Incidentally, Ron Paul substantially out-raised Hunter in Contributions in the 2006 cycle, garnered 97% of his money from Individual Contributions from all over the country rather than a few corporations in his own district (showing broad national fund-raising ability), had a couple hundred thousand dollars more cash on hand in his last report, and already has a nationwide network of political operatives dating from his 1988 Libertarian run and his national chairmanship of the Republican Liberty Caucus.
Food for thought.
I'm open. I've not made up my mind.
I want to hear them.
Personally, I wish they were all required to come out with a LIVE personally taught slide show of one hour length without teleprompter on their major position and vision in the areas of: economics, foreign policy, social issues, etc.... Roughly 5 major areas that they get 20 minutes each on.
That would be far more beneficial to me than all those ignorant media-events falsely called "debates."
I'd like to see 1 of those to see how fast on their feet they were, and I'd like to see their major media nemeses get to hurl questions at them.
CORRECTION: Roughly 5 major areas that they get TWELVE minutes each on. (WAKE UP, SELF!)
Guiliani did do a lot of good in New York City. His quality of life anti-crime campaign made New York safe to walk in again. He was a very effective leader for the City - and the job of Mayor of New York is, in my own opinion, the job most similar to that of President in terms of scope and scale. My big concerns with Guiliani? His questionable judgment with respect to Bernard Kerik, a man who was as dirty as it gets.
Romney also intrigues me - particularly his background on fiscal issues, and his fairly strong (if somewhat recent) stances on social issues. My biggest concern is that I don't know what he'll do on the WOT or Iraq. I do not care that he is a Mormon. To quote Martin Luther, "I would rather be ruled by a wise [Muslim] than by a foolish Christian." The same applies, IMHO, to Mormon presidential candidates.
I can't imagine myself voting for any of the Democrats. Hillary would be their best choice, if I could discount her history as a Clinton (I can't) and her shameless pandering to the Moveon.Org segment of the party (I can't). Obama is an attractive candidate only insofar as he is a human Rorschach blot upon whom people project what they want to see.