On the horizon of a new morning in America, 2008 edition, is a handful of Republicans who may be able to restore the fading Reagan Revolution. Newt Gingrich. Mitt Romney. Condi Rice. Whereas McCain is still McCain. That is, the ultimate RINO.
The mid-term elections are in the past and the prospects for 2008 loom. The door to the Republican presidential nomination is swinging open for some and has closed suddenly on a few. Among the latter are George Allen and Rick Santorum. For the former, it is widely believed that John McCain is the frontrunner. Not really.
McCain is still McCain. That is, the ultimate RINO; the champion of Chris Matthews and most the liberal media. He's their champion only because he breaks with Reagan's 11th Commandant: "Thou shall not speak ill of a fellow Republican," on a regular basis. McCain did not vote for the initial tax cuts that Bush proposed to take this country out of the Clinton recession. He did not vote for the repeal of the estate tax. He did not vote for drilling in ANWR. The fact is, prior to 9/11, McCain was headed for a recall here in Arizona.
On the horizon of a new morning in America, 2008 edition, is a handful of Republicans who may be able to restore the fading Reagan Revolution. Newt Gingrich. Mitt Romney. Condi Rice. Gingrich is in the mix because his own "mid-term failure" is several years removed. His problem is that he thought he needed to make nice with Hillary Clinton to remove the stigma attached to him by leftists across the media during his time as Speaker of the House. There is no doubt that the Contract with America was a brilliant stroke that only now, 12 years later, has been sidetracked by a leaderless Republican Congress.
Romney is thought to be outside the evangelical, religious-right sphere within the Party because he is a Mormon. Despite what Ralph Peters suggests in the New York Post today, the religious-right has not suffered that much from the results of Tuesday's election. While there were some set-backs, it only makes the resolve of Christian conservatives that much stronger going forward. Unlike non-believers, believers actually do "believe" and gain much hope through prayer and Biblical inspiration. As for Romney, other Mormons in the Party have served the faithful well; see Orin Hatch.
Rice is the frontrunner for those of us who still see an enemy in the Islamo-fascist world that wants very much to kill us. Currently, Iraq is the frontline on the war against this real danger. Someone like Rice knows full well that the battle will go for many more years, even when Iraq is finally tamed, or, at least, neutralized. With her extensive background in understanding that a seemingly irrepressible threat (namely the Soviet Union) can be suppressed indeed, makes her a natural in the search for another Reagan.
I beginning to think that there is a better chance of seeing Mr. Reagan in the White House in 2008, than there is finding another conservative like him by 2008. I don’t think that Mr. Gingrich, Mr. Romney, or Ms. Rice (although very capable individuals) wield the same influence, charisma and abilities to communicate the message as Mr. Reagan did in the 1980s.
I realize there is a need to find someone new. But before we rush to anoint the next revolutionary, conservatives need to get back to what it means to be a conservative: state’s rights, less government, small government, low taxes, balanced budgets, and individual liberty and personal responsibility. I think we’ve lost our way and our current message is faulty, and the liberals are capitalizing on it.
I have a feeling that the standard bearer for the next revolution will emerge on his or her own, and out of the anticipated malaise of the Democrat’s rule. Someone, perhaps, we may not even know today. But a “Mr. Reagan” doesn’t happen over night. A “Mr. Reagan” appears at the right time, with a solid, unwavering message, viable economic policies, and the ability to convince others that his plan for America is better than the other guy’s plan.
- Chip Q.
Okay, this messianic message of Reagan’s second coming are driving me crazy. I don’t see any other Reagans on the horizon and we’re going to have to reconcile ourselves to picking the best available candidate who isn’t going to be Reagan or even a reasonable facsimile thereof.
Gingrich lacks the charisma needed to get any cooperation from the other party.
Romney I’m not sure of. I’m not hearing anything to warrant getting my hopes up though.
Listening to Rice’s naivette on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict makes me wonder (and cringe) if she’s getting her info from press releases instead of what’s actually happening. Not a good omen for the next “Reagan”. Besides, doubt if she’ll run anyway.
Sorry about the bitterness, but in my lifetime we have had two situations that required a Reagan to lead us, but there was only one. I see articles like this as rubbing salt into the wound.
I have it on good authority that Rice will not run. I think she may be aware that she is in over her head already, and doesn’t want to go any deeper. I’ve heard a little from Romney, but can’t be sure if he is serious. Gingrich, I agree is not charismatic enough, and besides, the democrats will pull up his past record and try to smear him royally.
Some folks believe that George Allen might be a possibility. I’ve also heard that Pence is coming around on the immigration issue, and he might give it a try. Limbaugh seems to like him, although I’m not sure that this is a good endorsement.