U.S. Election 2008 - Part III

I think this is probably the third blog entry focussed on next year's U.S. elections - you may wonder why I'm not talking about the any Canadian elections - for one, there won't be a federal election for a couple of years at least (in my view), and even though there will be a Ontario provincial election, it's not terribly exciting (the Liberal guy in power is barely hanging on right now, but my gut tells me that the electorate don't really want to see a Conservative in power, so they will continue to vote in the indecisive, break-yer promises, "I want to be on camera" Dalton McGuinty. Truth be told, even though I'm a die-hard card carrying Conservative, I have some mixed issues with John Tory - he may be a nice enough guy, but I don't think he's socially as Conservative as I would like (I would still vote for him, but I'd prefer to see someone else). I'm sure I'll be writing a few more things about the Ontario elections over the next few months.

OK, where was I? Oh yes, the U.S. Presidential elections next year. Well, it would look as if McCain is not a factor anymore (was he ever?) - he's still in the top 3, but he's dropping positions fast. So I think it will really be between Mitt Romney (former governor of Massachusetts) and former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani. It seems like former actor and senator Fred Thompson will be on the ticket, though he has unannounced, but I don't think enough people see him as a viable force, based on his lack of experience (though I'm sure his trophy wife will garner a few donations). But I think it will be down to Romney and Giuliani. With both as potential likely candidates to be on the ticket, I'm lukewarm on both - yes, I think either would be better than any of the Democrats, but Giuliani especially is a very liberal conservative, if there was such a thing. But there have been a recent development that has been a bit of a blow to Giuliani. His own daughter has thrown her support behind Barack Obama. Doh! Mitt Romney has also been picking up a lot of momentum on Giuliani, questioning whether he, as New York mayor, made the city a hotspot for illegal immigration. Giuliani is definitely on the defensive on that one. But I look at the U.S. and think, would they really vote in Romney, a mormon?

Ah, I really wish that Condolezza Rice, Colin Powell, or Bill Frist would put their name in the ring (I know Dick Cheney will not be doing so and has indicated numerous times). Or Sam Brownback would mysteriously start getting voter support. At this point, it seems as if the Democrats are picking up steam and the floating question seems to be - who will be the President - Obama or Clinton. I'm really hoping it won't come down to this.

Are Romney and Giuliani the best that the Republicans can offer in this election? My gut tells me that neither will stand much of a chance here against Hillary or Barack.

Mark My Words - Joe Lieberman Will Become a Republican

It's interesting - I was watching the 2000 U.S. elections and there are two things that I remember, aside from being glad that Bush won. 1) Al Gore was a complete nutjob - OK, my wife saw him on Oprah and thought he was the dream, but I tend to me a bit more objective about these kinds of things...OK, seven years later, he's on the Apple board, he's had celebrity status over his global environmental "intitiatives" and I guess he's now writing a kids book. He's been a bureaucrat in Washington all is life, but I'm not sure whether he actually says anything substantive - he likes to talk and use modern-day phrases and terms and looks like a techie compared to his contemporaries, but I think he's all flash and no substance. 2) Joseph Lieberman. I totally resented the fact that the Republicans did not have this guy. He is probably more of a true Republican than Giuliani or McCain is (both of of which are very soft on their social issues - look at their voting records and family life). I was laughing when I found out that James Dobson would not support McCain. I would have to agree with Dobson here. And there is something about Giuliani I don't like. I'd rather see Sam Brownback, but he doesn't have a chance to win the GOP nomination (sad to say but true). Anyway, I remember watching Lieberman on the debates and in addressing crowds and thinking, "if there was ever a Jewish dude who would really break down the stereotype, it is him"). Interestingly enough, in the next few years, we would see him siding with Republicans on a number of things (including the 2003 plan to go to war, as well as recent statements that he will vote against the Democrat's bill to set a timeline for troop withdrawal. Since he lost the primary in mid-2006 (forgot the guy he ran against - Ted something??), he has ran as an independent and has tremendous support from the Republicans. I think he was re-elected (albeit as an independent) back to the Senate during the 2006 mid-term elections. But I suspect that come 2008, there's probably a good chance he'll become a Republican. I have never saw him as a true Democrat, and I think it would be a tremendous boost to have him join the GOP. Heck, if I was in the U.S., I'd vote for him, maybe even as Prez (of course, I'm not even sure if he wants to run a Prez, but he ran for VP, so ya never know...