Reply #29: But take a look at how Bush won over the masses in 2000

[LynneSin]

Yeah, I know the election was stolen but Bush had to get close enough to Gore to steal it.

Bush had an appeal to the religious conservatives but that is never enough to win an election. They made Gore out to be a smarty pants that turned off many of the undecided. I remember working with what I perceived to be very intelligent people who said they were considering Bush cause they just didn't like what a 'know-it-all' that Gore came across as.

Anyhow, last I checked, Bloomberg is no longer a republican and technically has always been a democrat up until he switched parties right before the NYC mayor election to pull himself away from the crowded democratic field. And wouldn't Bloomberg alienated the fundamentals? Bloomberg may have been 'republican' but he still had man of the democratic tendencies. Here's Blooomberg on the issues:

http://www.ontheissues.org/Mike_Bloomberg.htm
Reproductive choice is a fundamental human right. (May 2006)
Backs same-sex marriage. (Mar 2007)
Lock them up and throw away key, but no death penalty. (Dec 2005)
Sued New York City gun dealers to control guns. (Mar 2007)

I don't know about you but reading his stance on the issue - this guy is a democrat. So should the republican party alienate their religious voters AND risk the Supreme Court just get Bloomberg in office? Better they take a risk with someone like Huckabee, swiftboat the shit out of whomever gets the dem nomination and hope for an upset in 2012. Worst case Huckabee could win and they could continue the Reaganization of this country like they have with Bush these past 8 years.

But, perhaps another reason that they might want to give away 2008. Perhaps it wouldn't be 4 years until they can turn the tides back in their favor. Look at what happened in 1994. A rookie Democratic president came into office in 1992 and the republicans used that to their advantage for one of the biggest sweeps in mid-term elections. Republicans can clearly get more done in office if they control the White House and Congress. 2008 is not looking good for republicans in Congress so why not for-go the 2008 elections in hopes of setting up for another 'Contract on America' sweep in 2010? Get congress back and then put your top guns out there in 2012 for president (although Dole was hardly a 'top gun' in 1996).

That's my 2 cents