Gipper08 suggested a Mike Pence
http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=2896
hhttp://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=5751
http://washingtontimes.com/national/20041223-122159-6084r.htm
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2004-12-19-conservatives-new-day_x.htm
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2004-12-19-conservatives-bush_x.htm
http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/1210/p03s01-uspo.html
http://www.washtimes.com/commentary/20041102-074508-6180r.htm
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Undoing-Bushs-Agenda.html?oref=login&oref=regi
ttp://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=27400
http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=6091
hhttp://www.reason.com/links/links110804.shtml
I also like Condi Rice and am a conservative older white guy. I'd vote for her in a heartbeat and campaign for her or Pence or Tancredo.
But I share your concerns for 2008.
I doubt if any REAL conservative southerner would NOT vote for Rice merely because she is black. Philosophy trumps race in America today among most intelligent people, thank God. And where it doesn't she would pick up women's votes and black votes. Even a seductive jerk like Jessie Jackson would have a hard time trying to tell black Americans not to vote for the first Black President in American history. I think she would be a perfect choice - if she wants it and doesn't drop the ball as Secretary of State.
As for Jeb, well, I've had it with Bushes. George II was a total jerk and George III gave me too much aggrevation with his close wins. I couldn't survive another experience like that again.
But NEVER, under ANY circumstances would I vote for a Rino like McCain, Giuliani, etc. I would go out and vote for Hillery first.
By helping put RINOs in power we are undercutting the only alternative we have to the leftists in American politics.
As people have said many times before, the problem with Condi is the abortion issue. She's great in every other way, but that would sink her, unless she can really and persuasively change her position to pro-life.
I know that's only one issue, but it's an absolutely basic issue. It would undermine and possibly destroy the Catholic/Evangelical coalition that GW Bush has managed to build and that is essential to preserving our current momentum.
If she came out with a strong and heartfelt pro-life statement, I would consider switching my views. After all, many Democrats who were pro-life all their lives switched over to abortion and stuck by it for political reasons. She's a decent lady, and maybe she can be made to see the realities of this issue, both moral and political. But it would have to be a real switch, because there are widespread, deep suspicions of the Republican Party on this issue, and they simply can't afford to lie to their base yet again.
CONDI 2008!
Some conservatives consider Bush to be a RINO: He's
passed the biggest entitlement (Medicare prescription
drugs) since that great Leftist LBJ which will end up
costing us trillions when fully implemented. He let Ted
Kennedy write the No Child Left Behind act which is the
biggest boondoggle since Jimmy Carter created the Dept.
The Agriculture bill he supported and signed was 40%
pork. He signed McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform
which all conservatives believe restricts the First
Amendment. He waffled on the affirmative action case
when Michigan was before the Supreme Court. The great
free-trader supported a steel tariff until forced to
back-track. He has NEVER vetoed or seen a big spending
bill he didn't like. His non-defense spending, according
to a Heritage Foundation report, has been wasteful and
excessive. I could continue the list - but he's
entitled to join the RINO Club.
We can only hope & pray Condi will run in 08. If not, thanks to Gipper08, I really like what I've read about Mike Pence. Wish he could get a little more national attention though. We CANNOT let McCain become President. He's better than Hillary, but not by much.