The last time I can recall not knowing which candidate I was going to support by the December of the year before the election was 1996 — and we wound up with the “it’s my turn” nominee, Bob Dole. My initial preference was for former congressman and Secretary of Defense Richard Cheney, but he never entered the race. I thought that Lamar! Alexander might have a chance, but he tanked early as well.
Well, 2008 is turning out the same way. I’ve already said that I cannot vote for Rudolph Giuliani or John McCain. Mitt Romney is a possibility, but he’s every bit as exciting as a candidate as a sink full of dirty dishes. I had hopes for Fred Thompson, but in a race that is there for the taking if just one great candidate entered, Mr Thompson has floundered. Tom Tancredo or Duncan Hunter? C’mon, get real!
Mike Huckabee could be interesting, but despite his recent surges in the polls in the early states, I’m not yet persuaded. And while I like some of Ron Paul‘s positions, I can’t get past his isolationism and the impracticality of some of his ideas. Besides, if the denizens of OpEdnews like him, there’s really something to worry about!
Of course, the Democratis nominee, whoever wins, is unacceptable: a Democrat means higher taxes and much more spending on social programs, along with wholly unacceptable Supreme Court nominations, so there’s no way on God’s earth I’ll vote for a Democrat. Basically, the Democratic contest is between the socialists who are honest about being socialists (John Edwards and Dennis Kucinich), socialists who are not honest about it (Barack Hussein Obama and Hillary Clinton), time-servers who think that they are statesmen (Joe Biden and Christopher Dodd), an able man with a slight chance (Bill Richardson) and an unable man almost as loony tunes as Mr Kucinich (Mike Gravel).
I think that Republicans would accept it reasonably well if Senator Obama or Governor Richardson won the presidency; I doubt that either Senator Biden or Senator Dodd would inspire all that much hatred amongst conservatives. John Edwards might be given a brief honeymoon, but his overtly socialist policies would quickly have the GOP in strong opposition, and there’s no way on God’s earth we could stand a hypocrite and a liar like Senatrix Clinton.
How would the Democrats accept any of the Republicans running if one should win it all? They’d have a difficult time hating Senator McCain or Senator Thompson (though the far-left fanatics surely would anyway). Governor Romney or Governor Huckabee would inspire more hatred, for their strongly religious personal beliefs.
At any rate, I’m rather depressed by the choices we have: there’s no one really inspiring running, and this may be a campaign where the next president is the one who doesn’t lose rather than the oe who wins.
You just described my IDEAL candidate – None of the Above.
Ron Paulis the GOP fringe candidate and some of his views harken back to the era of Senators Nye and Borah.
His high-octane libertarianism may appeal to ideological adolecents who seem to be his shock troops who see the stuffing of informal straw ballot boxes as a viable form of activism.
For the other party, Kucinich says what the other cadidates dare only think.
My initial preference was for former congressman and Secretary of Defense Richard Cheney, but he never entered the race. I thought that Lamar! Alexander might have a chance, but he tanked early as well. Dana
My favorite was Phil Gramm of Texas, a man of convictions, integrity, intellect, and courage. He had the message but few heard it. I met the man several times and was very imprssed.
The media duncessaid little abut issues but could talk only of poll numbers. Thre should be more to politics than mere name recognition.
Dole was dull and came from a state where few Democrats win election. Back when JFK had the good sense to cut marginal tax rates, Dole opposed the measure. Some Republican!
He did find his niche hustling Viagra.
I’m still going with Thompson, but if Giuliani’s liberal ass sneaks in I’m supporting the Dem because that’s how much I hate Rudy.
No way would I support Hillary over Rudy. No way. She’s just evil.
Mr Ghost lists himself as a conservative Democrat on his site, so his answer isn’t that unusual; Mr Ghost lives in Brooklyn, so Mr Giuliani was his mayor!
Besides, if the denizens of OpEdnews like him, there’s really something to worry about!
If the denizens of Mountain-Dew-Crazed-Redneck-Television (Chuck Norris fans) then I shouldn’t like Mike Huckabee, but I do.
Of course, the Democratis nominee, whoever wins, is unacceptable:
Yes! This is an exceedingly intelligent observation! I hope to God you’re saying this because of each candidate and not as a blanket statement simply because they’re all Democrats.
As much as it disgusts me, I’m likely to vote for the Republican candidate if Hillary wins the nomination. That is, unless the Republican is a complete freak, like Hunter, Tancredo, or Romney.
Am I the only one who can see thru the smoke?
Richardson will be the Dem VP.
Thompson jumped in for press to add conservative ‘gravitas’ to Romney.
Remember, we don’t elect Senators, short or ugly people president.
By entitlement (ala Dole) – it will be Clinton/Richardson vs Romney/Thompson
Might as well print the signs now.
The suspense is done now – I have spoken.
On to other matters.
Hank, if you’re right, I’m screwed, along with our country.
Maybe I’ll write-in for the Easter Bunny, before I pack my bags for nations elsewhere.
IV: every Democratic candidate supports abortion, and every Democratic candidate wants to raise taxes, and every Democratic candidate will appoint justices like Ruth Ginsberg if given the opportunity. On those three issues alone, they are all unacceptable to me.
And Mountain Dew is a gift from heaven!
I, too, have no idea who I will vote for in the primary. I usually like to use the primary to vote for the candidate I agree with most, creating some interesting results. For example, I voted for Jesse Jackson in 1988 and Paul Tsongas in 1992. By 1996, I was a disaffected Democrat leaning Republican, but–as childish as this may sound–I couldn’t vote for Bob Dole after he said cigarettes didn’t cause cancer(this being the same year my mother died of lung cancer). Such are the weird timings which cause people to vote in bizarre ways; I voted for Ross Perot that year.
This year, I have no strong feelings for any of the candidates. I was leaning toward Huckabee, but his “nuanced” positions on immigration, taxation, and a couple of other issues have me raising my eyebrow. I suppose I could vote for Mitt Romney, although he doesn’t excite me either. I can state I will vote for whoever the Republican candidate is in the general election because, after Al Gore’s disgusting behavior in 2000, I’ll never vote for a Democrat again.
I can state I will vote for whoever the Republican candidate is in the general election because, after Al Gore’s disgusting behavior in 2000, I’ll never vote for a Democrat again.
Funny, after Bush’s disgusting behavior the last seven years I thought I’d never vote for a Republican again.
But, the power of Hillary compels me…
…away from her.
We’ll see.
It’s funny. Romney seems to be polling well, yet I see no genuine enthusiasm for him. Is he the Bob Dole of 2008?