What about Tom Ridge??

[paul718]

Isn't he more of a foreign policy guy?  I'd think the next election will be heavy on domestic issues.

[paul718]

I think that McCain at least had a strong identity to run on.  Even Dole had a persona to run on.  Ridge manages to be nuanced and boring, which seems to be an electorally lethal combination -- especially if you have to break out of the second tier.

But Ridge was a governor (of a large state, no less) and held one of the "sexy" cabinet positions.  Again, however, I'm not sure that's the stuff people will be looking for. 

[paul718]

In 2012 it'll have been almost a decade since he held elected office. Quite pathetic if the GOP has to resort to THAT.

Yah yah, he had a cabinet position after that, I don't think serving in Bush's cabinet and creating the much mocked color-coding system is a huge plus.

The Democrats just nominated a guy whose claim to fame was a speech he gave in 2004. 

[paul718]

In 2012 it'll have been almost a decade since he held elected office. Quite pathetic if the GOP has to resort to THAT.

Yah yah, he had a cabinet position after that, I don't think serving in Bush's cabinet and creating the much mocked color-coding system is a huge plus.

The Democrats just nominated a guy whose claim to fame was a speech he gave in 2004. 

Obama connected with the base of the party and his ideas and beliefs were a good fit for the party.  Ridge on the other hand doesn't fit or connect well with the base of the GOP, especially now as the
base has gotten much more conservative and southern oriented.

I agree.  I was trying to counter BRTD's claim that nominating Ridge would be "pathetic".

[paul718]

Obama came to fame from that speech, but he was still in office and notable. What has Ridge done? Really, Ridge's best chance was 2000. He was in office as long as Bush was. 2004 if Gore had taken office? Maybe, if Romney and Huckabee could run in 2008 and be serious. 2008? Can anyone see him getting anywhere? Fred Thompson was out of office as long as I guess and he could've been a serious candidate if he actually tried, but he was filling a niche that Ridge obviously couldn't (A "true conservative".) 2012? Now he's beyond washed-up.

Since when is it required that a nominee currently hold an office?  He' served in Congress for like 12 years, governed a large state, and headed DHS as recently as four years ago.  He also held a significant position in the McCain campaign last year.  I don't nominating him would be pathetic at all.  He'd actually be one of the more experienced and accomplished of candidates.