Republican presidential nominees 2008

[ArneFufkin]

White Helmets in a loss
White Jerseys in a loss
White pants in a loss
Black Shoes in a loss

At least you Penn State guys have homosexuality to keep you upbeat.

[wardaddy]

You're right. Free Republic is full of posters who base on race.

[k2blader]

2008 will be very interesting. I'll be watching the GOP between now and then to see if it's going right again or further left.

[muleskinner]

Bush/Rudy enjoy a comfy margin in the polls througout the election season and win 400-425 electoral votes...

Too many Bushes weird people out. Jeb will never be President. The 2008 election will be Rudy vs Hillary. Rudy wins that one solidly.

That combination would guarantee victory in '04 and Rudy would win in '08.

[wardaddy]

Further left...you can bank on it.

The further left the Dems go off the cliff, their momentum is going to pull the Pubbies along and we will still appear conservative by comparison.

Rove's agile co-opting of Dem pandering will continue. (I'm ambivalent about it honestly)

Just look at this forum....we have been innundated with moderates and Dem refugees...particularly since 9-11.

[habs4ever]

A POTUS has to be one thing, and one thing only....a leader.Many thought Jack Kemp could follow in Reagan's shadow, but Jack doesn't have it....neither does Condi.

Figure out the man/woman, them you figure out the leader.Temperment, character, good sense, wisdom and courage, are the things that count, not the minutia of policy pronouncements.It is no wonder that Senators can't cut it, hard as they try to think they are leadership material.It is the ones, like Bush, and Reagan, who have those core qualities plus the common touch, that are the best men for the job.I doubt anyone will know who that person is until...2008

[Steel Wolf]

You're right. Free Republic is full of posters who base on race.

Well, we're not all as colorblind as you are. Nice tagline, by the way.

It's not basing 'only' on race, but you're fooling yourself thinking that it's not a factor. There are lots of factors that go into selecting a presidential candidate, from education, money (what they have and what they can raise), experience, public image, electability, their relationship with others in the party, etc. Anything that will modify their standing with the electorate is an issue, and that naturally includes gender and ethnicity.

Now, if all a candidate had going for them was gender and ethnicity (like Carol Mostly-Fraud) then I'd agree with you 100%.

[wardaddy]

Joe Scarborough...call me crazy.

He has that macho yet disarming persona that flyover land loves.

W will be hard to follow with his uncanny intrinsic Gary Cooper style leadership projection. His fans and the middle love him for that and his detractors hate him even worse.

Condi is a pipe dream...and very flawed ideologically on cultural issues...were she not black and handsome and a woman, nobody would notice.

Santorum?.....I like him...a lot but I wonder about his projection....which does matter sadly.

What I really want is DeLay made Monarch for 2 terms and given extraordinary powers all to sunset in 2016....that's about all I can see that would set things back right baring a supermajor cataclysm.....otherwise we continue down the road behind Europe into the socio-cultural abyss. We're just thumbs in the dyke for now.

[bdeaner]

Well, we're not all as colorblind as you are. Nice tagline, by the way.

LOL!

[freedomdefender]

the abortion issue. He is pro-choice.

Oh, you mean he's ok with not giving the baby a choice in her fate.

[k2blader]

I think you're right. In which case I *probably* will not vote (R) in 2008.

The co-opting of Dem issues is just not a good long-term plan. It weakens our nation.

And I hear you about the "moderates" on the forum. Interestingly some of them seem to have been here longer than I. Assuming they started as conservatives, what (the heck) happened?

[MizzouTigerRepublican]

Why doesn't anyone mention JC Watts as a choice? I have heard him speak 3 times and he was great every time. I just read his book again for the 2nd time and enjoyed it more than the first time I read it.

[SmallGuerillaReactionaryArmy]

Rudy Giuliani will never be elected president. In the age of television, a candidate simply will not win unless he's got a full head of hair. It sounds bizarre, but that's what this country has come down to. Umm, I dunno what you're smoking... but the public absolutely loves Rudy. Ever seen an SNL when he hosted, or even had a single guest apperance? Point made. (most)Everyone LOVES Rudy. And I for one don't think the abortion issue is enough for 90% of republicans to not support his canidacy. And I think that abortion stance wins him big points with the liberal womens rights groups. IMO only the absolute extremes of both wings dislike him.

[wardaddy]

My point was that both Condi and Watts have legions of fans here based on their race or gender more than anything else.

I think both are fine folks although I have serious differences with Condi and I think Watts really does lack gravitas (yes I hate that word) although ideologically I like him a lot.

I would love like most decent conservative whites to vote for a true black conservative but I don't know of one that I think is electable or a true conservative.

As for women...hmmm....unless they have balls and the ideology of a Maggie Thatcher, I'm not interested and I do not know of one available.

Tom Delay is the strongest conservative in the country....no question , but he would never get elected unless we were in dire need like under attack by Mars.

[Alberta's Child]

There's a political dynasty in New Jersey that hasn't attracted a lot of attention because none of the players involved has sought higher office, but it is my understanding that the Congressional district that includes the Morristown area has been represented by a member of the Frelinghuysen family for every year since the founding of the United States with the exception of one or two terms.

[wardaddy]

I will vote Pubbie until a viable third rail appears (just ask the Greens...and thank Nader).

Color me a pragmatist....I'm going down with the ship.

[MattAMiller]

I'm liking Condi right now. Though I think it's interest we all just assume Cheny won't be running.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

John McCain ... not a chance

Jeb Bush... ONLY if Hillary runs so we don't hear dynasty.

Rick Perry ....Will be lucky to stay governor

Condoleezza Rice... Perhaps, still many unknowns, like does she even want elective office and will America elect anyone who has never held office?

George Pataki ... a pro choice Republican for President? Right!

Bill Frist ... Perhaps. Not thrilled with him yet and Senators have a poor track record at winning.

[Big Steve]

In reference to a list of potential nominees in 08, I will concur that Owens should be the front runner. However, if GWB loses next year (and I hope not), I think Jeb should take a shot at it in 2008; mainly because I believe he is the most conservative member of the Bush family. Also, Jeb and Owens were each given a grade of 'A' by the Cato Institute in terms of the way their respective states are being run, and were the only ones to receive an A. If GWB is re-elected, I think Jeb ought to run for the Senate in 2006 against Bill Nelson. He would be quite an opponent for Nelson. One name that hasn't come up yet IMO is former VA governor and current US Senator George Allen. Allen would have great credentials to his being a former governor and US Senator. He is also chairman of the Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee, and if the Republicans gain seats in next year's elections; I would take a hard look at George Allen. A little trivia for you Washington Redskins fans. Allen's dad, George Allen, Sr. was a former coach of the Redskins in the 1970s. You Redskins' fans may want to give him some brownie points there. My top two picks in 2008 would be Bill Owens and George Allen. Any takers on that? Feel free to post.

[Alberta's Child]

Rudy's got another serious problem, aside from the political considerations of his pro-abortion background.

The one thing that made him so popular in the wake of 9/11 is that he was thoroughly competent when it came to handling a crisis. His problem was that he was only considered an effective mayor in New York City when the city was in a crisis. Up until September 10th, he was actually a very unpopular mayor because of his heavy-handed approach to governing.

Now this might be just the kind of person you would think we need, but this kind of person actually makes for a poor presidential candidate -- he's simply not "friendly" enough to make people feel good about themselves and their country.

I would also add that just about anyone who has ever worked for Rudy Giuliani will tell you that he was a flaming @sshole on the highest order. Again -- great material for a secretary of defense or FBI director, but not for President of the United States.