I just watched the Ridge resignation presser on C-SPAN. He was very impressive. He seemed much more relaxed than he has when making those DHS security announcements (increasing the threat levels) - as would be expected. He handled all the questions with grace and enormous confidence, and was very informative and seemed absolutely totally informed..
In a word, he appeared... "PRESIDENTIAL." YUP - he looked and sounded like he'd make a GREAT president. And it brings to mind an absolutely UNBEATABLE GOP ticket in '08:
Ridge-Bush (Jeb, that is!). With PA and FA in the bag - so too would be the White House!
[ I know; I know: Many pundits post that the right-wing of the GOP would never accept or allow a candidate with Ridge's "pro-choiceness" to get the nomination, and that they would mobilize to deny him the nomination.
Perhaps. But perhaps Ridge can find a way to prove to the anti-abortion activists that he would use federal polices to diminish abortions (with the goal of making them virtually non-existent) without changing Roe v Wade, and without using the courts? After all: it is the fact that so many abortions occur, and not their legal status which is so troubling to so many of us all - isn't it?!
And it seems to me, that there might be a politically feasible way to accomplish this - and circumvent the activists. HOW? By finding and promoting ways to radically decrease the numbers of unwanted pregnancies and to radically increase the numbers of domestic adoptions - or (should science catch up to society, on this issue) find ways for "unwanted embryos" to be transplanted into the wombs of the women that want them, (but cannot produce them naturally or with IVF). This procedure is, as-of-now, science-fiction, but if researched, tested, and made feasible one day, it would transform this hot-button issue into a win-win-win-win: A win for Moderate GOP'ers, a win for the anti-abortion activists, a win for all the embryos, and a win for all the women who want to be moms (but cannot).
After all (as Bush understands): to eliminate abortion from the world we need to create a "A Culture of Life." And this cannot be brought into being by judicial fiat, nor by legislation, right now - without creating a very divisive battle at a time when we need to be coming together, and on an issue that we need to come together on. ]
"But perhaps Ridge can find a way to prove to the anti-abortion activists that he would use federal polices to diminish abortions (with the goal of making them virtually non-existent) without changing Roe v Wade, and without using the courts?"
ReplyDeleteBuddy, did it ever occur to you that Ridge holds his pro-choice point of view as a moral one rather than a political one? If he believes that abortion is the right of every woman, then why would he "use federal policies to diminish them"?
And it's not as though Pennsylvania would be a Republican lock if Ridge ran. Remember, their current governor is a Democrat. That state is as purple as it gets.
Besides, Ridge is about as interesting as dry toast and doesn't have the national profile to beat a Giuliani or a McCain. Throw your weight - and your vote - behind one of them. Not that it's going to make a difference. With Jeb deciding not to run and Cheney never having wanted to, there's no heir-apparent in the Republican party to be the front runner. That gives the Democrats a huge advantage.
On top of that, Bush won by a 3% margin of the popular vote this year - my suspicion is that all the "don't change horses in midstream" voters are going to switch over to the Democrats in '08. Bush may have won the election, but his 46% approval rating demonstrates he still hasn't won the hearts of the American people. Much as it was with Gore in 2000, so shall it be for whatever poor bastard the GOP nominates in '08. Sick of the previous administration, the people will make their displeasure known by voting for the other party.