Do you think the Republicans can win in 2008 in spite of the Bush record?

Question

If so, who should they nominate? That is, who do you think has the best chance of pulling in votes from people who are disgusted with the Bush administration?

Answer 1

Has anybody here looked into Ron Paul? http://www.ronpaul2008.com

He is the only guy that would even make a change, regardless of Dem. or Rep. I think most everybody would do ALMOST the same stuff. Americans have become way to 2D with the whole war thing...

But to answer your question.... I think anyone has a chance to win

Answer 2

Things change quickly, but at this moment "no" is my opinion. At this time, the Republicans have far more senators retiring than the Democrats do and a shoo-in, Pete Domenici from New Mexico, was added to that list this week. The Democrats will increase their lead in the Senate just because of statistics--they have far fewer vulnerable seats.
For the Presidency, again--at this time--no Republican can win over the leading Democrats. President Bush's veto of the Child Health care legislation is widely mis-understood and his every veto of anything relating to Iraq will be used to the detriment of the Republicans who refused to vote to override. The Democrats can run against one of our most unpopular presidents in history, who isn't even a candidate, by attacking his supporters. The Iraq war, right or wrong, is viewed as a Republican war and it will hurt the GOP. I'm a fairly old guy-a Vietnam vet-and I know what happens when the people of America finally turn against a war. They are never going to be convinced the "surge" is working. What the people remember is every soldier of their state who is killed. They will remember every time a flag is flying at half-staff. The veterans out here have been complaining about our poor health care for years and the scandal at Walter Reed has now brought that to the forefront. You'll probably think from this that I'm a rabid anti-Bush or pro-Democrat supporter and that's not correct. I also expect a lot of thumbs-down for this and that's fine. I've been watching this carefully and am a very informed independent who reads the site RealClearPolitics daily. Today, I'm just giving you the facts as I see them at this time. Guiliani has the best chance, but he will lose the religious right. Roughly 23% of the Christian right won't vote for Romney because he's Mormon. Ron Paul's superior, but a mystery to the uniformed. Fred Thompson went to Florida and didn't know who Terri Schiavo was or about an problem with the Everglades. He's still calling Russia the USSR. Guiliani's got to move beyond the 9/11 competence and raise new issues and this week he's attacking fellow Republicans, which violated the cardinal rule of President Reagun: "Never speak ill of a fellow Republican." The GOP infighting is worse than that of the Democrats at the moment. I see the Democrats uniting with little difficulty after the nomination and the religious right splintering again.

Answer 3

Since we're playing the "lesser of two evils game", the republicans would have a chance if they nominated Howdy Doody. In fact, I doubt the final vote count would be a lot different if they did.

This next election is going to be about whether we want more Socialism or not, whether the voters really understand that clearly or not. That's what they'll base their decision on, and it isn't going to matter who the candidate is on either side.

It just doesn't matter who the candidates are on either side. The result, whatever it will be, will be the same, because that's the basic question.

Now, what would be more interesting is if we had an openly Socialist party and the Libertarians getting as much exposure as the two major parties. Then, we might have a question as to whether either of the two majors could even come in second place.

Answer 4

Hi auntb.... At this time, the security I used to feel that "we, the people" are allowed to elect our President is greatly diminished.. I hope I'm wrong, but it certainly does seem that the money-holders have a great deal of control over not only who is elected, but who may be a candidate. I feel that it is no accident that Democrats have failed miserably to speak out against the policies and manipulations of this administration. Could it be that they realize which side of their bread is buttered? Or, might they merely be facing the reality that no matter what is said, there is a plan already set in motion that can not be diverted by anything.... short of a revolution. And if this is so, the sad fact is that it will little matter what party is elected, because there are, in truth, only two - those in power, and..... the rest of us. I'm sorry to sound like such a crepehanger, and, as mentioned earlier, I hope I'm wrong.... very, very wrong.

Answer 5

Of course they can. They have three major factors going in thier favor:

1. Voter Apathy. The Libertarians and Liberals will all be staying home to watch the satire on T.V.! They are all so detached from the process at this point, most of them feel that the only useful thing they can do is laugh at the process. Mainstream media is playing right into their hands, but not for political purposes. They are just interested in the ratings!

2. Electronic voting machines with no accountability! They still haven't fixed that, remember?

3. Spoilers. Third, fourth and fifth party candidates who are more interested in their political futures than their former parties, whom abandoned them or whom they abandoned for whatever reasons. The nice thing is that the conservative Christians might be putting in one or two spoilers themselves, which could even the playing field. I am not against the third and fourth party candidates by the way. I am against the fact that no one has yet thought to level the playing field enough to allow them to run a serious campaign. I guess it's just too much of a temptation to use them to skew the process altogether!

Between any one of those factors, or all three, the Republican Party has just as good a chance as any other party. Pity us!

Answer 6

The GOP candidates are NOT BUSH! Most are disgusted with the Bush administration. A new Republican president would never be "Bush Part 2."

Based on the horrible Democrat candidates, I don't see a problem with getting a good Republican elected. We don't need a socialist Democrat in the White House!

Answer 7

It is not really a matter of pulling away from the Bush Administration. What is curently lacking on the Republican side is any real firm issues. This was a problem for the Democrats during the last two presidential elections. If Republicans want to put someone in the White House, they will need to come up with a candidate that actually stands for something. The entire process has become too political, in that too any are trying to please too many diverse groups.

Answer 8

None of the frontrunners will distance themselves from Bush enough to do anything, and few of the 2nd tier candidates stand much of a chance to overcome their lead.

Basically, only Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul have a chance. Huckabee is likable, but I just don't think our nation is ready to elect a Baptist pastor as President. (I'd be willing, despite some misgivings, but I just think it's too much for a lot of people). Plus, given Bush's false moralizing and his ostensible Christianity, I suspect Huckabee would be bulked in with Bush by a lot of voters on that account alone.

So, effectively, barring some new entrant into the race that can raise a few million on a moment's notice, Ron Paul is our only chance to beat Hillary.

Answer 9

I think the presidential race is wide open. Right now it's probably a 50-50, could go either way. As far as the front runner, no one really stands out to me. I think Ron Paul is very interesting...I don't know that much about him, except that he is against the war and has raised a lot of money.
As long as they don't nominate Guiliani....I don't like how his whole thing that since he was the mayor of NYC during 9/11, that makes him qualified to be the president and that whole cell phone call with his wife in front of the NRA, totally turned me off.

Answer 10

Not as it stands right now. However lets get one thing straight. The only reason the democrats have the advantage is because of the Iraq war. However dont count out the rebublican base no matter who is running for GOP. If Hillary is the dem candidate, then the republicans will be out in droves to keep her out.