Well, if we're going to get rotten policies in either case, I'd much rather that "capitalism" and "getting tough with the terrorists" not get the perceived blame for the consequences. I'd rather those ideas be the voice of opposition -- than have the socialist Left, with its inevitable claims that McCain's environmental policies "don't go far enough," be "the loyal opposition."

So, he was your only option, Linz -- what now?

It certainly ain't Dem-scum across the board. At this point I think I'd sit this one out. It's exactly what I've been calling it—American Airhead.

Rudy has conceded Florida in a speech that came just shy of announcing that he's out of the whole race. "We ran a good race... sometimes you just don't win..." It had no "goin' all the way" stuff -- just the reverse.

Rudy fought hard in Florida, the 4th biggest state, and came in a distant third.

Word on the street is that he will endorse McCain -- and all who voted (or will vote) for Rudy should know that their delegates will probably be voting for McCain!

So, he was your only option, Linz -- what now?

On the war, Linz, he has been vaguely critical of Bush -- though far more supportive than either Huckabee or McCain -- and he sounds vaguely tougher than Hillary and her idea that we should only leave Iraq in a "responsible way."
But can you honestly tell me from all of this empty posturing the real differences and/or what either is actually committing to -- even here?

Not my concern. I'm not rootin' for either of them.

Yes, Mitt now has a nice lead in the delegate count.

When he was running for governor of a liberal state back in the day, he was also running as fast as his feet could carry him from the "anti-government" legacy of Ronald Reagan. Remember this?

"I was an independent during the time of Reagan-Bush. I'm not trying to return to Reagan-Bush."

Some conservatives have questioned his latter day conservatism, including his recent conversion to an opposition to abortion, and there can be no doubt that his Big Government roots are still showing. To prevail in Michigan, he has promised the state billions in new subsidies for the auto industry. Get this:

"Five- fold increase from 4 billion to 20 billion to fuel science, auto tech, energy research... If we invest in heath care and space why not invest in fuel efficiency, etc?"

Well, why the hell not?

On the war, Linz, he has been vaguely critical of Bush -- though far more supportive than either Huckabee or McCain -- and he sounds vaguely tougher than Hillary and her idea that we should only leave Iraq in a "responsible way."

But can you honestly tell me from all of this empty posturing the real differences and/or what either is actually committing to -- even here?

And, of course, this is also the God-fearing Mitt. Recall that this is the same Mitt who assured his Christian audience that:

"Freedom requires religion just as religion requires freedom. Freedom opens the windows of the soul so that man can discover his most profound beliefs and commune with God. Freedom and religion endure together, or perish alone."

Just in my inbox.

From: CNN Breaking News
Subject: 

-- Mitt Romney will win the Michigan Republican primary, CNN projects.

"I think one more step and they would have been introduced to those virgins that they're looking forward to seeing."

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He's already (re)gaining huge popularity since the last debate, which you need to see if you haven't yet, Linz.

Is it online?

   What Fred should have done from the start of his campaign was to have the same fire and straightforward take-no-prisoners attitude that he had in the most recent GOP debate.-man, he was on fire!-I just hope that this isn't too little too late. What with all the zany-ness in this election cycle so far I am holding out hope that he'll win the GOP nomination. I think he can pull it off, but damnit he has to drop his old gluestick moonshining Tennesee ways and light up like a well spoken fire-cracker. He's already (re)gaining huge popularity since the last debate, which you need to see if you haven't yet, Linz.

  
 ...not too mention his wife would be the most beautiful First Lady ever

I am officially endorsing Fred Thompson for President.

That's him confirmed, then!

I keep seeing that his heart's not in it, that he doesn't seem to want the job. Guess that's one more reason to endorse him.

I am officially endorsing Fred Thompson for President.

... I got that right.

Dare I say I enjoyed this piece by McCain and Lieberman in the Wall St Journal on the Surge?!

Rudy vs. Hillary is a no-brainer.

Here. Probably better than Hill's.

The plan would reduce the corporate tax rate to 25 percent and the capital-gains tax to 10 percent. The current corporate tax rate is 35 percent, and the capital-gains rate is 15 percent, set to rise to 20 percent in 2010 as President George W. Bush's tax cuts expire. If all of his proposals were enacted, ``It would be the biggest tax cut in American history,'' Giuliani said in an interview on Bloomberg Television. Giuliani said he would explain in coming weeks how he will pay for the tax cuts. The plan will include a 5 to 10 percent reduction in spending at federal agencies, including staff reductions.

Must be Global Warming or something -- that common ground is growing... sort of.

I may have to take this thing one front-runner at a time.

PS. Linz, McCain is awful.

I was wrong about McCain/Hillary being a no-brainer. I hadn't paid McCain much attention, being aware mainly of his Iraq rhetoric and his military record. I followed James's links and was sickened. I'd say now McCain/Hillary is not a no-brainer, it's an abstainer.

you have all you need to draw conclusions about their character.

It was probably a tangential observation. Seeing as this discussion started with observations about who is voting for the current front runners, I'm guilty of harking back to the Fatwa's conclusion about the substance of the Republican electorate.

I wasn't talking about you, I was talking about the predictions made about winners in the media. I agree with you on McCain, btw.

I have all that I need to "draw conclusions" about these men -- which, of course, is all I've done.

In fact, I'm not sure who you think has called this thing, except Linz, of course...

Its all about delegates, and the pundits whip themselves into a frenzy during these early states, which don't have many delegates. They saw fit to write Hillary's obituary yesterday because Obama was polling well there, even before the vote!! As if NH was the deciding factor, anyway. The faux tears, the sexist comments against Hillary, the allegedly frantic reshifting of her campaign to include Carville and others--a complete setup and the media lapped it right up. Since I live in Boston and the NH primary was in the news a lot, I can't tell you how many commentators declared her dead. Bunch of buffoons.

Also, check out Rudy's strategy here. He's in a good position to take Florida, which alone has 40+% of the delegates before Super Tuesday and is winner-take-all. He's going to romp in the large Northeast states, and do very well in other big states like California and Illinois. Meanwhile, McCain and Romney are consistent third-placers and that is not going to pull the necessary delegates. Do the short-sighted predictions ever stop?

PS. Linz, McCain is awful.

Three primaries/cauci settled out of how many(?).

According to this CNN page Romney & Huckabee are almost neck and neck, but only 73 of the 2300+ delegates have declared (is that even the right word?)

And seeing as this processes is being run in a 30-odd day period, some candidates (e.g. Thompson) are concentrating their efforts in one state or another because it's prohibitively expensive to personally campaign throughout the entire USA in 30 days.

Seems to me that people (media included) are trying to make too much stew out of one onion.

McCain, of course, opposed the Bush taxes cuts and was one of the leading architects and advocates of laws censoring political speech. Maybe this is what he means when he says that we must all "Sacrifice for a Cause that is Greater than Self."

And let me share something I posted on another thread:

Here is McCain reassuring both Christian conservatives and the Global Warming crowd (he's an aggressive "believer" in both) -- at the same time and in the same respect:

"A very large portion of the evangelical community is becoming more and more concerned about climate change because of our biblical obligation to be good stewards of our planet... That clearly is an issue that I’m in complete sync with the evangelical community on."

This is the exact parallel to Huckabee's use of Christianity to justify more socialism.

Here is McCain reassuring us that America is specifically a Christian nation -- and how he might undergo full immersion baptism.

Rush predicted in his morning update today that the Republican primary will be won on principles and ideas, not identity. I can't argue with him since he also predicted the outcome of the Hawkeye Cauci back in Nov.

Wm

The "right wing" in the U.S. has, for the last thirty or forty years, been a pretty fractious alliance of libertarians and religious nutjobs. That alliance is breaking, and the Republican party is coming up on an unavoidable choice between the two sides. Huckabee is a stupid man with a monstrous agenda, and I think most of America will see that. He has very little hope of winning a general election, especially against Barack Obama, who has him outgunned in both rhetorical power and sheer intellect.