# If not Bush, who might the GOP nominate in 2004?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-not-bush-who-might-the-gop-nominate-in-2004/165307
**Category:** Great Debates
**Created:** [March 30, 2003, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-not-bush-who-might-the-gop-nominate-in-2004/165307 "2003-03-30T23:23:07Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2003, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-not-bush-who-might-the-gop-nominate-in-2004/165307/21 "2003-04-01T06:22:28Z")
Cheney isn’t a very likeable character. He always reminds me of some high powered CEO who thinks everyone else is wasting his (Cheney’s) time.
Given our country’s fascination and preocupation with celebs, Giulliani is probably a good choice. He’s got the ambition for it, too.
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### Author:  [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2003, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-not-bush-who-might-the-gop-nominate-in-2004/165307/22 "2003-04-01T17:56:01Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by december \*
> \*\*Candidates Eisenhower, Roosevelt and Kennedy were all elected within my lifetime, despite serious health problems. I’m not so sure Cheney’s heart problems would necessarily keep him from being elected. \*\*
It’s true that Ike, FDR, and JFK had serious health problems. The difference is that the extent of their health problems was largely concealed from the electorate. Until very recently, I don’t think most people realized just how bad JFK’s health was. FDR, of course, was never even photographed in such a way that his leg braces were visible, and he was certainly never shown in his wheelchair.
These days, on the other hand, we’re likely to get treated to films of a candidate’s most recent colonoscopy!
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### Author:  [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2003, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-not-bush-who-might-the-gop-nominate-in-2004/165307/23 "2003-04-01T17:58:57Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Hermann Cheruscan \*
> I can only hope that a real Republican, a conservative, can challenge liberal Bush in the primary and weaken him enough so that he loses the general election.
Bush? _Liberal?_ Okay, when did I make the left turn into Bizarro World?
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### Author:  [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2003, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-not-bush-who-might-the-gop-nominate-in-2004/165307/24 "2003-04-01T19:46:49Z")
I’m neither a Republican nor a conservative, but I’m capable of playing one in the voting booth.
McCain has good crossover appeal.
Giuliani does, too, but he’s more of a maverick than McCain, if anything, and might self-immolate during the course of the election. Still a possibility, I guess.
Of those with more traditional Republican appeal, Dennis Hastert could probably go far by arguing that Bush’s policies _per se_ were good sound conservative policies, but that he’s proven himself to be a poor executive and ineffectual communicator and team leader, i.e., the corporation needs a new CEO not a new mission statement.
I’d love to see Olympia Snowe or Susan Collins go for it, as **Sofa King** suggests, that would be cool!
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### Author:  [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2003, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-not-bush-who-might-the-gop-nominate-in-2004/165307/25 "2003-04-01T22:52:01Z")
I don’t think Condi Rice is anywher near ready for pres yet, but I’d love to see you as the VP on the ticket. I’ve followed her career for quite awhile and have always been impressed. If you really want to spice things up, how about a Powell/Rice ticket…?
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