Fred Thompson v. Rudy

[Frank the Tank]

If you're terrified at the prospect of Hillary in the White House like I am, then a more important question to examine is to figure out which Republican candidate can beat her in the general election (or the other alternative of Obama). A lot of people seem to think focusing on electability is the equivalent of ignoring your principles, but realistically, primary voters in both parties have to know that putting up a candidate that isn't going to attract the independent vote (read: moderate voters) is essentially giving your vote to the other side.

So, for the Republican side, I would rank the candidates as follows in terms of electability: (1) Rudy, (2) McCain, (3) Thompson (if he ran), (4) Romney, (5) Brownback et al. This might be the reverse order of preference for a lot of the conservative Republican base, but 2008 is looking like it is going to be a "change election", which means the general public wants a real change from the Bush policies. If the Republicans put up someone that will essentially continue the policies of this administration (whether it's about social issues or Iraq) or isn't perceived as being a real change agent compared to where the Republicans are thought to be today, we're going to end up seeing a Democrat (most likely Hillary) in the White House in 2008.

[unknown stuntman]

Giuliani...what would one expect? Politics is about likability, marketing, sound bytes, being at the right place at the right time. Yes it is all bull and there is no reason Giuliani should be a front runner of the Republican party, but welcome to the world of dumbed down American politics- just a microcosm of our dumbed down society.
There is no hesitation though from my perspective: Thompson is the easy choice and may be the one candidate that would keep me from voting for a 3rd party candidate once again. NEVER in my life time will I vote for "the lesser of two evils". Thompson I would seriously consider, as I would Tom Tancredo. But again, we're talking dumbed down politics here folks. Thompson at least appears on prime time television, while actually having substance and a record of voting consistently and on conviction. Tancredo stands zero chance of being nominated.
As for Hillary, this is the candidate you DO WANT if you have a bad taste in your mouth for all Democrats. The likes of John Edwards and Obama stand a shot if they are nominated. Hillary? Some of these swing states that John Kerry couldn't even win in 2004 are going to sway in her direction in 08, while all others stay blue? Not a chance.

[Hawkeye48]

As a republican I'm so frustrated. I'd prefer a Reagan type candidate but none have stepped up and the coming election seems to be nothing more than selecting the candidate of lesser evils.