Posted on 01/08/2008 2:21:18 AM PST by jnwest
Each of the leading Republican candidates has an "impossibility" factor to being nominated. Mike Huckabee will run into the problem of carrying big states and less conservative parts of the nation both in the nomination and, importantly in the eyes of the delegates in Minnesota, in the general election. Rudy Giuliani has much personal baggage and a socially liberal record which will make it hard for him to win over social conservatives in significant numbers. Mitt Romney, despite all the money and packaging, simply has failed to capture the hearts of many Republicans. John McCain, the most electable Republican, is also the most deeply distrusted of all Republicans. Yet each has enough muscle in terms of name recognition, money, endorsements, organization and party leaders to compete successfully in many parts of the country.
(Excerpt) Read more at enterstageright.com ...
Welcome.
Now I’ll go back and read your post.
Wishful thinking, but if Fred really wants it, which I still have my doubts (I think his wife wants it a lot more than he does), anything is possible.
I have various amounts of unease for each of the other four, for various reasons. The primary system has been so messed up this year, we may not get a chance to eliminate unacceptable candidates and wind up with a nominee that turns off a lot of the Party.
This is not the way the system is supposed to work. I blame the Clintons, of course. They have gamed the system to guarantee Hillary!'s nomination (...BTW, how's that workin' out for ya!...). The Republicans should announce at their convention that in 2012 and going on into the future, they will hold their NH primary on the Tuesday closest to February 1, with two primaries to be schedule at random each successive Tuesday between then and the end of June. This system would be maintain the special status of New Hampshire, be otherwise fair, and would permit a long, animating campaign that will produce the best nominee. The Donks can use whatever screwed-up system they want.
As for the brokered convention scenario, I would not hold my breath. I don't think we will see of those again. Somebody will emerge from this mess.
You might want to suggest having a "search" function so posters can "know"...
Aw, c’mon! It’s his first day! Cut him a break!
(BTW, there was not another posting)
Welcome, Fred head in Texas too.
Ya'll are like McCain. He is the candidate of integrity according to him so when Romney catches him lying he looks really bad.
Huck is "Gods candidate" so when he lies and distorts or his supporters spread rumors and falshoods, it makes him look even worse.
Hint: Don't ever admit you forgot to do a search for existing threads of the same article. If someone points one out, claim the search failed... ;-)
Did you forget the "/sarc" tag, or figured it was superfluous?
You didn’t even mention Hunter. Thanks a lot.
This brokered convention idea is gaining alot of traction but it’s based on todays numbers and expectations and the convention is a long way off....
McCain will cease to be a candidate once the independants break for Obama in a big way.
The Huckster is going to be exposed sooner or later, I’m betting he doesn’t survive much past South Carolina.
Ron Paul.....Bwahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!
If it’s shown down the line...especially in Florida...that the independants are breaking big for Obama over Guliani also...I think that will end his hopes ala McCain.
They all know this and it’s why they are trying to force Fred out now before we get into the meat of it.
I would liken it to urging an owner to withdraw his or her horse from the Derby based on the odds when they horses are in the gate!
The only way someone gets out of the race is to drop out, no one can drum anyone out, there’s no big bell to clang and a big hook to drag them off the stage!
This is much ado about nothing, a media circus that attempts to affect the end result by misreporting the game itself.
I love it! All this sound and furry and very little of substance!
The more time Fred Thompson is given on air, in debates like this past weekend, the more people will see his rock solid steady conservatism.
Whew. All I can say is that I’m glad it was #1 My first post AND #2 the first post of this article! Thanks to all for the welcome. By the way, I know many of yall don’t really like Fox News, but believe me, it’s better than what I get over here in Poland. All I get is CNN! Imagine this: when it comes to TV media, the highlight of my week is Meet the Press! I’ll take Russert any day or Blitzer!
Good points...I like the horse-race analogy especially since that seems to be an MSM buzzword this campaign.
I’d like to know whatever happened to sticking with your candidate until the end so that they have bargaining power if the time ever comes to endorse another candidate?
No, it’s seems like a damn popularity contest now, searching for a beauty queen...there’s no politics going on here, just campaigning. Our electorate has been seriously dumbed down.
On the Dem side it’s even more apparent...the only elect “rock-stars”...They did the rock star act on BJ Clinton, they tried it with John F’in Kerry but GOd could not pull *that* one off even if he tried...LOL, and now we get the rapper Obaama Hussein, politically correct on all the right issues, no substance, no experience...Snappy smile, witty answer....WE ARE AT WAR, this is no time for a feel-good experiment.
Yeah, Fred’s the one.
Too bad the whole bunch can’t get together, president, vice-president, congress, all of them, and present not only a cabinet, but also concrete plans for what they intend to do.
Truth is, if the electorate isn’t going to support it as time goes by then it just wastes political energy to try it.
Oh well, I can dream can’t I?
If we go brokered, which is a topic of conversation at many levels, it would be best for Fred and worst for Huckabee. Huck is about as popular in major GOP circles as a fart in church. With Ed “Help the Clintons” Rollins as his manager or whatever he calls himself, there will be no Limos and Cheese trays waiting for them from the RNC at the convention hall.
The game is afoot and it is far from over.
They tried that one already.
Would anyone be interested in joining me in a phone FReep of South Carolina for FRed tonight? Much more incentive if we do it as a group....
Fredipedia: The Definitive Fred Thompson Reference
WARNING: If you wish to join, be aware that this ping list is EXTREMELY active.
Musta missed it...oh bother...;)
Welcome!
Indeed...
Oh well what can we expect from those who support a man who taps that SOB Ed “Screw Reagan, SHOW ME THE MONEY!” Rollins as an adviser and manager...
You’re in Poland? Welcome! I visited your country some years ago, a very beautiful place!
Style over substance, even here on Free Republic. IMHO, there are only two men running who are even worth a conservative backing. Unfortunately for them, they aren't the prettiest and/or preachiest candidates.
I will never be a 'Fred,but' voter (I like Fred but..). I'm a FredHead all the way! :)
Not to mention making ALL Christians look bad... Just what we need — someone to reinforce the horrible stereotypes of the left... Is there any wonder the media loves Huckabeee? He’s a dream come true for the liberal media and the Democrats... Especially those who would LOVE to make Christians look as bad as possible...
“Not to mention making ALL Christians look bad... Just what we need — someone to reinforce the horrible stereotypes of the left... Is there any wonder the media loves Huckabeee? He’s a dream come true for the liberal media and the Democrats... “
Yeah........
Yep, I’ve been in post-communist, still-socialist Poland for 12 years. Trust me, I’m not here for the beauty. I prefer Texas! The next time Edwards, Hillary or Obama get sick, we should take up a collection to buy them a plane ticket to Poland so they can get a taste of socialized health care!
Welcome, especially to a Fredhead!
Can’t imagine that there wouldn’t be a clear leader after February with our hyped-up political process. Hoping its Fred...
Thanks for the advice!
Thompson/Hunter would be formidably intelligent. But I don’t know if Hunter’s best place is as VP and I don’t know if he’d bring that much more additional support to the ticket.
Upon looking at our candidates and how they’re each drawing different segments of the Republican base, but not all segments, recently I’ve been wondering if the Republicans couldn’t coalesce some of these candidates into some sort of future superteam to take to the election. Fred, IMO, would have to be the nominee for POTUS. We’d need a leader at the top who can keep everyone in line, and only one with steadfast conservative principles can do that. Put Rudy as Attorney General. Hunter I think would be best placed at Homeland Security. That way he could have direct influence in an area where he has a stellar record and could gain serious name recognition that way. Romney could be VP. He looks like one, is well spoken (veep is often the administration attack dog), and has good support in the party (though maybe not high enough to be POTUS right now). Plus, if he really still wants Pres, he’d be in a position where he’d be forced to demonstrate his conservative bona fides for everyone to see and being veep would knock down his high negatives. McCain, I don’t know if I see any place for him given his age. Plus, his stance on torture disqualifies him from SecDef where you think he’d go. Huckabee can ambassador to some place in Africa where they could use his Christian message. I wouldn’t want him anywhere near executive power given his record and recent statements and just general liberalism.
Just brainstorming here. I don’t even necessarily prefer a situation like this. The prospective of it might be uniting for the various factions, though. And if any of these guys still wanted to run for Pres later they’d need to prove themselves in their respective roles for everyone to see. Just a thought.
People must vote strategically. If it looks like he is in 1st place in Michigan, vote for whoever is in 2nd place, same if he is in 2nd or 3rd place. This knocks his momentum out. Remember that placing in primaries isn't necessarily about where you place (unless you are in 1st) it is about the expectations. If you fail to live up to the expectation (IE Poll numbers) that is the story.
MICHIGAN AND NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTERS STOP THE HUCKABEE SURGE!!!
I am beginning to doubt this. For eight years we said the same thing about Bill Clinton, but unfortunately he was too good of a politician. I am seeing Huck in the same way.
People just like him. He has a great, happy persona that attracts voters. He must be stopped in Michigan and New Hampshire or he will win SC. We are running out of time.
Go Fred!!
Can some kind soul either explain how a “brokered convention” works or provide a link. I have been searching and can’t find how it works.
The current odds of a brokered convention at Intrade are 24.5%
REP.NOM.2008.BROKERED
The 2008 Republican Pres. Nominee to be selected at a Brokered Convention M 25.0 27.9 24.5 76 0
WOOOHOOO! Another FReeper! (and judging by your opening post another truth-seeking individual)
WELCOME ABOARD!
Wow, I wish I generated that kind of enthusiasm everywhere I go!
Bruce Walker, from your lips to God’s ear. Pray it happens.
Whether the Dems select Hillary or Obama, I fervently believe Fred is the only Republican who can defeat both.
Why? Because he can out-think both of them, that’s why!
Nice find, n00b. lol
If Fred doesn’t win it outright, I’m crossing my fingers and toes for a brokered convention, which is a distinct possibility the way things stand today.
Welcome to Free Republic!
At least your first post wasn’t a vanity...like mine was. ;o)
Cheers!
Republican Delegates
Rudy Giuliani 0
Mike Huckabee 31
Duncan Hunter 1
John McCain 7
Ron Paul 0
Mitt Romney 29
Fred Thompson 3
Total 71
Democratic Delegates
Hillary Clinton 24
John Edwards 18
Mike Gravel 0
Dennis Kucinich 0
Barack Obama 25
Bill Richardson 0
Total 67
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.