republicans adrift...

[bishop]

The Republicans | Adrift? | Economist.com

...the Republicans look ill-disciplined and uninspired this time around. No dominant candidate has yet emerged. The party is troubled by a big foreign issue—Iraq—letting the Democrats steal a march in a policy area usually strong for Republicans. Embattled by the war in Iraq and snubbed by Congress, George Bush has resorted to summoning his Republican allies—the entire Republican House caucus—to the White House for the first time in his presidency. <snip> The early leader, New York’s former mayor, Rudy Giuliani, does not look convincing for long run. The thrice-married, pro-choice and pro-gay rights former mayor of “Moscow on the Hudson” is an unlikely choice for the Grand Old Party, least of all for the evangelical Christians who are the most enthusiastic voters in primaries. <snip> Yet pollsters say that Mr Giuliani is 10-20 points ahead of his nearest rival. This is because the man in second place, John McCain, is a polarising figure. He may be a more straightforward conservative than Mr Giuliani, especially on those social issues, but he is a party maverick. He has voiced dislike of Mr Bush’s policies on handling terrorist suspects, he was an early critic of Donald Rumsfeld (the now-departed secretary of defence), and he is a heretic on other issues. Many Republicans say they would never vote for Mr McCain—he has more “never” anti-votes than any other candidate. He is also looking old. One stumble at a campaign rally, as Bob Dole did in 1996, and he risks being dismissed as past it. <snip> There has been a recent rush of interest in Fred Thompson, a former senator from Tennessee. But Mr Thompson is mainly famous for a decade of starring in movies and another five years on a beloved crime-drama television show. A movie star has worked before for the Republicans, of course, but Mr Thompson does not seem to be the new Ronald Reagan. Still, he drew a respectable 9% and 12% in the first polls in which his name appeared, which may be more a reflection of the party’s lack of conviction about the other candidates than anything else.

[Chaossaber314]

The early leader, New York’s former mayor, Rudy Giuliani, does not look convincing for long run. The thrice-married, pro-choice and pro-gay rights former mayor of “Moscow on the Hudson” is an unlikely choice for the Grand Old Party, least of all for the evangelical Christians who are the most enthusiastic voters in primaries.

They really like throwing around polarizing terms, don't they.

If anything I've seen him moderate on the issues of abortion and gay rights. Abortion, he's in favor of parental notification and a ban on partial birth abortion. Gay rights, he's against gay marriage and for domestic unions.

Just throwing blanket terms around is really dishonest.

Also am I the only one that doesn't care that he was married 3 times?

[Mr.Vicchio]

It's not so much adrift as unexcited. Guiliani just isn't "grabbing us" we're leery of another Bob Dole fiasco. I think Thompson will pick up steam should he decide to run.

[PatrickHenry]

Quote by: Chaossaber314 Also am I the only one that doesn't care that he was married 3 times?

Are you a Republican base voter?

[Chaossaber314]

No but my parents are, and they share my sentiments on this one.

I see your point but the phrasing of this is done so like we all should care about it. Frankly, I don't.