Posted on 01/05/2008 3:12:12 PM PST by PlainOleAmerican
Days after the first 2008 primary contest in Iowa, only two things are clear. One of the following five men will be the Republican nominee for 2008 and nobody knows which one.
Mike Huckabee - Mitt Romney - Fred Thompson - John McCain - Rudy Giuliani
No matter how we feel about any of these five men, one of them will be the Republican nominee for 2008. Each represents a very different idea of what it is to be “republican” or “conservative.” The time to make excuses or nuanced explanations for past policy positions has passed. The time to choose the next leader of America’s conservative movement, the Republican Party, has come.
Which of these men we choose through the primary process will determine how well the Republican Party can unite next November to defeat the Democrat nominee, be it Obama, Edwards or Clinton. The wrong choice will leave the party fractured and divided on ideological lines, and the door for another 1992 styled Democrat victory wide open. The right choice will bring all Republican voters into the booth for an Election Day victory.
It’s Time for Republicans to Take a Stand
Iowa voters sent a clear undeniable message. They took a stand. But what did they say?
Iowa Republicans chose Mike Huckabee, an affable guitar playing former Baptist minister who was Governor of Arkansas. A quick tongued jovial man who speaks the language of the common average American, with a pulpit styled sense of humor and a gentle ease of delivery.
Why did Iowa choose a Southern Pastor for President?
He’s clearly not the most conservative candidate in the race. He’s also not the most qualified, the best known or the best funded.
But he is the most “likable” which is to say, someone the people feel they can “trust.”
The Jilted Lover Syndrome
Conservative voters across this nation are still angry over the past performance of the Republican controlled congress and the Republican White House. Both spent money like a drunken Kennedy at a Martha’s Vineyard lawn party, fought for open borders like Howard Dean counting illegal voters at the border and allowed what should have been a six month mission in Iraq to drift into a five year police action while Bin Laden still slips around Pakistan untouched.
In short, Republican voters don’t trust Republican politicians much more than Democrat politicians, whom they don’t trust at all.
So, beyond a resume’, a list of perfect conservative votes or the distinguishing backbone of an obvious leader, voters are looking for someone they can “trust” to carry out whatever their promises might be. After all, broken promises are worthless promises.
Slick vs. Substance – Rhetoric vs. Reality
Liberals have always fallen for slick rhetoric over substance or reality. But conservatives have always preferred real substance, less impressed by slick rhetoric from sly salesmen.
Jilted by the last Republicans they put in power, they are being even more careful than normal in choosing the next leader of their party, as well they should. As a result, the race is far from settled. But the message is clear… Slick isn’t going to cut it in 2008. Reality will trump rhetoric in the Republican primary process, or Democrats will win in ’08.
The Five
Rather than writing my opinions about each of the five potential nominees, I am interested in testing the fire in the belly of the average Republican voter. I want to know if Republican voters are really ready to unite behind conservative principles at the foundation of the Republican Party, or if they are still trying to negotiate the middle ground, split hairs and nominate a candidate aligned only marginally to the right of the Democrat candidates.
Assuming that one of these five men will indeed be the ultimate Republican nominee, which do you feel is best qualified to carry the conservative agenda of the Republican Party forward in the 2008 general election?
Vote only once please. Visit http://www.jb-williams.com to cast your vote. The results will be the subject of my next column, so please vote before Midnight Monday January 7, 2008.
I’m afraid a democrat prez may already be a fait accompli
I suspect you're right. I just hope the GOP learns something from it.
Rather disturbing to read such loss of heart when things haven't even gotten interesting yet.
Democrats have their own burdens to overcome. Obama wants to bring all the troops home and surrender to radical Islam. I don't believe the electorate will stomach as President a man who retreats from the enemy.
Hillary is Hillary. Edwards is a suit with an expensive haircut.
Way too early to despair, friends and neighbors.
Amen to that. See my tagline.
Just don’t vote for the christian socialist who models himself after Obama,which is Huckabee or the RHINO MCCain.
They are now. Prior to that, they were newcomers, independents and libertarians. Plus disgruntled Republicans who got fed up with the party.
and all of them are anti-war and anti-national security.
They're smart enough to realize that spending billions a year on a war that should have been finished by 2005 is not smart foreign policy. They support a strong defense and national security.
All other Republican candidates are in opposition to the average Paul supporter.
I would say the candidates themselves are in opposition to traditional Republicanism.
So, court them how?
I don't know. But I do know this: Regardless if wins or loses, Paul ain't going nowhere. He has already lit a powder keg and awoken the sheeple. If the GOP doesn't start talking about true conservatism and start finding a way to wind down the war, they're going to be ass out of the WH.
Hunter didn’t campaign much in Iowa, but he did in Wyoming. He won 2 delegates and Fred won 2. Since Hunter is the most conservative guy in the race, you are not giving him enough credit. After Iowa, Thompson’s dropout contract jumped by 25 points, maybe he’s the one who should drop out, since he doesn’t appear to like campaigning anyways.
I'm with you brother.
beautiful!
The GOP is composed of multiple factions, each with its own priorities. Unforntunately this election cycle, too many members of the various factions in our coalition are seeking their own faction’s ideal candidate, without regard to the opinions of other factions. The only result of such an attitude will be the destruction of the coalition that is the GOP.
We must unite behind a candidate that is at least acceptable to all the major factions, and who also has a reasonable chance to run an effective, winning campaign in the general election.
In exchange for the much more conservative Hitlery or Obama???
Typical brilliant logic of the average Paul supporter.
Agreed... which is who in your opinion?
Which candidate do you support for President?
Fred Thompson 70% 63
Rudy Giuliani 14.4% 13
Mitt Romney 6.7% 6
Mike Huckabee 4.4% 4
John McCain 4.4% 4
total votes: 90
90 votes. Open the champagne right?
Your opinion of the situation is moot. By and large, most Americans want the war to wind down. That gives the Democrats the edge regardless of the fact that both Hillary and Obama won't make a commitment on troop withdrawal.
If the GOP wants to win, they're going to have to cut a deal with Paul on the war. There should be no immediate withdrawal, but we shouldn't stay there beyond 2012. There's got to be a balance.
Typical brilliant logic of the average Paul supporter.
Well, have fun making fun of Paultards and believing that the Republicans will win. Here's John McCain saying he wants our troops to remain in Iraq for 100 years. Yeah, that'll help the GOP retain the WH.
Kill as many terrorists as possible and get the Hell out of the Middle East permanently. Stop sticking our noses into that craphole and pushing stupid roadmap peace plans that tie Israeli's hands. Secure the borders and ban immigration from Muslim nations. Iraq and Afghanistan have democratic governments now. How long do you think we should stay there?
Okay, nukes then stick our heads in the sand because that works?
Zogby uses poll results at 400 and above...
wait 24 hours...
That’s fair. Enjoy posting your numbers until then.
Don’t expect the result ratio to change... It seldom does above 100...
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