Rabbit's Guide to the Republican Candidates

I've been pulling for Rudy Guiliani since very early on. By the time of the primary in my state he will either be surging or out of it.

In order to explain my support (someone asked), I wrote this handy guide.

My dream ticket for 2008 is Patton/LeMay. Unfortunately I can safely predict that neither of them will be in the running. So then I have to ask myself, who do I believe will govern most like Patton?

Hunter - A big yes. Alas he's taken himself out of the running.

McCain - more of a DeGaul. Places himself first in all things. He has elements of Patton, but too much Gaulism is bad for you. Ideologically more suited to be Hillary's running mate. The closest thing to Patton among democrats, but I'm not a democrat. NOT ACCEPTABLE

Romney - more of an Eisenhower than a Patton. I really don't want another 'nice guy' president at this point in history. I also fear that he is another who (like our current president) will squander his time in office trying to negotiate peace with madmen who believe their faith requires they nuke Israel and the US out of existence. There is no bargain to be had there, but I get the impression he's one of those who believe there's always a bargain to be made. Every moment of delay from this point puts millions of lives on the line. Acceptable but with uncomfortably many caveats.

Huckabee - more of a Nathaniel P. Banks (ie Democrat and an unintentional self-satire.) NOT ACCEPTABLE

Ron Paul - more of a George B. McClellan (ie delusional). Believes the Constitution binds us to "international law". Also believes that the rest of the world is filled with happy ponies prancing through medows of cotton candy and that all strife is caused by the US. Apparently not uncomfortable about having vicious anti-semite allies. NOT ACCEPTABLE

Thompson - more of a James Longstreet. Terrible on the 1st amendment. Good on most other issues but too genteel (please no more 'nice guy' presidents) and too many dubious political allies (McCain most of all). Acceptable but with caveats, but out of the race at this time.

Rudy - after Hunter then next closest to Patton. Took on the mob head-on. Cut taxes in NYC. Enforced laws in NYC. Has a few positions I dislike, most of all on gun control. Understands (as I do) abortion to be an issue properly belonging to the states and not to federal courts. Lacks for nothing in the area of willingness to identify the enemy and kick its backside. Acceptable but with caveats.

As much as anything in politics as we stand today I want McCain to lose in Arizona. I have been trying to have the guy repudiated by Arizona Republicans for more than a decade. We had a recall effort going and we stopped it due to 9/11. Our thinking was that whatever our gripes the country had something more important to do now. Unfortunately we still do, and Captain Queeg is most assuredly not the guy to do it.

If Rudy doesn't win in Florida, then I would agree with the assessment that he's out. At that point I would vote for Romney as an ABM (anyone but McCain) vote. It should also be noted that in that situation an Eisenhower is better than a DeGaul any day. Ike's also superior to Nathaniel P. Banks. (Who isn't?)