Why can't the Republicans just get a smart guy to run in 2004?

[Enraged_Ape]

Seriously, this just baffles me. Over the last three years, the Republican spinmeisters have spent untold MILLIONS of dollars and God-knows-how-many hours of overtime to prop up and cover for this dumb-as-dogshit miserable failure. And for WHAT? Why do they put up with him?

They know they're looking at running this mottled, brain-atrophied klutz against a John Kerry or a Howard Dean or a Wesley Clark in just a few short months. Any of these gentlemen could eat the Shrub's breakfast in a debate, and Bush has the added baggage of running on the worst record of any pResident in U.S. History.

It's not enough to say, "Well, they'll fix the elections." Of course they will, but why can't they (or won't they) find someone--ANYONE--who can at least pretend convincingly to be a President? Then they can at least try to keep a straight face when they shill him off on us.

Please, people. I gots to know. It just doesn't make sense to me.

[Hubert Flottz]

1. They don't want a democrat in the WH is why!

'Smart Republican' is an oxymoran! If someone is smart, he or she ain't a Republican!

[DemocratSinceBirth]

2. Two Reasons

1) Any incumbent, regardless of his record has many advantages in a reelection campaign (and)

2) Bush is emblematic of the party and is carrying out the agenda they embrace...

[Enraged_Ape]

4. "Bush is emblematic of the party"

I'll drink to that! :beer:

[DemocratSinceBirth]

6. I Was Watching Gerald Ford

on tv last night... They have a Gerald Ford School of Government at the University of Michigan, his alma mater...

They thanked him for his amicus brief supporting the college's affirmative action program... They also were talking about how he championed the rights of black students when he was a student in the 1930's...

Gerald Ford was pro-choice, pro-affirmative action, pro ERA...

Sure he was econonomically conservative and he led the ill conceived and failed impeachment of William O'Douglas but he was a temperate and prudent man...

[Enraged_Ape]

8. Gerald Ford is what conservatives used to be

Hell, Barry Goldwater would look like a DUer if we applied BushCo standards.

[meti57b]

3. running an idiot is the secret of their success. People like to vote for

someone like themself.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

5. McCain tried this arguement in 2000

unfortunately his surname had too many letters and syllables.

Oh and of course his father hadn't also been president.

[dofus]

7. The simple fact

is that the incumbent isn't replaced if he wants to run. I offhand can't think of a single time in our history when the incumbent has failed to be renominated. Even in 1980, Ted Kennedy's challenge to incumbent Jimmy Carter had no chance of succeeding.

Throwing around insults about how stupid all Republicans are is a pretty stupid thing itself. It blinds you to the real flaws and virtues of the other side.

[Enraged_Ape]

9. "Throwing around insults about how stupid all Republicans are..."?!

WTF are you talking about? Reread my posts, then lay off the goddamn coffee. You obviously can't handle it.

[dofus]

18. Reread all the posts.

The overall tone is about how stupid all Republicans are. My comments were not directed at your post personally, but at the general trend of them all. So sorry you took offense.

And I never have more than one or two coffees per day, so my personality defects cannot be ascribed to caffeine.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

11. Hmmmmm

Papa Bush wasn't reelected....

Herbert Hoover wasn't reelected


LBJ didn't run fearing defeat....


Gerald Ford wasn't reelected*


*he wasn't elected either he was the incumbent

[jafap]

19. and Cleveland?

Maybe Teddy Roosevelt could be another example, except that it shows that even a former President cannot defeat the sitting President for THE PARTY NOMINATION. LBJ is the only example and I cannot remember when he bowed out. Perhaps it was because he was thinking he would have to defeat the brother of a legend - RFK.
Ford did face a strong primary challenge from Reagan in 1976, but in general party leadership does not like primaries against incumbents because it is divisive. It also gives the other party ammunition as Carter could say "even George Bush called it 'voodoo economics'"
The Bradley campaign assisted in the defeat of Gore. It drained money and energy away from defeating Bush. On the Republican side, everyone but McCain (and Buchanon) dropped out pretty quickly. It also seemed like Clinton wrapped things up pretty early in 1992. Not that a quick coronation helped Mondale very much in 1984.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

10. 5 words.

Puppets are easier to control.

[bowens43]

12. Where are would they find a smart republican?

[slackmaster]

13. All of the smart ones already have better-paying jobs

Or are independently wealthy.

POTUS is a shit job. The only reason a smart Republican might want to run would be for the power, the ego trip.

[KittyWampus]

20. Gore Vidal Had A Quote

That went something like this:

In very wealthy families, the smart sons go into Business and the slow ones go into Politics. :)

[NewYorkerfromMass]

14. Edward W. Brooke (U.S. Senator, R. Mass.)

Of course, what use does the GOP have for people like Ed Brooke nowadays?
They have become horrible, evil people. And the ones who won't convert to the Gingrich/Delay mold are slowly pushed out.

Edward W. Brooke- a great man

[Kamika]

15. why should they

They won with an idiot, why waste the smart guy.

Sheepers dont like smart guys they get scared

[Seneca]

16. last time they ran a smart one who could win

It was Richard Nixon. They know better now. Ford was/is as dumb as a rock, Reagan - say no more - and Bush 1 and 2? Dumb and Dumber.

[Skittles]

17. HA HA, HA HA HA HA

COME ON - they don't want REAL LEADERS - PNAC REQUIRES PUPPETS. NO REAL LEADERS NEED APPLY!!!