2008 Presidential Race

KillarneyRose · #1 11-11-2005, 04:49 PM

So, who do you think it's going to come down to? I think the GOP really has its work cut out for it.

Tom Earp · #2 11-11-2005, 06:35 PM

Nany art talking and one is snaking into the lime light!

SAM BROWN BACK

Bush is out, Time Limit and many other things.

Be very careful in the next Election!

Or, does it make any difference?

Optimist Prime · #3 11-11-2005, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KillarneyRose
So, who do you think it's going to come down to? I think the GOP really has its work cut out for it.

Their PR dept. does anyway.

Check the signature for my opinion.

The1calledTKE · #4 11-11-2005, 07:10 PM

my guess is Hillary vs Giuliani or Hillary vs Condi

Kerry will try and run again but he won't get a second chance.

AGDee · #5 11-11-2005, 08:05 PM

I don't think Hilary will win the nomination and it would be a mistake if she does, because she won't be able to beat any Republican candidate. Sadly, I think there are still too many people who don't believe a woman could/should be President.

I would like to see McCain run again. He's the only Republican that I am familiar with who I could tolerate in office. I think Edwards could do well if he would run.

Phasad1913 · #6 11-11-2005, 08:31 PM

I think the repubs still have a pretty good shot in 08. The party and constituencies may be irritated or disappointed with Bush right now, but there are too many repubs who are so anti-democrat that no matter who runs, they simply won't change party lines. So its more of a "change our leadersip within and among the party" sentiment rather than an "im so disgruntled with my party that I have to change and let the other party take over". Ain't gonna happen.

Despite the growing opposition to the war and disenchantment with the current Rep. leadership, the nation is still incredibly polarized politically so Americans will probably still stick to their guns and vote along party lines. My guess is that the election is STILL going to be pretty close, simply because both partys' bases are going to come out to make sure the opposing party doesn't win.

hoosier · #7 11-11-2005, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AGDee
I don't think Hilary will win the nomination and it would be a mistake if she does, because she won't be able to beat any Republican candidate. Sadly, I think there are still too many people who don't believe a woman could/should be President.

I would like to see McCain run again. He's the only Republican that I am familiar with who I could tolerate in office. I think Edwards could do well if he would run.

I think Hillary will get the nomination, but you have to ask "What red states could she win that Kerry didn't?" Answer: probably none.

Right now the GOP has no clear front runner, but a good primary fight will sharpen the candidate, clarify the issues, and hopefully produce a winner. McCain likely won't survive the primaries, since he is on all sides of issues and doesn't have a conservative base. He will benefit, though, if Hillary wraps up the nomination early, and the Dems jump into the GOP primary and vote for McCain.

KillarneyRose · #8 11-11-2005, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by hoosier
McCain likely won't survive the primaries, since he is on all sides of issues and doesn't have a conservative base. He will benefit, though, if Hillary wraps up the nomination early, and the Dems jump into the GOP primary and vote for McCain.

I have all the respect in the world for McCain; I'd love to see that happen. I think you're right, though, about him lacking a conservative base. Unfortunately, it's the far, far right who seem to be running the party at the moment.

irishpipes · #9 11-11-2005, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AGDee
I don't think Hilary will win the nomination and it would be a mistake if she does, because she won't be able to beat any Republican candidate. Sadly, I think there are still too many people who don't believe a woman could/should be President.

I really don't think the opposition to Hillary would be because she is a woman. Many people who would never vote for her would have no problem voting for Condi.

As for McCain, he certainly would not be popular with conservatives, but if he is up against Hillary, I believe he would win because she is so polarizing. There are many people who would go to the polls just to vote against Hillary, and if that would mean voting for McCain, so be it. Hillary would be wildly popular in the blue states, but wouldn't stand a chance in flyover country.

Betarulz! · #10 11-12-2005, 12:23 AM

I love John McCain, and I'm probably in that far left group.

I really don't think that Hillary should run. Not that she wouldn't be an amazing president, because I think she would be. In fact if I had to pick someone based on how well they would do, she'd probably be number one. She is incredibly intelligent, savvy on policy, and has a unique experience. However, and I think this is what many Dems are starting to realize, you can't put the "best" candidate up there, you have to put the candidate up there who can win.

With that in mind...John Edwards is probably the man the Dems should run. Intelligent, great work ethic, young, energetic, great orator (given his trial experience), but with enough of that "aww shucks" southern boy (love that accent) to make inroads with a lot of moderate Republicans and southerners.

A lot of people have pointed to Chuck Hagel from Nebraska as a strong candidate for the GOP. I don't know, I've lived here four years and it doesn't seem like he does much...I'd prefer him over a lot of Republicans, but that isn't saying much...

2016 though...look out for my boy Barak Obama. He should become our first minority President. You heard it here first.

WCUgirl · #11 11-12-2005, 12:46 AM

I think John McCain is the only Republican (at this point in time, anyways) who I could tolerate.

I would love Hillary to run, but if she does, the Dems won't hold office.

I do like Edwards and wish he would run again.

honeychile · #12 11-12-2005, 01:12 AM

I worry about McCain being considered "too old" by 2008, or I could easily get behind him. I'd like to take a look at some of the "no names" who are sitting back, making their plans, while hoping that the GOP will do something major to improve their image.

Can Hillary win? Without seeing the stats (and who obtained them), I'm not sure. Yet, in my world, I don't know of one person who would vote for her. Just look at her failed health care campaign - had that been in place prior to Katrina, the disaster would have been far worse. She does not have the Teflon (nor Keflar) to win a Presidential bid - but she would be a HUGE divider in the Democratic party. The best part is that it wouldn't be solely an "anti-female President" backlash, it's a mess of her own (and Bill's) making.

Barak Obama will have to do something outstanding prior to a 2012 bid. I hate to say it, but his name works against him. And again, that would make him a divider - many people who would vote for a black President without problem would have a problem with his name. Surprisingly, I heard this from my biracial foster cousin & her friends!

Should the GOP damage control fail, it's going to take one of two types of candidates to succeed:

1) The "I'm not the other guy" candidate, or the negative vote.
or
2) The "All American Boy" candidate, who has a perfect family, perfect past, perfect political record, perfectly pc but folksy sense of humor, perfect control of speech/debate, and perfect - but not too perfect! - looks. The party who finds him will absolutely-without-a-doubt win.

One of the problems is that we, as voters, are asking too much. We either want someone who is pro-choice OR pro-life; pro-NRA OR anti-NRA; pro-big government OR anti-government; etc, etc. Somewhere, we have to figure out the compromise that will again bring our world status back to where it should be. I don't pretend to know how to do that, but whoever does is going to be the Campaign Chairman of the Century!

hoosier · #13 11-12-2005, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Betarulz!

2016 though...look out for my boy Barak Obama. He should become our first minority President. You heard it here first.

He was great on the Daily Show on Comedy Central this week. Showed a great sense of humor, and handled the unusual off-the-wall questions well.

Hope he makes a great Senator.

AGDee · #14 11-12-2005, 09:49 AM

I agree with honeychile on most points. I am a Democrat and most of the people I know are Democrats and none of them would vote for Hilary. I think she could be the VP on the ticket though. Also remember that the whole Whitewater thing was based on Hilary's business dealings. And, a lot of people have no respect for her personally because she stayed with Bill after all of his philandering.

I'm really rooting for Edwards although I don't even know if he's interested. It was only a year ago that his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. Has anybody heard how she is doing?

It will be an interesting election, to be sure. I enjoy the ones where there is no incumbent. Although, this time, there also won't be an incumbent VP running for President. Definitely interesting!

#15 11-12-2005, 10:56 AM

I am coming to find out that being registered one way i pretty much stand middle of the road on many issues and cadidates.

I would love to see McCain run .......though Bush has really made that hard for the GOP though Mccain every one admires and respects so it could happen. Age....he isn't that old....he does have a fairly young wife and kids.

Democrat side of things:

I do like John Edwards and Obama. But i do agree Obama's name recognition is whats going to trip him up. Edwards is VERY likable....but his wife i think right now is his main priority. As much as i am ready to see a w oman in the white house.....it wont happen YET with Hillary. I think she even knows that.

I have heard Kerry's name here and there during this thread......he could possibly run again .....as far as winning .....it got down to ugliness at the 11th hr before i dont think the nation wanta a repeat of that again