Hugh Hewitt: Watching the Signs (The 2008 GOP Primary Is Already Underway)

The Weekly Standard ^ | December 9, 2004 | Hugh Hewitt

[puppetz]

There is this argument that the public won't elect another BUsh after 2 terms of GWB- ok then, are you telling me that anyone who voted for GWB would vote for Hillary or Jeb? That's ridiculous-

Here's what I think: if GWB has a very successful 2nd term, and at the end of that term people are wishing that he could continue as president, they will be in the mood for Bush III. I'm in Tampa and I wish very fervently Jeb would run. He's been a fantastic governor, he's right on all the issues, the Hispanics love him (he has a Mexican wife) and he would kick Hillary's ass all over the country. I would think REAL landslide this time. JEB in '08!

[puppetz]

Hillary OVER Jeb I meant

[traderrob6]

Can You Say Darkhorse...

[fix]

May God have mercy on us if that is the best list of candidates we can come up with. I will not participate in such nonsense next time around. Hillary can have the White House! I will not vote for Rudy or any of these other liberal trojans.

[fix]

I should explain that I'm not referring to Frist in that disparaging remark.

[Rastus]

And he supported Specter for the head of the judiciary committee.

[ZGuy]

I listen to Hugh every day, but his approach -- "I favor the most conservative Republican in the primary most likely to win the general election. " bothers me because the "conservative" part always gets ignored and it has ALWAYS turned out to mean "I favor the most liberal Republican in the primary who has big numbers."

[TheLawyerFormerlyKnownAsAl]

"He is against CCWs for the unwashed masses.
He is against the Proposition / Initiative process in California (the same one that allowed us to oust the commie Gov. Davis)
He is an open borders guy."

Agreed, and I'd probably agree with you as to the CCWs if I knew what that meant. He's become full of himself.

[My2Cents]

***Ping***

Very interesting.

[traderrob6]

Which is more important, a staunch conservative or electability?

[My2Cents]

I ditto that. But I think Hugh has a good point: in order to blunt his "pro-choice" leanings, Rudy would need to weigh-in pretty heavily in favor of Bush's nominations to the court.

[newgeezer]

My hope is that a conservative statesman will rise to the occasion in the next couple of years.

As it stands, I'm with you in spirit, if not in deed (i.e. I will very likely, even if reluctantly, vote 'R' while holding my nose, if need be). On the other hand, I sometimes wonder if we're just prolonging the agony by delaying the hoped-for conservative revival, which will only happen when or if the proverbial frog in the kettle notices that the water is getting too hot. Maybe Hillary is what it'll take to finally wake us up (Dear Lord, I hope not).

[tkathy]

Condi is a bureaucrat, NOT presidental.

[bruin66]

My first choice for a candidate would be someone who's actually been an executive: governor, mayor, etc. I have very little use for senators or representatives.

[My2Cents]

I agree that the base of the Republican party is conservative, but if these three mentioned possible candidates are too liberal, there needs to be a viable conservative to come out of the pack and run.

[votelife]

I'd pick Franks over Rudy, McCain, and Frist...

[tkathy]

Guiliani is the only one who IMO would virtually be a lock in 2008. The dims will commit collective hari kari. It will be glorious.

[votelife]

if Guiliani would switch and become pro-life he'd be unstopable

[My2Cents]

but he is a man who thinks it is better to put loyalty to the GOP ahead of loyalty to conservative principle.

Hewitt's a pragmatist. I think he would say that without the GOP, there is no real hope for the conservative agenda, politically.

[Buckeye McFrog]

good lord...don't we get ANY break from Election Season anymore?