This is what will happen in 2008...

[Bicoastal]

My prediction is that the GOP will give in to public desire and nominate Rudy, who will make all sorts of pledges about "being open to change" on issues concerning abortion, gays, environment, etc...

But then, in order to please the GOP powers-that-be and pander to the "base," Rudy will pick a died-in-the-wool conservative to be his running-made, i.e. Gingrich, Brownback, Gilmore or even Tancredo.

This will backfire. People will be reminded of the Bush/Cheney coupling and begin to question Rudy's judgement and independence of thought. Meanwhile, the Democratic team will contain either Obama or Edwards in some capacity (perhaps both of them!), and will thus appeal to the public with young, optimistic candidates promising new solutions to the WOT and withdrawl from Iraq--even enough to cancel out Hillary's negative points, should she get the nomination. The Dem team will defeat Rudy and the Neo-Con, thanks to a cynical, war-weary public.

That's what I think will happen in 2008. But hey, I'm no expert.

[Virginia Dare]

1. Alternatively...

it could be Romney, who will pass himself off as a "moderate" much like dubya did in 1999. He'll pick Jebby as his running mate and we've got four more years of Bushco firmly entrenched in the White House.

[Jack Rabbit]

2. I really doubt, ma'am, that anybody named Bush will be electable any time soon

. . . even on the second spot of a national ticket.

[Ochsfan]

3. Mitt and Jeb??!

Sounds like a bad vaudeville act!  Actually, now that I think
about it, that's exactly what it would be.

[Bicoastal]

4. I know its early...

...but at this stage of the game, I don't see how Rudy will possibly NOT get the nomination. He's just too popular with the uninitiated--and they, as we all know, are often the ones who decide elections.

However, he will have to prove his loyalty to the party somehow, and that will be his candidacy's fatal undoing.

[Virginia Dare]

6. As someone here pointed out in another thread..

Romney has hired some of the very same swift boaters who smeared McCain and Kerry. You can imagine the job they could do on Rudy. Bushco undoubtedly knows where all of Rudy's bodies are buried, so if they decide Romney's the man, then katie bar the door.

Romney also has some bigtime former Bush supporters.

Like you said, it's early and of course it's interesting to speculate.

[Bicoastal]

5. another dupe

dang it

[sallyseven]

7. There is a lot about Ropmney out there already

he is a loser and not fit for the office of the president

[Virginia Dare]

8. That's true of all of the Repig candidates though...n/t