I saw Chris Wallace interview Huckabee last night after Huckabee’s speech. Wallace asked him, “So if you’re saying this is now a 2-man race, between you and McCain, why should people vote for you over McCain?” Huckabee avoided a straight answer, so Wallace asked it a second time. The Huck then ticked off a few (minor) differences and quickly hastened to add that even on items they disagree about, both of them are very cordial to each other and don’t “stick each other in the eye” with their differences.

Bottom line? Huckaphony is completely dishonest about his motives. He wants the VP spot on McCain’s ticket and he’s able to fool enough ignorant evangelicals that he may well get it. I say fine, McCain and Huckabee can have each other as neither will win in November.

Leaving aside the childish Bush-bashing, you are correct about a few things. If you read my posts about the election, you’ll see I am concerned that the Democrats are way more jazzed about their candidates than the Republicans are. The Republicans not only need a candidate they accept, but someone they are excited about. I am really concerned such a candidate does not exist on our side. McCain is not acceptable to most conservatives. Romney is not acceptable to many moderates. It’s a real problem for us.

You’re correct that larger numbers are coming out in state after state to vote in the Democrat primaries/caucuses than on the Republican side. A troubling sign for our side.

Peggy Noonan (a speechwriter from the Reagan White House that I have tremendous respect for) wrote recently what you have stated–that GWB more than anyone is responsible for ruining the GOP. Not sure I agree with that, but there is a nugget of truth in there somewhere. Not because of the war, which almost everyone supported at the time (and still does, by the way). But because of his loose spending and expansion of government–which are Democrat traits, not Republican.

But you know, as pessimistic as I am sometimes, nine months is a long time in politics and a lot can happen during that period. I expect by the time November rolls around the race will be much closer than either of us would want!

Who could possibly believe the future of America would be based on a stogy cantankerous old fart like McCain, a purveyor of war – with his jokes about bombing Iran and staying in Iraq for 100 years? You can’t really believe, especially after the miserable failure of the Bush presidency, that any GOP candidate represents the future of America.

There is a lot of excitement surrounding the Democratic candidates for president. Can you feel it?

Consider the following points:

* The participation of young people in primaries was unprecedented. Overall, Democrats had a much larger turnout (SC, NH)

* Young people 17-29 in America resoundingly favor Democratic candidates for president by a margin of 52% to 32% – according to a NY Times Poll.

* The CNN Democratic Debate was highest rated debate in cable television history with 8.3 million viewers, more than double the amount of viewers of the CNN Republican debate (and snoozefest … ZZzzzz) . You can hear it in the crowd, feel it in the atmosphere. Dem debates were like rock concerts. Repub debates, boring, very little audience enthusiasm (except for Ron Paul’s anti-war comments).

* A record 70% of Americans think the country is going in the wrong direction. Change is the word.

GAME over for the GOP

And I’d like to thank GW.

Without the failed Bush presidency, the GOP would may well have become the dominant political force in America, a change that began in ‘94 has now come full circle. Thank you Bush, and all Bush supporters. Repugs, you have no idea what his incompetence has taken from your party. The 2000 SCOTUS 5-4 decision giving Bush the presidency certainly looms large.

Thanks to Bush, the GOP is finished.

You’re right to point out that Romney has his own baggage–and a lot of it. I believe many of the items you cite he has since changed positions on…something that is uncomfortable for me, but as he’s changed them to lean right, instead of left, it’s something I’m willing to take a chance on.

As for polls, McCain may be doing better in some polls today than either Democrat rival, but it’s early days and you can be sure the national media is not going to side with McCain (or any Republican) when it comes to the general election.

In the end I will fall into line like a good soldier and vote for the Republican nominee–whomever that is. I’m just pointing out that McCain has a really big problem that is not just going to go away. He has a record that is not acceptable to many in the conservative wing, and not all of them will stay in formation.

At the end of the day, whichever party jazzes their base the most is the one that wins. Right now it looks like the other side is doing a better job of that. We’ll keep our fingers crossed for a miracle. I would like nothing better than for you to be right, and me wrong, on my prediction for the general election.

In the Florida debate, Governor Mitt Romney said:

“I can point to a very simple way to find out exactly where I stand, and that is look at my record as governor.”

Really?

As governor, Mitt Romney issued an executive order forcing justices of the peace to perform homosexual weddings, or resign. Then he ordered marriage licenses changed to read “party A” and “party B” – instead of “husband” and “wife.”

As governor, Romney appointed a board member of the Lesbian and Gay Bar Association to the bench, and appointed more Democrat judges than Republicans.

As governor, Romney authored and signed a mandatory heath insurance plan backed by Ted Kennedy – including taxpayer-funded abortion on demand.

As governor, Romney overruled his own health department and forced Catholic hospitals to distribute the morning after abortion pill.

Homosexual marriage?

Tax-funded abortions?

Catholic hospital morning after pills?

Homosexual activist judges?

“Look at my record as governor.”

For the truth about who beats Hillary,
FOX News 01/30 – 01/31 900 RV 45 44 10 McCain (R) +1.0
Rasmussen 01/25 – 01/27 1200 LV 48 40 12 McCain (R) +8.0
NBC/WSJ 01/20 – 01/22 1008 A 46 44 6 McCain (R) +2.0
LA Times/Bloomberg 01/18 – 01/22 1312 RV 42 46 7 Clinton (D) +4.0
USA Today/Gallup 01/10 – 01/13 1106 LV 50 47 1 McCain (R) +3.0
Hotline/FD 01/10 – 01/12 803 RV 47 43 7 McCain (R) +4.0
CNN 01/09 – 01/10 840 RV 48 50 – Clinton (D) +2.0

See a better view of the above data at:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/us/general_election_mccain_vs_clinton-224.html

McCain is leading in 8 out of 10 national polls by at least 2 and up to 8 points!!
You’re off base on this statistic, Jim.

As far as Conservatives voting for McCain, if they stay home, then Hillary wins and the stay at home bas IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT TRAVESTY.

You may not like the facts, but there is only one way you’ll beat Hillary — you simply must vote for McCain.

Roger “Back a Winner or shut up” Thornhill