore. Undeniably a dark horse and a long shot, but probably the best man for the job.