Republicans - If we lose...

[JSojourner]

Speaking as a Democrat, no one scares me more than Mike Huckabee, Mike Pence or John Thune.  They are all pretty much far-right social conservatives like the aforementioned Santorum.  But they don't have Texas-sized gaffes in their past that can be brought up everytime they speak.  Man on dog?  There's no way Rick ever recovers from that enough to run for President successfully.  But yeah, he may well run.

The formidable thing about Santorum before that horrible statement was that he was a very warm, friendly kind of guy -- like Huck, Pence or Thune.  Extreme conservatism with a smile.  That's scary to me.

But the one thing Santorum has in his favor that the other three seem to lack is a commendable passion for peace and justice in places like Darfur.  Not to say the others don't care, but Senator Santorum tried to do things about it.  Made me like him more.  Still, one of his partners in that effort -- Sam Brownback -- didn't fare so well. 

I do think Republicans won't be nominating a moderate or liberal anytime soon.  I've been hearing lots of pundits say that all the defeated Republicans since 1976 were moderates.  I might disagree with characterizing Dole or McCain as a moderate (presuming he loses) but okay.  Ford, Bush, Dole and possibly McCain?  And the winners?  Reagan and The Decider.  And H.W. Bush in the first term, who stumped harder from the right in the primary the first time around.

Whether this is valid or not is unclear.  But I think Republicans will believe they have to name very, very conservative people to win.  So sorry Rudy...no soup for you.

[JSojourner]

What is all this Burr chat about?  Is he a mensch?

I tossed his name out a few days ago.  No particular reason except that...

*  he will have had two Senate terms under his belt
*  he is a Southerner
*  he wanted the VP spot pretty badly this time
*  NC is becoming a pivotal state (at least it may be)
*  he fits the "very conservative" billing, but lacks the harshness of many (like DeMint)
*  he doesn't have the allegedly gay problem that (unfairly) dogs Crist and Graham

[JSojourner]

What is all this Burr chat about?  Is he a mensch?

I tossed his name out a few days ago.  No particular reason except that...

*  he will have had two Senate terms under his belt
*  he is a Southerner
*  he wanted the VP spot pretty badly this time
*  NC is becoming a pivotal state (at least it may be)
*  he fits the "very conservative" billing, but lacks the harshness of many (like DeMint)
*  he doesn't have the allegedly gay problem that (unfairly) dogs Crist and Graham

Splendid, but hey, that does not secure a nomination now does it?  There needs to be the X factor. Does he have it?

That, I cannot say.  The original question -- where I posited the idea -- was in a 2012 primary thread.  That is, who might be running?  As to the sort of X factor that nails down a nomination, I have no idea.  

I also keep bringing up Governor John Hoeven, but mainly because his favorables are so high and he is presently off the radar outside North Dakota.  Small state guy, but so were Howard Dean. Tom Daschle and Sarah Palin.  

Those X-factors are pesky things, too.  The thing that might make someone a shoo-in this time could spell political death for the same guy in four years.