Daily Kos

2008 GOP Presidential Candidate: George Allen

by Joe B

Sun Apr 24, 2005 at 10:45:10 AM PDT

I've seen some analysis here regarding the GOP primaries and noticed that the name George Allen somehow manages to disappear below the radar almost every time. This diary will serve as a place to discuss my belief that George Allen will be the presidential candidate for GOP in 2008. Consider the other candidates:

Bill Frist: Too radical. The last month he has allied himself with the extremist fundies, and won't be able to play the moderate card as Bush always have. Also not very carismatic.

Santorum: See above. He won't even carry his own state.

more below the fold..

Ahnuld: Won't be legal in time for a 2008 bid.

Giuliani: Forget it. The GOP base is to a large extent made up of single issue voters - the anti-choice crowd. They will never cast their vote for a pro-choice candidate. Not in the primaries and not in the general election. This would spell disaster for GOP as a third pary candidate (most likely from the Constituion Party) could snatch 30% or more of the GOP base. Giuliani's star is falling, and he has lots of baggage.

Jeb Bush: Nope. As of today people are already sick of Bush 2 and Jeb will wait for future elections. There is a slight chance that the GOP voters will nominate him if he steps into the primaries, but I don't think he will.

John McCain: Too old and tired. He's very unpopular among the GOP faithful, both grassroots and establishment. In a way he's their Lieberman. Would we nominate Lieberman? No.

Condi: Has declared not interested. If she changes her mind then the issue of abortion will kill her (like Giuliani). Also she is a single woman with rumours of being lesbian. And don't underestimate the hidden racism amongst Republican voters.

Romney: I don't know too much about this guy but he doesn't seem like a prime contender.

This brings us to George Allen.

George Allen is mighty popular both within the GOP establishment and the grassroots. He is pro-life, close to Bush and Rove, pro-big business, very media savvy, he has the sort of swaggering macho style that appeals to GOP voters (= a clear alpha male persona), he has no former scandals that we know of, lots of experience, he has gone completely under the radar since he came to Washington, he has a very nice looking family, he's from the South etc etc.

I'm writing this diary because I see George Allen as the only threat among those potential GOP candidates we know of today. This is the guy who will be able to ensure a further slide towards fascism, theocracy and corporate welfare - and selling it to the American people with a big teeth smile.

So my pledge is: start fighting George Allen already today. Do not underestimate the strongest potential candidate in the Republican party, and don't let Bush hatred give this guy further comfort under the radar of Democratic investigation and attack. Start campaigning already today and we will be well prepared in 2008, when George Allen takes on Hillary or some other Dem in a national campaign.

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  •  Prototypical Republican candidate (none / 1)

    And as a Virginian, who experienced this man's governance first hand, I have only one reaction:
    Yecchhh!

    Democrats give you the Bill of Rights; Republicans sell you a bill of goods!

    by barbwires on Sun Apr 24, 2005 at 10:34:51 AM PDT

  •  George Allen is as bad if not worse than Frist (none / 0)

    the only difference is that Frist is in the news more because he's majority leader.

    If he were interested, someone like Alexander might work.

    However, have you forgotten...the right typically doesn't seem to care about nominating right-wing nut jobs.  You're looking at it logically, and they dont think that way.

    Now, if they can find someone who is radical who can pass off as moderate (like Bush has), thats their best bet.  Allen probably fits into that category, and the right might delude themselves into thinking Frist is too.

    If nothing, this just shows how weak their bench is.

    Mad Wombat

    by FleetAdmiralJ on Sun Apr 24, 2005 at 10:35:46 AM PDT

  •  Oh Yeah, don't forget Newt (none / 0)

    People will probably see him as a lot more moderate now, just because the sands of time have chipped away at his memories.

    Mad Wombat

    by FleetAdmiralJ on Sun Apr 24, 2005 at 10:36:33 AM PDT

  •  i would (none / 0)

    not be surprised if the Republican party does nominate a Santorum or Frist or even Brownback (for the crazy right wingers). They have gotten cocky in their control over all wings of the government

    One of the hardest things to accept as just is a called third strike - Robert Frost

    by israelfox87 on Sun Apr 24, 2005 at 10:38:49 AM PDT

  •  An uninformed observation (none / 1)

    I know nothing about him except for a few episodes in his careers as governor of and senator from a faraway state, but he's always struck me as remarkably stupid.  Of course, that's no disqualification for the Republican presidential nomination.

    "Well, for once, the rich white man is in control!' -- Mr. Burns, "The Simpsons Movie"

    by Vico on Sun Apr 24, 2005 at 10:41:53 AM PDT

  •  Of course.... (none / 0)

    .... if we can knock him off in 2006, he won't be a problem anymore, most likely.

    by metal prophet on Sun Apr 24, 2005 at 10:46:17 AM PDT

  •  Hopefully... (none / 0)

    ...Mark Warner will run for Allen's senate seat and take him out, since he's the only Democrat with a good chance to do so.  Too bad Warner has presidential aspirations as well, he could write his own ticket here in VA...

    2 + 2 = 5

    by nevsky42 on Sun Apr 24, 2005 at 10:49:01 AM PDT

  •  Just a thought... (none / 0)

    You don't think George Allen is too stupid to be their candidate? (read this with a tone of sarcasm)

    So let's start fighting him by pointing out that he can't string two intelligent words together.  If someone else doesn't write it for him, he has nothing to say.  Or, am I being too harsh?

    by Getreal1246 on Sun Apr 24, 2005 at 10:52:41 AM PDT

  •  Is my memory faulty (none / 0)

    (and I mean my synapses, not my RAM,) or is Allen the SOB who tried to get a big shopping center or something built right next to Manassas battlefield?

    Are you speaking "bat?" Is that what bat sounds like?

    by jazzmaniac on Sun Apr 24, 2005 at 11:14:42 AM PDT

  •  As a Virginian (none / 0)

    I can tell you that there is plenty of ammo to use against Allen.  Norhtten VA still hates him for refusing federal school money, which fast-growing DC suburbs badly needed.  He barely won in 2000 against a Chuck Robb who was on political life-support, and has since nearly disappeared from the public eye here.

    He is also vastly overshadowed in state politics by the two Warners (John-R, and Mark-D), who are often seen as the unofficial spokesmen for their party.  Allen thinks he's the big fish in the Old Dominion's pond, but it's all in his head.

    All your vote are belong to us.

    by Harkov311 on Sun Apr 24, 2005 at 12:01:25 PM PDT

  •  doubt it very much (none / 0)

    Allen only got ran for governorf because in redistricting he was thrwon into a district with Frank Wolk who had seniority, and was told by the party eledes who could not mount a primary challenge.

    He only won the general election because 2 time Attorney general Mary Sue Terry ran perhaps the worst state-wide campaign in recent Virginia history (and that's saying something).  Had Don been the candidate in that cycle he probably would have beaten Allen.  Yes, Allen won 58% of the vote  -- Mary Sue was a bland, never married (that became an issue in some parts of the state) person who had no issues on which to run.  

    He won the Senate race in 2000 because (a)Robb really didn't want to run again, but the Dens had no other candidates, (b) Bush carried the state by 8% [Clinton had lost by 4% in 1992 and 2% in 1996), and (c) Allen outspent Robb with just under $10 million to 6.6 million.  Yet despite that, Allen only won by 4%.

    In other words, Allen is not particularly a strong candidate.  As a presidential candidate the fact that he is not eady for prime time would become glaringly obvious.

    do we still have a Republic and a Constitution if our elected officials will not stand up for them on our behalf?

    by teacherken on Sun Apr 24, 2005 at 12:11:53 PM PDT

  •  I'm not from Virginia (none / 0)

    but Allen really comes off as an ass on TV, IMO. From the what I've seen, he seems to try act better than he is. I agree with most of your analysis, except that I think they will nominate a right wing nut job like Frist, especially if they dont have their gay marriage amendment, abortion ban, etc, by then. If a moderate slips by and becomes the nominee, you are right, a huge chunk of the party would go to the Constitution party or just stay home.

    by jj32 on Sun Apr 24, 2005 at 12:16:42 PM PDT

  •  My 2 cents on the above GOP candidates (none / 1)

    These are just my comments on the probablity of these candidates running for the GOP nomination in 2008.

    I'm using 3 levels

    High
    Medium
    Low

    Frist: High

    Frist is leaving the Senate in 2006, and is trying to position himself for the nomination as the Senate Leader.  He is sucking up to the Religious Right for a reason

    Santorum:  Low

    He needs to worry about his Senate seat below

    Arnold:  Low

    Actually, none, since the law won't allow him to run anytime in the near future

    Giuliani:  Medium

    He doesn't seem to care about the US Senate race next year.  The only race left for him is President, and I think he is interested.  He sucked up to Bush at the convention despite differing views issues such as choice.  The question is whether he wants to give up the millions he is making now.

    McCain:  High

    This is his last shot.  Like Giuliani, he sucked up to Bush during the 2004 campaign.  And it's not because they're suddenly good buddies.

    Condi:  Low

    Pro-Choice, Single, and not really political.
    I am surprised that she is ever mentioned

    Romney:  Low

    Just became a governor in 2004.
    No name recognition

    Allen:  Medium

    This diary is a good one, and caused me to rate Allen as medium instead of low.  

    Still, I need to learn more about him

    Barack Obama for President '08

    by v2aggie2 on Sun Apr 24, 2005 at 12:27:54 PM PDT

  •  allen is more radical than frist (none / 0)

    it would help if you started out strong.

    by heterodoxy on Sun Apr 24, 2005 at 01:15:03 PM PDT

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