I had thought about Condi, but I think she would be perceived as having a couple of weaknesses, other than not desiring the job as you point out. First, she really doesn’t have that much in the way of actual, political experience IIRC. While her resume is quite impressive, is it political, or is she more of a technician? How well will she do on the campaign trail, making speeches, etc. I can’t answer that. Second, from what I know, she may be perceived as being weak on domestic issues. My suggestion would be for her to move on to another senior administrative position in another, domestic, post. A little more seasoning, in other words.

On Giuliani — well, he may be electable in some areas, and is considered strong on the WOT, but he’s going to have some problems in the red states because of his perceived weakness on 2nd Amendment issues. He would have problems back home in Texas on that account, for example. Sorry, but that just won’t fly in the south. The Bubbas won’t stand for it. For that matter, similar problems will be encountered with most candidates from the North East. Unfortunately for him, the Bubbas actually CAN read and have something resembling a memory for that sort of thing.

I had thought about Condi, but I think she would be perceived as having a couple of weaknesses, other than not desiring the job as you point out. First, she really doesn’t have that much in the way of actual, political experience IIRC. While her resume is quite impressive, is it political, or is she more of a technician? How well will she do on the campaign trail, making speeches, etc. I can’t answer that. Second, from what I know, she may be perceived as being weak on domestic issues. My suggestion would be for her to move on to another senior administrative position in another, domestic, post. A little more seasoning, in other words.

On Giuliani — well, he may be electable in some areas, and is considered strong on the WOT, but he’s going to have some problems in the red states because of his perceived weakness on 2nd Amendment issues. He would have problems back home in Texas on that account, for example. Sorry, but that just won’t fly in the south. The Bubbas won’t stand for it. For that matter, similar problems will be encountered with most candidates from the North East. Unfortunately for him, the Bubbas actually CAN read and have something resembling a memory for that sort of thing.

I have some of the same worries myself with regard to the Dems. I switched from being a registered Dem to an independent (I can’t quite go all the way Republican). But one of the things that worries me is the extreme hatred and head-in-the-sand attitude from many Democratic politicians and supporters. Continuing down this route will practically insure the disappearance of the Democratic Party as we have known it. I hope that the ideas advanced by Samuel, Mark and others that a viable replacement party will emerge are correct. As a political scientist (OK, no jokes about the “scientist” part) I understand that Duverger’s Law suggests that a viable opposition party, will emerge, but who will populate it is the question.

As an aside, this is one of the first times I can express these thoughts. As an academic, any deviation from the party line results in the same reaction Cathy Seipp talks about…”you seem like a nice person…” Most of my colleagues refuse to admit that there are problems with the way the Kerry campaign is going as well as the DNC.

Agreed. Public perception may be: “Haven’t we seen enough of the Bushes already?, Let’s try something different for a change.” While Jeb may not be negative at all — he’s holding up pretty well, from what I’ve seen, under some less than ideal circumstances (I mean, 4 hurricanes: bam, bam, bam, bam! One is bad enough!) — he may suffer name burnout and the public’s aversion to political dynasties. To a certain point, I think that is one reason why the Dems never ran Ted Kennedy — his brother was already prez (and was assasinated), his other brother ran for prez (and was also assasinated), let’s not try for round 3. That, and one particularly soggy fatal traffic incident way back when.

So, who else? Who, on the Republican side of things, is the equivelant of Zell? Too bad he won’t do it.

You may be right there, but it is a strategy that could ultimately backfire on them. At least, it does with me. When I look at a fine upstanding citizen like Zell Miller, I say to myself: “That’s a fine fellow, I Like Him.” And then I notice the (D) beside his name. Sigh. He’s a Democrat. Well, while he may be a fine fellow and all, by his being a Democrat he’s enabling the rest of the Democrat machine in Congress, to the tune of Ted Kennedy (the Sotted Blowhard), Robert Byrd (the PorkMeister!) and Hillary! While I may actually like Zell, I have misgivings about giving him my support since supporting him also supports them by association. And then I sadly turn away…

You have a good point there. The haters hatred is directed at more than just one person, GW Bush. It is directed ALL Republicans, as they view all Republicans as repugnant. But it doesn’t stop there. It applies to some in their own home party, the ones like Zell who dare to stand up to them. In GB it is directed towards their own PM from their own party, since he has the unmitigated audacity to not kowtow to them, by doing the right thing for an long standing ally in time of conflict. They Hate. They want their own way, and they HATE those who stand in the way.

There is no placating them.