NationStates Jolt Archive

Whether or not Bush gets re-elected, in 2008 there will be a power struggle for the GOP presidential candidate. Whether or not Bush wins, no one really thinks Cheney will run in 08, but for sake of fairness, I'm including him on the poll.

However, three big names will almost certainly overshadow him.

1) Arnold Swarzenegger: Just announced he'd like to be president. He has a naughty past working against his expected Republican base though. May compensate by sweeping the youth vote.

2) John McCain: Unsucessfully challenged Bush in 2000, has been asskissing for 4 years now, biding his time, waiting for the opportune moment. Even Democrats like and respect McCain. He is by far the strongest candidate in my opinion.

3) Rudy Guiliani: Everyone forgot about his messy divorce on 9/11. Whether or not he will still be relevant 4 years from now is anyone's guess. I doubt it.

I think McCain is the strongest candidate. I don't like him, but I think he'll get the nomination.

Arnie can run if they make a Constitutional amendment to reverse that pesky rule about being born here.

Probably not going to happen.

No matter how much he begs Ahnuld get his constitutional ammendment to become president. No one would vote for Dick Cheyney because hes fat ugly and bald.

Hopefully the Republican party wont have a future because they suck theyre corrupt, and they were started by Lincoln, who was a horrible president.

All of the people I like for the job don't seem to want it. Colin Powell would be an excellent choice, but I don't think he's interested. I'd love to see Ron Paul run as well, but he's probably not Republican enough and he may be too old at this point. Barring these two, I'd prefer either McCain or a traditional Republican to another neo-con.

I think that if nothing else, Cheney's health problems will keep him from running. Just as well, if you ask me.

Gov. Bill Owens of Colorado is probably the best Republican candidate. McCain is not a Republican, Guliani is barely a Republican, and Arnold is barely a Republican.

Hopefully the Republican party wont have a future because they suck theyre corrupt, and they were started by Lincoln, who was a horrible president.

Keep telling yourself that.

Is Friedman too old to get into politics? How about O'rourke or HST?

All of the people I like for the job don't seem to want it. Colin Powell would be an excellent choice, but I don't think he's interested. I'd love to see Ron Paul run as well, but he's probably not Republican enough and he may be too old at this point. Barring these two, I'd prefer either McCain or a traditional Republican to another neo-con.

I think that if nothing else, Cheney's health problems will keep him from running. Just as well, if you ask me.


McCain/Powell would be a good ticket.

No one would vote for Dick Cheyney because hes fat ugly and bald.


Obviously a graduate of a critical thinking seminar or two. :rolleyes:

Rudy Guiliani. Brilliant politician, national hero, and very intelligent man with good integrity. Probably my favorite canidate that will run on the presidential 2008 ticket. He cleaned New York's crime, acted brilliantly on 9/11, and is a fiscal conservative on economics but a supporter of gay-rights, women's choice, and immigration rights. Unlike this stupid faith-based bullshit that bush proclaims.

GUILIANI
-----
POWELL

2008!

Obviously a graduate of a critical thinking seminar or two. :rolleyes:

It's true that physical appearance has a great effect on how people vote. It's thought that that's partially why Nixon lost to Kennedy.

A McCain/Giuliani (or vice versa) would be an awesome ticket

Gov. Bill Owens of Colorado is probably the best Republican candidate. McCain is not a Republican, Guliani is barely a Republican, and Arnold is barely a Republican.
That's the idea. If a moderate Republican was in the white house right now, Kerry wouldn't have a chance.

You notice they used all three at the RNC.

Hopefully the Republican party wont have a future because they suck theyre corrupt, and they were started by Lincoln, who was a horrible president.
Uh, you're missing something important. Back then the Republicans were the liberals, and the Democrats were the conservatives. It took the progressives and the civil rights movement to swap the two parties. :p

No one would vote for Dick Cheyney because hes fat ugly and bald.
And his heart problem. And he has even less charisma than Kerry (hehe). :p

A McCain/Giuliani (or vice versa) would be an awesome ticket

I agree, but I think there has to be one stronger right side candidate on the ticket to solidify the traditional base. I don't think two moderate republicans make the ticket... In fact, it would probably have to be a strong right-sider who is nominated and he selects a moderate VP candidate.

McCain/Powell would be a good ticket.

Yeah, I think that's the strongest the Republicans have. My impression is that McCain might have trouble getting the Republican base as excited (because of his sometimes moderate/slightly liberal stances), but he could definitely sway those independents and and democrats who aren't incredibly enamored with Hilary or Kerry after 4 years. Adding Powell to the ticket seems to emphasize McCain's strengths (mostly his "compassionate centrism" in my view), and cover him somewhat in the Republican base, with Powell being a military man and working under Bush.

Then again, the ol' ball-game will be quite different in 2008. I imagine if Bush wins Democrats will be so much more inflamed than now and with almost a 100% turnout. And I imagine if Kerry wins he'll be easy fodder for another flip-flop/dullness campaign since I doubt he'll have fixed these perceptions (or habits, depending on how much you buy into it) over the 4 years in office.

It's actually almost more refreshing to think about 2008. The only thing the 2004 election has taught me is this:

I see stupid people.

All the time.

Rudy Guiliani. Brilliant politician, national hero, and very intelligent man with good integrity. Probably my favorite canidate that will run on the presidential 2008 ticket. He cleaned New York's crime, acted brilliantly on 9/11, and is a fiscal conservative on economics but a supporter of gay-rights, women's choice, and immigration rights. Unlike this stupid faith-based bullshit that bush proclaims.

GUILIANI
-----
POWELL

2008!
no...
Guliani/mccain!
Ill vote for them against hillary

BTW, I wouldn't get any hopes up on Powell joining a ticket. In interviews he's said he wife does not want him on a presiditial ticket because she fears an assassination attempt - Him being the 1st black presidential candidate.

And his heart problem. And he has even less charisma than Kerry (hehe). :p

Oh My gosh! I could marry you...er..well, at least hug you in a buddy-like, non-homosexual way...that is, if you're a guy...

But anyway, that is the first time I've heard someone be critical of both Bush and Kerry! Woohoo! There's hope! I see the light! Praise the Lord!

Even though I might not always agree on your predictions for tomorrow, Consider yourself hugged. Sort of.

please god...if you grant any of my wishes...make me rich and sexy. if you cant grant that, then DONT LET HILARY BECOME PREZ!! please!

Oh My gosh! I could marry you...er..well, at least hug you in a budyy-like, non-homosexual way...that is, if you're a guy...

But anyway, that is the first time I've heard someone be critical of both Bush and Kerry! Woohoo! There's hope! I see the light! Praise the Lord!

Even though I might not always agree on your predictions for tomorrow, Consider yourself hugged. Sort of.
Aw thanks! I believe parody is not dead. In fact, in this election parody is needed more than ever. Really, what is sillier than politics? I try to bridge the partisan gap with humor. Partisanship itself really bugs me.

I may be a liberal, but I'm not a partisan hack! :p

Aw thanks! I believe parody is not dead. In fact, in this election parody is needed more than ever. Really, what is sillier than politics? I try to bridge the partisan gap with humor. Partisanship itself really bugs me.

I may be a liberal, but I'm not a partisan hack! :p
agreed. partisanship is killing this country, and its both parties commiting it. bad parties, BAD!

Nahh!

I want Hillery to become President!

It would remove the Conservative Christian part out of the Republicans because they would be leaping off buildings because Bill was back in the Whitehouse! ;)

please god...if you grant any of my wishes...make me rich and sexy. if you cant grant that, then DONT LET HILARY BECOME PREZ!! please!
I think I'd pay to see Hillary become president. Not that I particularly care for her, but it would be funny as hell to see all the sexist bigots shitting themselves...and the fact that Republicans in general seem to demonize any Democrat women. Was there a thread a while back, "Who is sexier, Laura Bush or Teresa Kerry"? I tried to keep the humor going, but it devolved right back to partisan bickering. blah. Same thing happened to my "Michael Moore and Ann Coulter should procreate" thread. :(

Oh My gosh! I could marry you...er..well, at least hug you in a buddy-like, non-homosexual way...that is, if you're a guy...

But anyway, that is the first time I've heard someone be critical of both Bush and Kerry! Woohoo! There's hope! I see the light! Praise the Lord!

Even though I might not always agree on your predictions for tomorrow, Consider yourself hugged. Sort of.

first time?/ you sure?? because just about eveyone I know consider the race as
Douchebag/cockroach and Satanic puppet/satans third head
So, I guess I consider myself hugged as well.

I think I'd pay to see Hillary become president. Not that I particularly care for her, but it would be funny as hell to see all the sexist bigots shitting themselves...and the fact that Republicans in general seem to demonize any Democrat women. Was there a thread a while back, "Who is sexier, Laura Bush or Teresa Kerry"? I tried to keep the humor going, but it devolved right back to partisan bickering. blah. Same thing happened to my "Michael Moore and Ann Coulter should procreate" thread. :(
haha, those sound pretty funny... nah, i dont mind dem women (if i did, i'd have to be gay because there are no non-dems in my city) but i just fucking hate mrs. clinton. shes a bitch, period.

anyways, bush clinton bush clinton --- shit, america's turning into a monarchy now huh?

from what i see it will be mccain running for prez with guliani as his running mate. Arnold does still have the star power. it wil be tough. but if bush wins this election it looks like who ever will be running will be going up against hillary.

McCain is not a Republican, Guliani is barely a Republican, and Arnold is barely a Republican.
Isn't McCain a Senator? I think that makes him a pretty central member of the Republican Party, doesn't it?

Isn't McCain a Senator? I think that makes him a pretty central member of the Republican Party, doesn't it?
No, when your stances on things are not mainstream republican, that makes you a RINO.

Why is Arnold Schwarzenegger in the poll? He CAN'T be the President-he's not a native-born American.

No, when your stances on things are not mainstream republican, that makes you a RINO.
Take a look at McCain's overall voting record, its quite conservative. Its not like Rick Santorum, but its nowhere near as liberal compared to Arlen Specter or Lincoln Chafee.

I'm not quite sure who it will be, but I have a better idea of who it won't be and I don't think it will be any of the people listed, so I voted "Other".

But anyway, that is the first time I've heard someone be critical of both Bush and Kerry! Woohoo! There's hope! I see the light! Praise the Lord!

Apparently you haven't seen many of my posts. ;)

How about Condaleezza Rice or Elizabeth Dole? Both smart women and strong Republicans in the party. I'd love to see either or both of those two combat a ticket against Hillary.

Just imagine. Hillary's major buying power would be that she would be the first woman president. Put Rice up there, and she gets trumped by running against an African American candidate as well as a woman ;)

McCain would be a good choice, but I don't think it's going to happen for several reasons.

1) He's going to be in his late sixties/early seventies in 2008. That puts him in his mid to late 70's assuming a second run (which is kind of what you should be planning for). That's a tad too old, because it presents the very real risk of him dying in office (especially considering how McCain has dealt with recurrent skin cancer flareups in recent years).

2) There is only one group in America that isn't hot on McCain. Unfortunately, that group is conservative Republicans. Yes, he may be very close to the Republicans on issues like abortion and welfare. The problem is that he also wants to turn the spigot off for their campaign contributors, and most conservatives don't want that because a) they don't want to lose to the Dems, and b) they're the ones who are benefitting from the status quo as is. As such, if he did run, you'd probably see a repeat of 2000, with McCain winning the common man, only to be gooshed by an empty suit that promises to give Big Business everything it wants.

On the whole, I'm not sure who they'll be running in 2008. The truth of the matter is that it's too far away for anything to be said for certain. The most probable person on the list IMO is Guiliani. That being said, I don't consider him that probable at all, because let's face it, a guy who supports abortion rights has as much chance of getting through the Republican primaries as Al Sharpton does of getting the Klu Klux Klan endorsement. You simply don't survive, except as window dressing, in the modern Republican party if you don't stick lockstep to the party platform. That was the reason why they had three "moderates" on stage: they were the only moderates in the room, and they were there specifically to ease voter's fears about voting for the whackjobs that really run things.

What about Jeb Bush, Gov of Florida. He was the one the Bush family expected to make a bid at the Presidency.

What about Jeb Bush, Gov of Florida. He was the one the Bush family expected to make a bid at the Presidency.
Jeb Bush said he's not interested.

How about Condaleezza Rice or Elizabeth Dole? Both smart women and strong Republicans in the party. I'd love to see either or both of those two combat a ticket against Hillary.

Just imagine. Hillary's major buying power would be that she would be the first woman president. Put Rice up there, and she gets trumped by running against an African American candidate as well as a woman ;)
Well, the problem is that the modern Republican Party could never accept a woman candidate, much less a black woman candidate.

The first woman and black presidents will be Democrats, my crystal ball says.

Howdy,

I actually think the GOP candidate in aught 8 will be either Condi. Rice or some little known governor (or maybe Alan Keyes, but I doubt he'll get the nod). But, let's look at each of the candidates you propose:

1) The problem with an Arnold ticket is a little thing I like to call the Constitution... right now, you have to be a natural-born US citizen to be/run for president. The amendment process is long and there is little support for changing it so that Arnold, an Austrian born naturalized US citizen.

2) McCain. I think he might be too old by then, but he cannot motivate the conservative base he'd need to get elected (then again, he could get the liberals out there to elect him, but that would be embarrassing...)

3) Rudy. Age will probably be an issue here, too. He'd have to get elected as a governor or a Senator in aught 6 to even have a shot.

4) Cheney. Health and age are big issues here.

I'd honestly like Alan Keyes. He's a strong conservative with strong religious beliefs (proposed campaign motto for this election: Alan Keyes: more conservative than Bush, more Catholic than Kerry). And he doesn't sugarcoat or hide with political and religious beliefs. He's probably too conservative to get the nod, unfortunately.

Condi has a high-up job. She will be young enough to see though 8 years. She gets a semi-incumbent boost because of her Cabinet position. And, if the Dems run Hillary (like I'm guessing they would when John^2 loses tomorrow), it would look very good to run another woman.

So, my perfect plan: Rice/Keyes ticket. Stupid plan to please the centrists of the world: Rice/McCain or, even worse, McCain/Rice.

Well, the problem is that the modern Republican Party could never accept a woman candidate, much less a black woman candidate.

The first woman and black presidents will be Democrats, my crystal ball says.

Maybe they'll do it just to annoy democrats though. That is their style.

I'd honestly like Alan Keyes. He's a strong conservative with strong religious beliefs (proposed campaign motto for this election: Alan Keyes: more conservative than Bush, more Catholic than Kerry). And he doesn't sugarcoat or hide with political and religious beliefs. He's probably too conservative to get the nod, unfortunately.
You can say that again! :p

McCain/Guiliani would probably be the best ticket the GOP could put forth, but Guiliani/McCain is probably more likely. I think the RNC is just too much at odds with McCain.

Swarzenegger can't run, and I don't see the proposals for changing the constitution being sucessful.

Cheney's a no starter.

Gov. Bill Owens of Colorado is probably the best Republican candidate. McCain is not a Republican, Guliani is barely a Republican, and Arnold is barely a Republican.

McCain, Guiliani, and Arnold are more truely Republican than Bush.
Owens could be a possibility though.

All of the people I like for the job don't seem to want it. Colin Powell would be an excellent choice, but I don't think he's interested. I'd love to see Ron Paul run as well, but he's probably not Republican enough and he may be too old at this point. Barring these two, I'd prefer either McCain or a traditional Republican to another neo-con.

I think that if nothing else, Cheney's health problems will keep him from running. Just as well, if you ask me.

Yep. Reminds me on a great lecture back at college on the multitude of reasons why great men no longer run for president.

Dr. Paul's 69, a bit too old, but I'd vote for him in a flash.

Is Friedman too old to get into politics? How about O'rourke or HST?

Friedman's 92 - way too old!

PJ would be fun.

HST doesn't ring a bell.

After George W. Bush's defeat the GOP will turn on itself and there will be a power struggle for control of the party between traditional, fiscal conservatives and the right-wing evangelical ideologues. Because of the influence of the religious wing of the party the GOP would never support John McCain (who will be too old anyway) or Rudi G. The red-meat rabid right would rather fall on their swords than support either of these two.

Gov. Jeb Bush is term limited in Florida and will probably run for the senate seat currently held by Bill Nelson in 2006. Massachusettes governor Mitt Romney is a likely possibility. New York Gov. George Pataki is a possibility from the governor's ranks, as well.

From the Senate Sam Brownback of Kansas, Bill Frist of Tennessee and Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania are all possiblities for 2008, but my dark horse for the GOP candidate from the Senate is Elizabeth Dole.

Should Kerry be re-elected in 2008 it will be interesting to see who wins out in the contest for 2012 between John Edwards and Hillary Clinton. Should Barak Obama live up to his promise he could be a VP or dark horse presidential candidate, however the parties in the modern era generally prefer to go with a governor and all three Democratic hopefuls are senators.

Maybe they'll do it just to annoy democrats though. That is their style.
And all of the Democrats would vote her into office just to spite them :)

You can forget about Rudy--he's too much of a social libertarian to appeal to the evangelical right that the Republican party has tied their horse to, and if you think they'll fall into line, think again. They'll likely have a candidate of their own in Judge Roy Moore of Alabama in the Constitution Party.

And I'm surprised no one has mentioned Jeb as a possibility (unless I just missed it). He'll almost certainly be in the running for the nomination. I don't know if McCain's age will be an issue--I would say no, as it didn't hurt Reagan, but considering Reagan's last couple of years and his subsequent Alzheimer's, it might scare some people off, and the trend has been toward younger and younger Presidents.

A McCain/Giuliani (or vice versa) would be an awesome ticket

Finally, the Republican party can be reclaimed!
Those stupid religious nuts and Nazis can't shanghai our party forever!

Finally, the Republican party can be reclaimed!
Those stupid religious nuts and Nazis can't shanghai our party forever!
I hope you're right, but the question is, who are you going to replace them with? They're such a significant portion of your party now that you'll be looking at a major undertaking to stay competitive nationally if you cut them loose.

John McCain isn't evil enough to get the nomination. If he does I'll vote for him though, 2008 is the first election I'll be able to vote it! yeehaw.

And I'm surprised no one has mentioned Jeb as a possibility
Jeb's announced a couple times he's not running in 2008. Were he to change his mind, it would be quite embarassing. I think we can count him out.

Jeb's announced a couple times he's not running in 2008. Were he to change his mind, it would be quite embarassing. I think we can count him out.
Everybody says they're not running until they actually don't run. Enough people have said it and changed their minds that I think we can still consider him on the list. After all, it never stopped anyone from claiming that Hillary was going to run this time around.

There's one critical reason Gulliani can't be the presidential candidate that noone's mentioned. His political suicide on last Wednesday.

There are several groups that are "off limits" in presidential elections. The children/family (though frankly, I'm fine with what Edwards/Kerry did, since Cheney had already made it a political issue at his own speech) for example. And one of the big ones, the MAJOR ones, is the troops.

The troops are out fathers, our mothers, our brothers, our sisters, our sons, our daughters. While the beurocrats decide on threats and order invasions, they're the ones putting their lives on the line based on your orders, or potential orders. Politically, the troops are sacrosanct.

And in a horrendous misstake on Gulliani's part (which I honestly do NOT think he meant or intended), on last wednesday he blamed the troops for the missing explosives, to protect the president.

If you don't believe me, that he comitted suicide, show me one place since that interview, where he's spoken. Where he's appeared. He was one of the Bush/Cheney campaign's most vocal members, and suddenly since then he is GONE, because he and the republican party know that the next interview he does, he's going to have to explain those words. And if he became a presidential candidate, you'd see repeats of those words in529 campaign adds for the entire campaign.

My prediction:

McCain tries, neo-cons send someone up against hin, republican party splits, dems stay intact and look like they're about to win, everyone is so fed up from '04 election they vote third party and either green or libertarian wins :p

What about Ari Fleischer? He is such an amazing public speaker - my girlfriend used to cream her pants when he came on tv...and just for that....