GOP Should Stick with its Big Guns
Entersandman is the author of the political blog Mango Ice Cream and a member of the Political Grind Network.
The Christian Science Monitor recently published an article entitled “GOP voter discontent allows new entrants for ‘08.” Its basic premise lies in the fact that the G.O.P. faces a dearth of “qualified conservative” candidates; this thought process has permeated news media for some weeks. I contend that this is in fact a good thing.
Let’s start with John McCain. Once hailed as the darling of Republicans, he’s fallen slightly out of favor as of late. Sure, he’s criticized Bush administration policy in the past, but the fact remains that he holds wide appeal to moderate leaning conservatives, as well as to moderates in general. It’d be foolish to forget that this was a man many advocated drafting as a Democrat in 2004.
Rudy Giuliani is of a similar mold; his pro-gun control, and pro-choice views have alienated many on the far right. However, in Giuliani, conservatives have the candidate most positively associated with reactions to the September 11th attacks; he has definitely displayed leadership potential more than anyone else. If nothing else, staunch social conservative David Vitter’s endorsement of Giuliani attests to the rising belief that clear headed judgement is needed above all else.The point to be made here is that while I do agree McCain has lost most of the hard-core right (and with good reason), and that Giuliani will face a tough time in getting social conservative votes, the two of them stand a decent chance of winning a national election, if we look past primaries. That, in itself, should be enough of an argument for many conservatives to back them.
Of course numerous “viable” conservatives have popped up all across the radar. Fred Thompson is mulling a run- A Voice of Reason had a great post summarizing why Thompson could be a threat. Newt Gingrich, the leader of the Republican Revolution of the 90’s, is expected to make a decision in June. Mitt Romney, one of the current forerunners, has very acceptable stances from a conservative viewpoint; he was also very well received at CPAC.
But right now the negative stigma associated with Republicans is fairly large- I agree it’d be ridiculous to pull troops out immediately given the strained situation in Iraq, but the majority of American society does not necessarily see it in those terms. Ergo, I conclude with my assertion that McCain or Giuliani (and maybe Romney) would have the best shot at winning a national election, and that it would be in the GOP’s best interest to nominate one of them instead of a more conservative candidate.
Disclaimer: I do expect this to be a pretty controversial post; feel free to disagree as much as you want in the Comments section. If anyone provides a *brilliant* counter-argument, I may just put it up as the next post (on MangoIceCream).
[ Update: 3/17/07 - Part Deux >> ]
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Quit looking to someone else to do your writing for you by offering to \"next post\" it, you\'re sounding lazy like me……(joking…)
I have to agree with this post, so the heck with controversy, as it\'s too easy to come by these days.
The media likes to speak/orate/educate us all the time and this time is no different. The \"Conservative\" field has a number of prospects and this is averred to as a bad thing; because the msm says it\'s so and if the msm says it\'s so it must be so….
I have already written off a number of the candidates, so it\'s nice to have more options; it\'s also excruciatingly early (though not that early with the deluge of Feb. primary pushers out there). I cannot imagine a candidate that would ever fit exactly what I want or I would think anyone would want, if only because most of us tend to be fickle and/or unique (this includes most Americans with the exception of the Left wing - they appear to be quite lock step in their refusing to see certain realities).
I was going to get wordy here so I\'ll just end this with the call \"may the smaller *sshole win!\"
BU
Many have claimed that this election year, there are no \"true\" Republican candidates. That\'s not true. There\'s no \"true\" Republican candidates with \"true\" <i>evangelical</i> values. Giuliani and McCain both have some characteristics similar of President Bush. Strong on terrorism, McCain on Iraq, etc etc. They are still \"Bush Republicans\". Bush isn\'t a true conservative, so he has his own class ;).
Quit looking to someone else to do your writing for you by offering to “next post” it, you’re sounding lazy like me……(joking…)
I have to agree with this post, so the heck with controversy, as it’s too easy to come by these days.
The media likes to speak/orate/educate us all the time and this time is no different. The “Conservative” field has a number of prospects and this is averred to as a bad thing; because the msm says it’s so and if the msm says it’s so it must be so….
I have already written off a number of the candidates, so it’s nice to have more options; it’s also excruciatingly early (though not that early with the deluge of Feb. primary pushers out there). I cannot imagine a candidate that would ever fit exactly what I want or I would think anyone would want, if only because most of us tend to be fickle and/or unique (this includes most Americans with the exception of the Left wing - they appear to be quite lock step in their refusing to see certain realities).
I was going to get wordy here so I’ll just end this with the call “may the smaller *sshole win!”
BU
Many have claimed that this election year, there are no “true” Republican candidates. That’s not true. There’s no “true” Republican candidates with “true” evangelical values. Giuliani and McCain both have some characteristics similar of President Bush. Strong on terrorism, McCain on Iraq, etc etc. They are still “Bush Republicans”. Bush isn’t a true conservative, so he has his own class ;).
Simmons….Bush in a class of his own…you got that right
Simmons….Bush in a class of his own…you got that right
Thanks Stuart for the nicely analyzed comeback. As promised, (and probably to B. Urbane\'s vexation) I\'ll put it up on my site.
Dear Sandman,
I disagree with you that the GOP needs to narrow the field quickly to someone who is currently famous. If you nominate a candidate who doesn’t share your views or values, and that candidate wins, have you really won? Too many people become invested in party politics and support candidates only on the basis who can win an election. Political parties becomes like sports franchises, with fans rooting for their teams, not really caring who plays on those teams. Unlike in sports though, the season doesn’t end with the championship game; we have to live with the winning candidate and his policies.
You say the McCain is “slightly out of favor”; I agree with that statement, except that I’d strike the word “slightly”. McCain has outraged both the libertarian and populist wings of the GOP to the extent that he is not just disliked but despised. He fell out of favor with free speech advocates with his campaign finance reform bill, which he wrote with Russ Feingold (one of the three most liberal members of the senate). Many still maintain that this law violates the first amendment to the constitution. What favor McCain had with populist Republicans he lost with his illegal alien amnesty bill, which he wrote with Ted Kennedy (another of the three most liberal members of the senate). As I have explained at length on this site, this bill undermines the sovereignty of the USA and would be a disaster for the working man. It is ironic that McCain would bill himself as a maverick, when his only remaining support comes from the country club/big business wing of the party. Just what conservative credentials does McCain have left? He even voted against tax cuts before he voted for them. As far as the general electorate goes, his continued support for the war in Iraq makes him unpopular with liberals. Is this the new definition of “moderate”: someone who is unpopular with both liberals and conservatives? Add to this McCain’s temper which he is having a harder time keeping under control as he gets older. We shouldn’t have to wait much longer for McCain’s campaign ending version of the Dean scream. McCain is not going to get the nomination; I guarantee it. Personally I will never vote for McCain under any circumstances; if the Democrats nominate Satan, I’ll vote third party.
As for Rudy, it is true that he has leadership qualities but he has very little experience with the world outside of New York City. He is going to have to do a lot of learning and growing fast if he is going to get the nomination. He also has a lot of personal baggage; his own son doesn’t support his candidacy.
As for “Flip” Romney, he has been well documented by Tony on this site. Romney changes his views so often, I’m not sure just what the man stands for.
For the time being, I’m supporting Tom Tancredo but he has gotten little notice so far. We have ten months until the first primary. There’s plenty of time for the GOP to nominate someone who isn’t John McCain.
Thanks Stuart for the nicely analyzed comeback. As promised, (and probably to B. Urbane’s vexation) I’ll put it up on my site.
None of the candidates you mention are half the man that GWB is. If we only had Bush or even Cheney for another 4 years I am sure our policies in Iraq and Afganistan would be vindicated. We need a strong leader that will not compromise with the elitist eurosnobs on our core values of morality and honor. Whether we like it or not America is the remaining superpower of the world and it is up to us to lead the rest of the world.