Who will take it in 2008?
I guess with the midterms just a day away, its not too early to talk about 2008. I am not too pleased with the GOP's prospects in 2008.
The real problems is that the Republicans in '08 have no viable candidate right now and history demonstrates that the party out of power during a two-term incumbent presidency usually wins (Bush I being the exception not the rule).
Gingrich doesn't have the people skills necessary. He has some interesting ideas but if you ever watch him work a crowd on C-Span you realize that he doesn't really enjoy interacting with people. Furthermore, he has significant personal baggage.
McCain is reasonably old and in fairly bad health. He is not palatable to the base not because of his voting record which is fairly conservative but by his lack of partisanship (much like Lieberman) and the perception that he cares more about earning media acolades than his party.
Romney is a one term governor who had a successful business career but a mediocre stint as governor and would probably not be re-elected back in Massachusetts. Furthermore, he has flip-flopped on a number of social issues to present himself as the conservative alternative to McCain, when Romney used to be regarded as a moderate.
Giuliani, is my personal favorite candidate but he has way too much baggage from both his personal life and political dealings (i.e. Bernie Kerik and political deals with the Liberal Party boss Harding). He also made many prominent enemies in New York like Mayor Koch, who really dislike Giuliani and will go out of their way to hurt his chances of becoming president.
Right now, I am still waiting for a viable alternative to emerge but barring that I suspect that headlining the '08 ticket will be either Romney or McCain.
The real problems is that the Republicans in '08 have no viable candidate right now and history demonstrates that the party out of power during a two-term incumbent presidency usually wins (Bush I being the exception not the rule).
Gingrich doesn't have the people skills necessary. He has some interesting ideas but if you ever watch him work a crowd on C-Span you realize that he doesn't really enjoy interacting with people. Furthermore, he has significant personal baggage.
McCain is reasonably old and in fairly bad health. He is not palatable to the base not because of his voting record which is fairly conservative but by his lack of partisanship (much like Lieberman) and the perception that he cares more about earning media acolades than his party.
Romney is a one term governor who had a successful business career but a mediocre stint as governor and would probably not be re-elected back in Massachusetts. Furthermore, he has flip-flopped on a number of social issues to present himself as the conservative alternative to McCain, when Romney used to be regarded as a moderate.
Giuliani, is my personal favorite candidate but he has way too much baggage from both his personal life and political dealings (i.e. Bernie Kerik and political deals with the Liberal Party boss Harding). He also made many prominent enemies in New York like Mayor Koch, who really dislike Giuliani and will go out of their way to hurt his chances of becoming president.
Right now, I am still waiting for a viable alternative to emerge but barring that I suspect that headlining the '08 ticket will be either Romney or McCain.
posted by The partisan moderate at 5:36 PM
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