Who will be the Republican candidate(s) for the 2008 election?

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Jon Miller
Some of us wonder how anyone can currently vote for a Republican. But than we look at the complete list of Democrats running, and know that it is possible, and may be necessary. As such, we are worried about who will be coming from that direction, as want to know there will be at least one decent choice.

Fixed.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Jon Miller
Some of us wonder how anyone can currently vote for a Republican. But than we look at our fellow Americans, and know that it is possible. As such, we are worried about who will be coming from that direction.

I think Mitt Romney isn't all that bad, from what little I know. And if McCain hadn't sold out, I would have thought the same about him.

Jon Miller

Other than backing away from his position on abortion (Which hes wavered on before, IIUC) and taxes (where he can and does argue that the macroecon situation has changed) what policies has he sold out on?

[Jon Miller]

Originally posted by lord of the mark


Kinda the way the left took Clinton in 1992, despite his support for free trade, for the first Gulf War, and his "sista souljah" thingie?

When youre desperate to win, you get all pragmatic all of a sudden.

Were those as important to the left as gay abortion is to the religious right? I mean, what else do they have beyond religion in schools?

Jon Miller

[Jon Miller]

Originally posted by lord of the mark


Other than backing away from his position on abortion (Which hes wavered on before, IIUC) and taxes (where he can and does argue that the macroecon situation has changed) what policies has he sold out on?

Patriot Act/Torture type stuff. This is my biggest beef with Republicans, and why I won't vote for them.

Jon Miller

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Jon Miller


Patriot Act/Torture type stuff. This is my biggest beef with Republicans, and why I won't vote for them.

Jon Miller

I think McCain can make a pretty good case that the compromise reached met HIS objections on issues related to interrogations and the status of detainees at Guantanamo. They may not meet YOUR objections, but we're talking about sell outs. Similarly, I dont know that McCain ever opposed the Patriot Act.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Jon Miller


Were those as important to the left as gay abortion is to the religious right? I mean, what else do they have beyond religion in schools?

Jon Miller

I suspect they have a range of concerns, from foreign policy, to school vouchers. Im not sure I feel comfortable calling someone a hypocrite because they evaluate the importance of various issues differently than the stereotype of them says.

[Jon Miller]

I evaluate them based upon what they have said about themselves. Consider the religious right people you know... the ones you have seen talking on TV. (remember, I myself am anti-abortion and am very religious)

The way we have dealt with torture in the US is embarrassing, immoral, and doesn't follow the guildlines that we agreed to follow (and I think at least partially set up).

Jon Miller

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Jon Miller

The way we have dealt with torture in the US is embarrassing, immoral, and doesn't follow the guildlines that we agreed to follow (and I think at least partially set up).

Jon Miller

Im not here to discuss yet again the issues related to Geneva, or the morality of various interrogation techniques. Im merely challenging the notion that McCain "sold out", IE was inconsistent in his positions.

[DanS]

Originally posted by Ecthy
37 views and 12 replies. I've really hit a nerve.

Well, it's a very open primary this time around. Lots of interesting candidates in the GOP. No "establishment" GOP candidates.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Jon Miller
I evaluate them based upon what they have said about themselves. Consider the religious right people you know... the ones you have seen talking on TV. (remember, I myself am anti-abortion and am very religious)

I dont watch much TV, and sound bites are sound bites. What matters is voters, and many religious right voters have interests in issues not strictly related to the religious right, and many have interests in issues like vouchers, where they are likely to be closer to Giuliani than to the Dem candidate.

[RGBVideo]

Originally posted by Ecthy
37 views and 12 replies. I've really hit a nerve.

This is a subject in which everyone likes to think of themself as an expert and in which everyone likes to share their "knowledge" and "insights".

Witness three guys in a row mispelling Rudolph Giuliani's name. I wonder if the polytubbies would still be spelling it as a "Guiliani" if MtG wouldn't have showed up.

Also note how a single reporter from Spiegel tries to cover the story as if it's clear-cut and fact-based news by now. I remember how the clowns of Finnish newspapers made a real fool out of themselves in the election coverage of 2004.

It's too early to tell anything. The only people pretending to know the results are spinmeißters and their foolish tools in the quest of a frontrunner's image.

Romney, McCain, Giuliani; all are serious candidates. Unlucky for McCain, his "principled" official opinion on Iraq/Iran (requiring more troops and a more "hawkish" policy, or whatever TF did Time, The New York Times et aliae mean by that) were published and read quite widely before Iraq turned into an absolute vote-loser in the mouths of the spinmeißters. So he'll be seen as a unprincipled liar among quite a few people if he suddenly starts talking about a withdrawal.

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by lord of the mark

except he hasnt supported the way Bush handled it. In particular he was calling for Rummys resignation as far back as 2004, IIUC.

He's tried to toe the line too much, though, IMO - reality doesn't matter as much as sound bites, and I'm sure you can take snippets of McCain's statements (support for the surge, his apology to Rumsfeld, and others) and present him as being too cozy with Bush and his handling of the war.

McCain's been in an untenable position - he's too much of a good team player and too loyal to really come down hard and unequivocal and challenge Bush (not like the Dems did much of that for effect early on), but now, he's not exactly going to be the loudest voice in the choir, and with a lot of people, the closest to Bush loses.

I like McCain, but I also think he's shot himself in the ass.

[Admiral]

McCain is done for. After his terrible first quarter fundraising numbers and his poor performance in polls, donors are going to be increasingly unwilling to risk supporting him. Thus, inadequate finances plus not being able to woo back to the fold the Republican voters he's alienated will leave him unable to compete.

As to who gets the nomination, my guess is Romney. I think that Guliani, while appearing strong now, will get slammed on lifestyle issues.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat


He's tried to toe the line too much, though, IMO - reality doesn't matter as much as sound bites, and I'm sure you can take snippets of McCain's statements (support for the surge, his apology to Rumsfeld, and others) and present him as being too cozy with Bush and his handling of the war.

I dont read the surge as McCain toeing the bush line, so much as Bush finally stepping back from the Rummy line, and adopting the McCain line.

I agree that if theres no evidence the surge is going well by January 08, McCain is history. I think he knows that quite well.

[Kuciwalker]

I don't want a Mormon president