Leading to the obvious conclusion that we need to move to the middle because the damned right wing is so unreliable. If we can't count on them to stand by us when the candidate's not "perfect", adjust the strategy to appeal to those who will.
Rudy bump! He is also for strict constitutionalist for judges so that takes care of social issues. Social issues belong in the states not at the federal level. In fact, they belong in my community period!
Had my fill of social conservatives in our OK House when they debated where books should be in the library and our rural fire fighters were waiting for funds and equipment to fight fires that were all over the State. Our fire fighters were sitting in the gallery waiting all day for a vote but it was more important where to put gay books in the library. That should be a local issue not something the State Legislature gets involved with.
Before anyone gets on their high horse, I am pro-life but I believe abortion belongs at the state level not the federal level and I want a law and order President, one for closed borders, one who wants a strong defense and will stand up to the terrorists, is for less taxes, smaller government, and that person is Rudy. I am a fiscal conservative who votes every time and never threaten to stay home and not vote unlike the social conservatives that forgot that Ronald Reagan said if you agree with someone 80% of the time then he is okay.
I agree. Rudy is not my first choice, but the list of possibilities is not very long. Someone who does not already have national name recognition does not have a chance. My choices:
1) Condi (won't happen. She's said no enough that I believe her, and the waffling required to be Secretary of State doesn't burnish a future President's stauture.)
2) Santorum (Not likely. A handful of people have come back from electoral defeats to win the top job, but Nixon had already been VP and Lincoln was one of a kind. With luck, Santorum will prove himself eloquent enough during primary season to fill the VP slot or make himself a contender for 2012)
3) Fred Thompson (slim to no chance, but I heard him subbing for Paul Harvey on the radio and he has more in common with Reagan than his acting career. He articulates conservative principles in a folksy common sense way that is hard to dislike. Also one of the few that seem to want to accomplish something rather than hold a title.
4) Newt (He's the first one on this list who has a decent chance. Newt has his own set of baggage, but he is conservative, smart, and articulate.)
5) Rudy (He's on the right side in the WOT which is the biggest issue of our time. His judicial appointments would be tough on crime and tough on frivilous lawsuits. He can beat Hillary)
6) McCain ( I hope someone can beat him in the primary, but if the choice is him or a Dem, I'll hold my nose and vote for him)
...
300,000,001) Hillary