"Let’s Get Ready To Rumble" Leading Up To 08

Hey folks,

I said, on November 14, 2006 "The Road To 2008, "Let’s Get Ready To Rumble!"

"Newt Gingrich has also said he is looking into it. Others will come out of the woodwork as we move closer. Imagine if it breaks down to be Giuliani, vs Clinton, vs Independent Joe Lieberman. That would be one interesting race."

Break,

"Yes folks, the next two years will be interesting. Those that chose, {I have no idea why anyone would want to} will be throwing in their names, getting in the ring, and letting the battles begin. I wish Rudy luck. I did then, I do now, think that he would make a fine President. We’ll see."

Well, look at this headline in Congressional Quarterly,

Congressional Quarterly Craig Crawford: ‘Get Ready to Rumble!’

"The 2008 presidential hopefuls are out of the starting gate and already provoking handicappers to separate the field — into front-runners, promising challengers and dark horses — in what is destined to be one of the nation’s most historic White House campaigns.

Sports metaphors abound as emboldened Democrats see a chance to build on their dramatic takeover of Congress. The Nov. 7 midterm election was "the Conference Championship game for what direction America takes for the next generation," Democratic operative Steve Jarding said. "The 2008 races will be the Super Bowl."

LOL! Hey Steve, I said back on October 12, 2006 ,

"Are we counting down to the Mid Term Elections, or a major sporting event like the Super Bowl, World Series, or more like Wrestlemania.? All I’ve been seeing lately and even more so as time ticks by is , "My side is going to beat yours." "My team is going to trump yours." etc."

The very next day?

"I have to do this. Hi Sean. I’m talking to Sean Hannity. I loved your show yesterday. Especially the opening monolog where you compared the upcoming elections to the Super Bowl or World Series. LOL, you even, in your own way, told people to get their game face on. Thanks for that."

Back to the article,

"Jarding, who helped engineer Democrat Jim Webb’s stunning upset of Virginia Republican Sen. George Allen (news, bio, voting record), says Hillary Rodham Clinton’s lopsided Senate re-election victory in New York proves that she is the "big dog" in his party’s presidential pack. "If anything, now that she has her big win and does not have to sit on the sidelines, she actually has a much greater capacity to move up," he said."

Yes, but she cannot win. I really do not believe that she has enough support by the American people. But they admit this a little later on.

"For now, McCain and Sen. Clinton are the ones to beat for their parties’ nominations. And each are flawed in ways that make them beatable. The hottest betting game on both sides of the political game will focus on who, if anyone, can quickly call into question the pre-eminence of McCain and Clinton.

McCain’s age and health could hinder his chances. He would be 72 on Inauguration Day 2009, three years older than Ronald Reagan when he became the oldest president in history. And McCain’s bout with skin cancer, though he says it is behind him, is cause for worry. Still, he has diligently courted GOP bosses and social conservatives who cost him the nomination when he ran six years ago.

While former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani was once thought to be a threat to McCain, his star has faded since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Romney now seems to be the early favorite for the anybody-but-McCain vote. His one term as Massachusetts governor was a substantive success, if only for his well-regarded and ambitious health reform plan that will be taking effect in the state as he pursues a presidential campaign. And he is aggressively courting the social conservatives who dominate GOP primaries and appear to remain suspicious of McCain."

WAIT A SECOND!! What? Rudy’s star has faded? I bet you are SO very wrong about that. Rudy would win here in Florida. {More New Yorkers here than in NY} He would win NY hands down. He is well liked and was once deemed the "Mayor of the Country." He has a lot going for him. Not to mention he’s a Moderate.

"Clinton has everything going for her on paper. No Democratic hopeful can top her for money, power and fame. But there is a profound fear among the party faithful that she cannot win a general election, that too many mainstream voters distrust and dislike her."

Exactly.

"North Carolina’s John Edwards and Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois top the list for Democrats seeking a Clinton alternative. Edwards has continually and effectively crisscrossed the nation since running as the party’s 2004 vice presidential contender. But Obama already has won the first news media "primary," emerging as a favorite among many political insiders for toppling Clinton."

Break


"The unfettered landscape ahead is encouraging more and more candidates to jump in. In the past week, at least two of the expected candidates, McCain and Giuliani, formed the exploration committees obligatory under federal law. And dark horses from both parties also filed papers or announced plans to: retiring Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack for the Democrats, and former Cabinet secretary and Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson for the Republicans.

This campaign is so far along that some already have tested the waters and opted out — Sen. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin and former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner have abandoned their plans to run for the Democratic nomination. With so much presidential talent on the move, even the weariest political junkies have no choice but to start paying attention. After all, the first round of presidential voting — the Iowa caucus — is just 14 months away."

Did you notice? No mention of Lieberman? DO NOT FORGET about the Newt possibility. I’m telling you folks, what happens IN the Democratic Party, will determine how 08 goes. If the Looneys, the LWL win complete control and shut down the Moderates that actually won them into power, we could see a major backlash by the American people who will finally see these people for what they are. Then they will be trown out just as fast in 08.


But IF the Moderates are able to retake the Democratic Party and get the LWL to become,, well,, sane, and they get some things done, this will GUARANTEE a Moderate to win the Presidency in 08.

It is WAY too early to tell yet. You have to know though, this is going to be one carnassial two years.
Peter