Would his election allow a change perception of the USA and an easier path to redemption for the “obnoxious” super power?

SPC: “Hate of a secular socialist regime.” Is that how we describe Saddam Hussein these days? Seems a bit of revisionism going on there.

What is there to understand?

The capitalist USA hates the idea of nations with state ownership of the economy (why else the trade ban with Cuba and the conflict with Venezuala?) and the Republican party is becoming a vehicle for a Christian crusade against secular society worldwide. What defined Iraq as it was and what it has become, is the loss of state ownership of assets and the religious identity driven culture war politics – which re-makes Iraq in the image of the USA.

It’s almost as funny as your assertion that viilent crime in the USA is lower than NZ, as long as you don’t count murder as a violent crime!

So far the Rasmussen (most accurate poll over time) head to head as McCain 47 – Hillary 40 and Obama 41 so it will take a bit of luck.

McCain is still going to be the nominee though (especially if he gets Gulliani’s) endorsement.

Then with a bit of luck he’ll lose!

McCain is a problematical person for Reagan Republicans because he has fought the party on so many occasions (anti the Bush tax cuts, sided with Dems to limit Bush’s appellate court nominees, sponsored campaign finance reform seen to benefit the left more, and sided with uber-liberal Kennedy on pro-amensty immigration law) and he does so with arrogance and nastiness. People like me had hoped that Romney was close enough to Reagan’s mix of social/fiscal/foreign policy conservatism. Its not over yet – most of the Super Tuesday races are not winner take all. Rommey won many of the key conservative demographs in FL and was only beaten at the 11th hour by the Crist endorsement and a nasty distortion of his comments by McCain that dominated the news cycle going into the primary. Until then, the RCP average of polls had Romney up by almost 2%.

Romney has far more money and on-the-ground support than McCain going into Super Tuesday so, whilst McCain has momentum, media publicity and endorsements, I would not give up on Romney just yet but undoubtedly the momentum favours McCain.

I see Fred as a more likely running mate than Huckabee or Guiliani and if McCain prevails, the bad blood between him and Romney means a VP slot is unlikely. Romney will go and serve another mission for his church is my bet.

Oh well at least there’s still a bit of interest in following the democrats. Were’s Arnie when you need him eh?

BTW anyone misguided enough to think that the US left is anything like the NZ or European left (ie Anti-American) needs some serious therapy.

Conservatives of a nervous disposition

^ That could describe a leftie.

http://hughhewitt.townhall.com/blog/g/d41a6e95-71f3-4d41-8f27-af3cc3aaa7cb&comments=true#commentAnchor

I’d advise Conservatives of a nervous disposition to not click the link!

Guliani is a disaster – it would be like picking Mark Latham

You’re comparing the crime fighting, tax cutting, former U.S. attorney general, who is often dubbed ‘America’s Mayor’ for his leadership during 9/11… with that angry twat from Australia; Latham. You’re entitled to your opinion, but some perspective is needed!

emmess wrote:

Although I think a great choice for Veep would be Condaleeza Rice

Agreed. My dream ticket would’ve been Giuliani/Rice. But now that’s a pipe dream, I really like the sound of a Obama/Bloomberg ticket (if Bloomberg doesn’t run for President). According to Wikipedia Bloomberg talked with Obama in November.

Redbaiter wrote:

If I was pressed to choose one as a possible POTUS, it would be Duncan Hunter.
I might admire some of them on a personal level (Bill English in NZ for example)

I’m relieved that there are some politicians you can stomach (Duncan Hunter & Bill English). Your answer also indicated you’ve libertarian leanings i.e. questioning why we even need politicians. No offence, but it’s sometimes hard to no where your stance given the cynicism in many of your posts.

Since I posted the question my favourite politicians are:

Dr Brash, Giuliani, John Key, & Tony Blair

Notable mention goes to:

Condoleezza Rice, David Cameron & John Howard

Everyone else Who are your favourite politicians from the recent past and present?

Pete: Using that truly bizarre logic, it would slightly less “insulting” than being Secretary of State, and much less so than a sub-Cabinet position like National Security Advisor. To be honest, I don’t think its her gender or race that makes her truly unaccptable to the theo-con base. As far as I can tell, she’s far too moderate and doesn’t have the right networks to truly be ‘one of us’.

I believe they endorsed him

And what a truly bizarre piece of work it was – the NYTimes also endorsed Clinton, and I don’t see why they didn’t both ask the paper to withdraw them.