So my man, Fred Thompson, is out of the race officially. Between the not-so-hot finishes in Iowa and South Carolina, tending to his sick mother last week, and a mixed GOP base...I can see why things just didn't go for him this time.
Since Thompson hasn't endorsed anybody, I now have to find a new candidate to support.
Do I go with John McCain, Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, or Ron Paul? Well, let me weight them out...
Mike Huckabee...while I like the idea of the FairTax, I don't think it is something that could be implemented without serious short-term economical damage. Other than that, Huckabee doesn't have much going for him with me. His record on issues isn't very sparkling when it comes to fiscal prudence, and he's heavy on the SoCon platform, which is very divisive in today's political sphere. Factor in Huckabee's lack of real ideas on the foreign policy front, and there isn't much for me to agree with as far as I've seen. Until he shows me something different, I cannot (in good faith) support Huckabee. Not with these other candidates in the field.
Ron Paul...while I like limited government and free markets, Paul strikes me as just a tad too isolationist for my tastes, especially since we're a big part of the global economy. Paul wants to pull out of Iraq immediately, even though many Dems even agree that things are now going in our favor and we can create a better situation in that region if we continue on the current course. I like libertarian ideals, but I'm a federalist at heart, and Paul and I just don't quite click enough to work.
John McCain...I respect McCain's independent streak, and I agree with him on fiscal issues (not just tax cuts, but spending cuts are necessary). He claims to have "heard the people" in regards to immigration, but that remains to be seen. McCain has the experience, the bipartisan appeal, and the intelligence to be a good leader. However, with that comes a certain amount of unpredictability about his performance. Then again, I thought McCain would've been a good leader in 2000 over George W. Bush. 50/50 shot with McCain, here.
Rudy Giuliani...The man I originally leaned towards for President until Fred Thompson came around and inspired me to endorse him. Rudy is smart on most of the issues, but has been basically repeating the same routine for about 8 months now. However, should he win Florida, the race changes dramatically. I like Rudy, and I think he'd make a pretty good leader. However, he's been dormant for so long that I don't know what to think.
Mitt Romney...Mitt appeals to me on fiscal issues, but has changed his position on various issues to move himself further to the right from where he was as a candidate for the U.S. Senate and as Governor of Massachusetts. With the economy being the top priority for the majority of voters right now, I would believe that Romney could be one of the best candidates to bring revival to the American economy, as he (along with his father) is a model of capitalist success. Another possible pick, but I'm just not sure at this point.
Do any of you have any ideas? Here's your chance to sell your candidate to me.
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9 comments:
How about a crossover vote for Obama?
It'll be our little secret.
Just a few thoughts that I have:
One of my biggest concerns is that none of the candidates, less Dr. Paul, have explained how they plan to pay for any of their main platforms. McCain and Rudy would like to add 100,000 to 200,000 service men and women. How? The only way I can see this working is to institute a draft or offer amnesty to illegals that will join the armed services. Additionally, we do not have the economic stability to maintain our overseas endevours unless we continue to borrow.
Mitt will tell us anything to get elected. "I'm here, I'm there, I'm everywhere you want to be!" Additionally, I do not believe that doubling the size of Gitmo will do anything for our world standing.
I understand how many fear the withdrawl of our troops, however, I would argue that we are more likely to end our occupation one of two ways. 1.) We choose to pull out. or 2.) Our own economic collapse will force us to withdraw.
I also fear that we are repeating the same mistake that we made in Afghanistan in arming the tribal leaders or N. Iraq. This is how we ended up with Al-Qeada in the first place.
One day we will have to pull off all the band-aids, and actually treat the wound.
God Bless,
J
You write as though you were lining up a mate, rather than a President.
You will disagree with anyone some of the time and some of the people who you agree with most may prove to be disastrous Presidents. Just look at "W."
Ron Paul is the only candidate who will really do what he says. The others will say one thing or another to get elected, but once in office, the others will be slaves to various corporate minders.
Ron Paul will constructively work with the Congress and with the Supreme Court to return our national government back to within its Constitutional limits. Ron Paul will restore our economy and our strategic manufacturing base, by helping to get federal meddling out of our businesses.
With Ron Paul, we will not have an Imperial President as we have had with Clinton or "W." We will have a nation where the voice of the citizen will be heard and the restoration of the balance of powers among the three branches of government will assure that there will be Liberty and Justice, for ALL Americans.
With Ron Paul, citizens from all political backgrounds get clean, Constitution-based, limited federal government.
I could bite the bullet and vote for Mitt, but I am holding out hope for a Giuliani/Thompson ticket. While he had arguably the best platform and ideas, Thompson just didn't have the outward drive and dynamism that Rudy can bring to the top of the ticket...
But can't you see Thompson embarrassing the hell out VP candidate John Edwards in the summer debates?
Giuliani is hardly out of it (assuming he wins in Florida) and I believe a Giuliani/Thompson ticket has the best shot at winning in November.
This country needs serious tax and spending cuts -- and it needs them now.
And is there anyone who doubts Rudy would be a great diplomatic leader and a excellent Commander of Chief of the US Military?
I could bite the bullet and vote for Mitt, but I am holding out hope for a Giuliani/Thompson ticket. While he had arguably the best platform and ideas, Thompson just didn't have the outward drive and dynamism that Rudy can bring to the top of the ticket...
But can't you see Thompson embarrassing the hell out VP candidate John Edwards in the summer debates?
Giuliani is hardly out of it (assuming he wins in Florida) and I believe a Giuliani/Thompson ticket has the best shot at winning in November.
This country needs serious tax and spending cuts -- and it needs them now.
And is there anyone who doubts Rudy would be a great diplomatic leader and a excellent Commander of Chief of the US Military?
RD - Believe me, if I had to vote for a Democrat, it would be Obama.
J. Tyler - Considering that I'm trying to match up ideologies and preferences between a candidate and what I believe is best policy. It does seem like I'm playing the "match game" with the candidates. Then again, I'd rather find the candidate the fits my viewpoints than just jump on a bandwagon for no good reason.
MPH - Giuliani/Thompson is very, very enticing...especially since Giuliani has positioned himself as a federalist when it comes to governmental affairs. I have the feeling, though, that we'll see McCain/Thompson if McCain gets the nomination. I would be much more enthusiastic of McCain with Thompson balancing out a conservative side to McCain's more independent slant.
J. Tyler Ballance said...
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