Posted on 03/11/2006 8:42:55 AM PST by Small-L
Restless Republicans are already looking beyond the embattled presidency ... to the 2008 campaign.
...
The delegates were voting in an informal "straw poll" to test the popularity of White House hopefuls including those in attendance -- Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, Sen. George Allen of Virginia, Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas, Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee.
...
Despite controlling the White House and Congress for most of the past five years, many Republicans feel both have fallen short on a number of issues including tax reform, fiscal responsibility, immigration, Social Security and family values.
"A big problem with our base is our spending," said Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, ... "My time at this convention will be spent talking about a Republican Party ...-- a party of controlling the size of government and reforming the government."
"If we don't have a program that reforms taxes and controls spending different from the Democrats, a lot of people will sit out the next election as Republicans," he warned. "We're dangerously close ... to having a deflated base."
Brownback, a favorite of social conservatives, said runaway spending is a problem for Republicans but so is a failure to produce innovative plans on health care, energy, the environment and rebuilding the American family.
...
The restlessness is also fueled by polls. An AP-Ipsos survey shows that just 37 percent of people approve of Bush's performance and a mere 31 percent give the Republican-led Congress high marks.
Underscoring Graham's point about a deflated base, Bush's job approval among Republicans has dropped 8 percentage points to 74 percent since February, the poll showed. More than half of Republicans disapprove of Congress' performance.
...
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
I'm disappointed not to see Senator Cornyn's name on the list of potential nominees.
We don't want a Senator. Only 2 sitting US Senators, Kennedy being the last in 1960 have been elected President. It's time to look at Governors once again. Who out there is really exciting, and not named Pataki.
The best thing that could happen with the baker's-dozen-plus wannabes of both Parties is to take them all, put them in a big bag, tie it at the top, shake it up, and leave them there and go find some other contenders.
I know; I've said the same thing about about Senators in the past. Cornyn is new enough to the Senate though that maybe his voting record is a little more clean.
Tell me about Cornyn--what's he got?
Weak field of candidates.
I wish they'd given a "None of the Above" choice on their quickvote.
I live in Georgia and campaigned for Purdue. He hasn't done a thing to cut spending and waste in Georgia government. Come to think of it, I'm had pressed to think of anything that he has done...period.
What is the use in this long range soothe-saying exercise? Oh yeah, I know....whoever gets elected will have 14 months in office and we can all be projecting who will be sworn in on Jan 2013.
A worthless exercise in prognostication.
I've only seen him a few times during the Judicial Committee hearings for Alito and Roberts and here's what he has, to my knowledge:
1) Excellent speaker; clear, concise
2) Good voting record on conservative issues but isn't such an ultra right winger the left will eat him alive
3) Young; about 53
4) Joined Senate in 2002 and within a year appointed deputy whip
5) Serves on five key Senate committees: Armed Services; Judiciary; Budget; Small Business and Entrepreneurship; and the Joint Economic Committee. He chairs the Judiciary Committee’s subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security and Citizenship and the Armed Services Committee’s subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities
6) In addition to his legislative committees, Sen. Cornyn is the chairman of the Senate India Caucus, vice chairman of the Senate Republican Conference Task Force on Hispanic Affairs, vice chairman of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, and a member of the Senate Republican Task Force on Health Care Costs and the Uninsured, the Senate Republican High Tech Task Force, Congressional Oversight Group on Trade, and the President’s Export Council.While in the Senate, John Cornyn has received various awards and recognitions, including the 2005 Border Texan of the Year Award; the National Child Support Enforcement Association's Children's Champion Award; the American Farm Bureau Federation's Friend of Farm Bureau Award; the Texas Association of Business's Fighter for Free Enterprise Award; and the Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce's (TAMACC) International Leadership Legislative Award; among others.
7) Former TX Attorney General
8) And last but not least, looks presidential which we can't ignore in the television age
And his official web site is here:
http://cornyn.senate.gov/
The bills in states tend to be more narrow, and governor's have that added plus, as well as the experience as an executive. It will be interesting to see. Perhaps a clean business executive will get a shot for a change.
Of interest - will it be a Bush or an UnBush? At this time it does not seem very likely that Bush/Cheney will get many speaking invites in contested districts.
Like Bush and Cheney?
Maybe Bill Gates or Michael Dell...or maybe George Soros? /sarc.
I know and you're right. I just don't know who we have in a governor position who can run and win.
Who out there is really exciting, and not named Pataki.....or Bush.
C H E N E Y
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