Florida is not a blue state… we can do much better than Charlie Christ in Florida. He is about to break his tax pledge which is dumb politically & economically. It will also make him a liar.

And I’m one of those for whom “moderate” is a 4-letter word. And frankly I can’t stand Crist, hope he loses in the primary, and I don’t agree that we run a moderate when we have a conservative who can win (Toomey is a redux here).

But the list you are naming are people you think will dominate the debate, and I agree on that point with pretty much the whole list – even the squishes.

Jindal I would think merits at least an honorable mention, though.

Mitt Romney can’t even keep a consistent position through a Presidential primary. I wouldn’t trust him to lead the party when he can’t even lead himself.

I am very disheartened that Pataki and Crist make the ‘list’ but a Conservative like Jindal does not. The moderate northeasterners may be required to win in those blue states, but for a national leader? No. Way.

The republicans only tenuously hold onto conservatives as it is – if you want to solidify a losing streak, keep promoting democrat-lite candidates who seeminly enjoy running away from the party base.

We need leadership that proudly and optimistically espouses the principles of conservatism and are capable of making the case of why it is better for the average American. We have a truly golden opportunity to contrast true conservatism to the corrupt socialism that is now the democrat party. If the best we can do is to put forward candidates that say we are like them – only not as much – just stay home.

This is it – crunch time – if republicans abandon conservatism to chase some moderate ‘ghost’, we are done as a party because we have abandoned what we are for the sake of some focus group pablum.
You lead from the front, dammit!

but since he won’t run for office I wonder what he is doing on the list. Other than Cheney, Palin and Haley Barbour are the only ones that I could really support for national office. Romney is a no-starter as far as I am concerned.

I want someone who has successfully governed a state and has been a very good fiscal conservative. I don’t want a Souter and too many of your recommendations look like that might be their path.

And I think a favorite among other conservative groups. Is there a reason you left him off?

And I’m not a big fan of your number 5, though I get your point. And I’ll probably resort to voting for Mark Kirk for Senate next year (unless we can get a downstater like Rutherford onto the ballot instead). I just don’t want that bunch identified as our party leaders.

I think Huckabee will be the only likely one to run, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Newt throw his hat in the ring.

I like your list. Unless a bomb goes off or another skyscraper or two gets knocked down, I don’t see Cheney running. Ergo, I hope we don’t see him running, but the reality is, we very well might.

We really need someone who is sharp enough to cut through Obama’s rhetorical nonsense in a message that resonates with independent voters. I do worry about Romney’s creds, but I’m willing to give him a second chance. Otherwise, I think he has the attributes necessary to win the White House. Of course, I would vote for a straw man over Obama.

What is the point of having an all-inclusive “Big Tent” party when there are no underlying beliefs and ideals that unify them? The problem with the GOP is that it has lost any sort of unifying message and has become an incompetent shadow of the Democrat party.

They have taken the Democratic playbook of building voter groups and used the power of government to legislate to that group’s benefit…we have seen the consequence of that strategy; the estrangement of classic liberals from the GOP and many of those “special interests” jumping to the Democrats because quite frankly, they do it better and it fits their ideology.

Now, we have McCain, Cantor, and other “leading” Republicans telling us that we should be talking about the same issues as the Democrats: healthcare, immigration, energy. If this is the “new branding” of the Republican party we will again experience failure in 2012. We cannot win by being Democrat-lite and campaign to use the Government but for different priorities.

The only way that Republican party will regain its relevance, and the only time it has ever been relevant, is when it stood in defense of the Constitution and of the ideal of liberty and for the rights of the American people.

for solid conservative leaders but I hope we don’t fall into the trap of finding a ‘savior’ for conservatives and Republicans to save us from ourselves like the left has done with Obama. We need a solid person that gets vetted.

The person we nominate is going to reflect how much work we did on the ground, where it really matters. Slapping a conservative on top of the party pile without having done the street work will not produce results.

If conservatives get active in a grass roots effort, we’ll gravitate towards and attract better candidates.

I’m really surprised Jim DeMint’s name is not on this list.

He appears to be one of the most thoughtful, conservative members of the Senate; and although, he’s not constantly in front of the cameras, some of his floor speeches have been spot on. The one he gave, recently, regarding Obama’s servitude for American’s bill, euphemistically named “GIVE,” was one of the best I’ve ever heard.

Mike Pence and Michelle Bachman. they both are consistent in voting and their message resignates with the base and are hard pressed to find even moderates that disagree with them on key issues.
This should be interesting indeed.

Any such list must include Newt Gingrich. He is the person everyone listens to. When Newt gives a speech people listen.

I also believe Huckabee controls more votes than anyone thinks. I think he has gained even more popularity since Nov with his TV Show. People like him and when they like you they tend to ignore the issues like with Obama.

has to have brass ummmm…you know.

We have to get in the face of the media and call them out on their BS, get in the face of the left and call them out. No more high road, newtone crap sandwich. Not only did Bush allow himself to be taken down, he has done tremendous damage to conservatives/republicans for not taking on the MSM and the left when ridiculous crap was being slopped around.

Romney has shown he has it, as well as Gingrich, Cheney, along with Rudy. Not sure about the rest of the list but our next candidate has to be a tenacious fighter as one of their strengths.

Palin has the instinct but she put a little blood in the water for the MSM sharks playing “who’s smarter than a 5th grader” gotcha tricks. She needs to have a quick wit to overcome that.

Jindal has work to do in this area and I think a run from him is premature. He is too cerebral and timid from I’ve seen so far. He’d get eaten up. Would like him to get some Admin experience in some foreign affairs capacity before running for the big job.

The entire Republican contingent should be sent to freakin toastmasters! From mayors to state reps, to governors, and congress. You have to be able to articulate and think on your feet! Just look at how much this has cost Bush and Reps/conservatives.

Elect him this year and he will continue to be a thorn in the side of Republican leadership until he finally admits he’d be happier as a Dem and switches parties. As such, he is incapable of being a leader in the fight against the fascist/socialist axis which currently holds power.

I won’t contest that most of our so called leaders in the Republican party think Crist is and ought to be one of those leaders, but that is part and parcel, one of the central problems in the Republican party at the moment.

Cheney, McCain, Newt, all have something to say, but at this point they are the past. The GOP has to be forward thinking about who will be the messenger.

One other I think ‘shows’ well on TV is Corker, he always wins the debate.

I generally agree with it, but as others have said, Jindal, Bachmann, Gingrich and Huckabee (ugh) will probably play major roles in the party’s direction from here on out.

Also, though I get where you’re coming from with your defense of moderates in leadership roles, I have to say, we have been using a variation of this idea from 1998 onwards, and it has only enabled the Dems to move further left. I think that moderates should be welcomed into our party, but I don’t agree that a patronization of their views to the exclusion of conservative views is a good way to do it.

a wonderful senator from Oklahoma that has been a solid conservative and been fighting the big government fight already. He’s always flying under the radar of most people.
I say Dr. Tom Coburn ought to be included by ANY Republican leadership group trying to create the platform for the 2010 and 2012 races, let alone make a good choice for some place in a possible 2012 Republican administration.

Palin has the only valid excuse for not having any balls.

Our republican party is adrift in grandiose verbalizations. It is going to take a harder stand in a nation of laws that are being used against us and are continuing to be eroded.

Hawaii ISLAM DAY – separation of church and state – never mind it is a mosque. ACLU where are you – never mind it is just Christianity and State that is the problem.

The DemoSoicopathicialist Party has a hard time keeping us from seeing what is happening they have no problem ignoring/castigating us, US, and the constitution.

Just a little rant at the obvious.
And yes I feel better for 30 seconds.

An aggressive proponent of fraudulent cap and trade and its deathly taxes for the whole country, an aggressive proponent of amnesty for illegal aliens, a candidate who wanted to appear so inclusive that he refused to attack Obama on important points, instead saying what a great guy he was. You suggest a group that does include deeply enmeshed politicians. George Pataki? He would spend just like Obama. Some you name were at one time Republicans. They decided to change. The two biggest issues looming that would sink this nation- forever–as Soros has long worked for and is so far pleased with his results- are the hoax issue of global warming (which Crist promotes) and its trillion dollar slap at the US taxpayer; and the absorption of up to 30 million illegal aliens. Whom exactly do you expect your aliens to be voting for? Who will be forever subservient to the aliens’ needs but current US taxpayers? The term Big Tent assumes approval of global warming and illegal aliens which are life and death issues today. No further elections will be needed.

Glad so many of you are sharing your thoughts on the next wave of leaders for our party. I hear your points on #5 and that is where we respectfully disagree (and yes, Florida should NEVER be BLUE but unfortunately was last time around), but glad many are excited about our governors. That is where are future is. And I hear you on Jindal. He is a clear comer, will be one of our future leaders, and probably should have been on my list. — Fred

Great place for a guy who doesn’t know #2.

Sarah Palin will win the nomination and will be the next President of the USA. Wake up Republicans. Do you not understand she has the conservative vote, along with the democrats and independents that love America. Florida is a good example, Crist has no chance winning there. He and Specter are outdated Republicans, like so many more that are in the House and Senate.

but I think Charlie Crist is the wrong guy to be spreading our message. One of the main planks of the Republican platform is limited government and low taxes. Yet Charlie Crist stood on stage with Obama and promoted the stimulus package when virtually every member of congress voted against it.

Guys like Crist just confuse the message. I’m not saying we should kick them out of the party, just keep them at the little kids table.

I think I might have to start a blog called “Romstate” to say that I think Republicans are dissing Romney at their peril. I know, it’s an impossible argument with a lot of people. They have SO many reasons never to countenance him again, most of which they have spent the last several years telling themselves, and which are difficult to forget, but nevertheless, his popularity continues.

BTW if I ever did start Romstate, I’d have Dan McLaughlin as my first guest editor/foil/ne’er do-well.

Sarah Palin is our leader to take back the White House and get the economy moving again. She is the heir to Reagan.

. . .I’d like to see him win a statewide election by more than a handful of votes (he won the VA AG race by 360 votes out of 1.9 million cast) before I slap a rising star on his chest.

Allen had won a House race before getting gerrymandered out of his seat. He won the governor’s race by a landslide before running for the Senate.

I don’t see McDonnell leaving the governor’s mansion early to challenge Webb in 2012 (not sure who’s going to be in position to do that), so he won’t be able to run for senate until 2014.

I can see him being a high-profile governor and a regular on Fox News but beyond that is very, very speculative at this point.

1/ Romney…This guy seems like a moderate/ liberal who flipped to being a conservative to win votes. I’d prefer a guy who believed in something.

2/Sanford….Sounds like a great guy. Probably should be our nominee in 2012.

3/Barbour…Don’t know enough about him

4/Cheney…Unlike Romney, he believes in something and is willing to fight for it. I like him even when I don’t agree with him. If we nominate him for 2012 the left would go supernova.

5/Crist…I’m not a fan.

6/Palin…Definitely has some sort of future, but can she master the nuts and bolts of government? Will her fans push her to run for President before she is ready?

7,8,9/Don’t know them well

10/Cantor seems like a good guy.

11/Jindal…The opposite of Obama….Not a great speaker, but will have the smarts and experience to be President. I hope he runs in 2012/16.

12/Huckabee….I don’t support him, but I think he is politically very skilled. He won a lot of votes with little cash, and will learn from his mistakes. Those who don’t like him had better think about how to beat him.

13/ Newt….Seems to be running for President and has great ideas.

to China, I just read.

That’s quite the crystal ball you have there.

Menawhile in the real world, Sarah palin is our next President.

Im not familiar with some of the people on the list..which one of these is a good communicator and a strong conservative? Reagan-like, please.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124234844782222081.html

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Activists Taking Action: Unified Patriots

Here are the demographics from the 2000 Census, for the 7th district in Virginia, Eric Cantor’s district, which is where I reside. The new Census is definately going to change these demographics drastically, even without ACORN and Obama in control of the new numbers. Below, in 2000, it was reported to be 78% while non-hispanic. Cantor easily won election as a Conservative, as his district has been made up of a majority of Republican voters, mainly in his rural counties which are many.
________________________________________

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=000000008910

Rep. Eric Cantor
(R-Va.) 7th District,
Central — part of Richmond and suburbs

Residence:Glen Allen
Born:June 6, 1963; Richmond, Va.
Religion:Jewish
Family:Wife, Diana Fine Cantor; three children
Education:George Washington U., B.A. 1985 (political science) ; College of William & Mary, J.D. 1988; Columbia U., M.S. 1989 (real estate development)
Military service:None
Career:Lawyer; real estate developer; campaign aide
Political Highlights:Va. House, 1992-2001; U.S. House, 2001-present
Elected:2000 (5th term)
Note: Minority Whip
District Information
Election History Year Election Candidate Votes Percent
2008 general Eric Cantor (R) 233,531 62.7%
Anita Hartke (D) 138,123 37.1%

2006 general Eric Cantor (R) 163,706 63.8%
James Nachman (D) 88,206 34.4%
W. Blanton (I) 4,213 1.6%

2004 general Eric Cantor (R) 230,765 75.5%
W. Blanton (I) 74,325 24.3%

2002 general Eric Cantor (R) 113,658 69.4%
Ben Jones (D) 49,854 30.5%
Vote For President Year Democrat Republican Independent
2008 Barack Obama: 46% John McCain: 53%
2004 John Kerry: 38% George W. Bush: 61%
2000 Al Gore: 37% George W. Bush: 61%

Demographics (2000 census)
Population:643,499
Under 18:25%
Over 65:12%
Married:58.3%
Non-Hispanic White:78%
Black:16%
Hispanic:2%
Asian:2%
Foreign Born:4.8%
Language other than English:6.8%
Median Household Income:50,990
Owner Occupied Housing:73%
Income above $200k:3
Workforce/Education (2000 census)
White Collar:68.4%
Blue Collar:19.8%
Services:11.8%
Bachelor’s Degree:33%
Graduate Education:11.4%
Civilian Veterans:64,905

__________________________________________

It is admirable that Cantor won in 2008 with 62.7% of the vote, however, he ran against a Democrat who no one had ever heard of, she did no advertising at all, and had $0 dollars to campaign with, but still gained 37.1% of the vote. If you look back at his previous wins, and the % of the vote he won by, it has been steadily dropping, while the % of the vote for his opponents has been steadily increasing. The new Census will most surely change those vote totals, as the entire area has had a major influx of Hispanics, and the Northeasterners moving to the area for “lower taxes” but, bringing their liberal values and votes with them. Cantors district borders with the 5th district that voted for Tom Periello and against Virgil Goode, not by a large margin for sure, but, for me one of the largest upsets in the 2008 election. If nothing else, Virgil Goode was a fiscal conservative, and voted against the TARP funds, and the auto bailouts, while Cantor voted for the TARP funds.

It seems to me that Cantor sees the demographics tide changing, and has decided to “go along to get along”, and has not only embraced the “listening tour”, but, is a major player in it. A Virginian who posted on a local (Virginia) site was at the “kick-off” of the listening tour at the northern virginia pizza parlour. He was not impressed, as Cantor and his partners in crime had no time for listening to those with Conservative issues, but encouraged their “big tent” ideas. He left totally disgusted. Why have a “listening tour” when you can’t/won’t “listen”?

Here is Cantor’s 2009 voting record-

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes.xpd?year=2009&person=400060

It shouts to his statement that “the Republicans can’t be the party of no, and I want the President (Obama) to succeed.” Sorry Cantor, but, I am a proud member of those that want to be the party of “NO” everywhere it is appropriate.

Here is another link showing that Cantor was named the “hypocrite of the week” at this site which also claims that “Cantor has more layers of duplicity than just his voting record.” I agree!

http://www.gophypocrites.com/2009/01/hypo9005.html

This past week, a local talk radio host (Conservative) spent almost his full hours on air questioning Cantors motives, in a letter he coauthored, claiming to be for small businesses, while at the same time saying that they (the Government) is here to help them with government programs. Whaaaaat????

I can tell you for sure, Cantor is losing popularity here in his home state, and I suspect his” listening tour” will only increase that trend. It is just more proof that some go to the halls of power, with good intentions, but, once they drink from the cup of power, they lose the principles that got them there.

BTW Mr. Malek, you obvously missed the voices that some of us conservatives do listen to, in favor of those that should be/and will be pushed over the Republican cliff.