First Republican Debate

A word to committed Republicans ... be afraid, be very afraid.

If the current slate of candidates for the Republican nomination is the best the party can do, the 2008 Presidential election could end up being a Democratic blowout from sea to shining sea. With one exception, the current crew who offer no viable solutions for ending the atrocity of Iraq while saber rattling about Iran and almost itching for yet another confrontation.

- Jim Gilmore - why is he running? There's very limited financial support for him and he's
indistinguishable from thousands of Republican bureaucrats.

- Duncan Hunter - Perhaps Hunter is the one candidate looking to take on Iran even more
than McCain. His neoconservative mindset is beyond dangerous. Fortunately, he looks to have little financial or institutional support.

- Tommy Thompson - and why is he running? That Thompson somehow managed to pull off 4 wins in the state of Wisconsin is remarkable considering his complete lack of personality, charisma or ability to connect with an audience.

- Ron Paul - Basically a strict Libertarian, pretending to be a Republican. Though he's completely correct in his opposition to the Iraq war from the onset, he's dead wrong that the government should have NO role in anything other than protecting our freedoms and liberties.

- Mike Huckabee - there will be no repeat of the "man from Hope" this election cycle. As a preacher, Huckabee has an interesting wit, is quick with a comeback and appears to be a likeable person. But the United States is not a church and his far right social views are no longer in vogue with the majority of voters who are focusing intently on more pressing world and economicl matters.

- Sam Brownback - Seems like a nice guy who is 100% committed to "life" in all of it's beauty and glory, blah, blah, but he's charisma challenged and demonstrates no ability to excite anyone or generate financial backing.

- Tom Tancredo - Aside from his extreme views on a host of issues, Tancredo is a poster child for "doesn't play nice with others". This is not a leader but someone who bellows when he doesn't get what he wants.

- Rudy Guiliani - Regardless of what the current polls say, Guiliani's lifetime of positions on the social issues are diametrically opposed to Republican Primary voters. Combined with skeletons in closets all over Manhattan, there's simply no way he ends up with the Republican nomination.

- John McCain - I actually considered McCain for a brief period in 2000. 6 years later, I'm stunned to acknowledge that. Too old, too interventionist, sold his soul, can't be trusted.

- Mitt Romney - To my mind, his was the best performance of the debate. He's obviously short on foreign policy credentials, but he's intelligent, quick witted, possesses good stage presence and engages an audience. If John Kerry got slammed for being a flip flopper, Democratic strategists will massacre Romney. On everything from guns to gays to choice to embryonic stem cell research, Romney claims to have had epiphanys on all of these matters at the ripe old age of 50 and we're expected to buy this? I'm reminded not of a leader but a snake oil salesman.