# If not Bush, who?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-not-bush-who/201667
**Category:** Great Debates
**Created:** [September 15, 2003, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-not-bush-who/201667 "2003-09-15T03:13:36Z")
**Posts on this page:** 12
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2003, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-not-bush-who/201667/21 "2003-09-16T17:50:23Z")
I think RTF hit it with Jeb. And we’ll see that in '08.
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### Author:  [@Rashak\_Mani](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rashak_Mani)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2003, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-not-bush-who/201667/22 "2003-09-16T18:58:49Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Ptahlis \*
> \*\* if Bush dropped dead right this second \*\*
May the gods hear you…
Powell vs Kerry is my bet. Americans are suckers for military.
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### Author:  [@quicksand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quicksand)
#### Post date: [September 17, 2003, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-not-bush-who/201667/23 "2003-09-17T07:12:41Z")
This is an easy one: Condaleeza Rice. I mean the woman wants to be NFL commissioner! I’d love to see a Rice v. Clinton matchup in '08.
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### Author:  [@Rashak\_Mani](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rashak_Mani)
#### Post date: [September 17, 2003, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-not-bush-who/201667/24 "2003-09-17T11:45:58Z")
Rice ? A Woman and Black ? I doubt it. She isnt very charismatic either…
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### Author:  [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)
#### Post date: [September 17, 2003, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-not-bush-who/201667/25 "2003-09-17T14:04:44Z")
I would second Rice. That would be a great way to confuse the Democratic Base. I’m not saying that all blacks or women would vote for her because of her color or gender but just confusing the issue and maybe swinging a point or two would be very helpful.
With that said let me actually second Chuck Hagel. He’s astonishing in person, on the stump and on television. He’s one of the brighter stars on the right. His connection to McCain could either hurt or help depending on how it plays.
Really, when he speaks you can hear how much he enjoys the connection. I haven’t gotten that much vibe off a politician since Clinton was around. He’s **that** good.
If he’s not in line now he’ll be there soon. Really a rising star.
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### Author:  [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)
#### Post date: [September 17, 2003, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-not-bush-who/201667/26 "2003-09-17T18:10:10Z")
Isn’t Rice pro-choice? I don’t think a pro-choicer stands a snowball’s chance in hell of winning the GOP nomination in this day and age.
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### Author:  [@bizzwire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bizzwire)
#### Post date: [September 18, 2003, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-not-bush-who/201667/27 "2003-09-18T02:04:15Z")
Leftish-democratish-liberalish type here who would vote for Arlen Specter in a cocaine heartbeat. He talks straight, and I mean, C’mon…“Specter”…is that a cool name, or what?
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### Author:  [@jshore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jshore)
#### Post date: [September 18, 2003, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-not-bush-who/201667/28 "2003-09-18T02:55:48Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Soup\_du\_jour \*
> \*\ ***John** , I think it has something to do with…
>
> -The faith based initiative
> -Talking about a “crusade” and “evildoers”
> -Marriage = man + woman
>
> etc.
There was also an article in the Nation a while back, and articles elsewhere, talking about some of the religious Right folks he has appointed to various international commissions, scientific commissions, etc. Pretty scary stuff!
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### Author:  [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)
#### Post date: [September 18, 2003, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-not-bush-who/201667/29 "2003-09-18T18:39:07Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by RTFirefly \*
> \*\*ISTM that the obvious frontrunner for the 2004 GOP nomination would be his brother Jeb. He’s governor of Florida, he’s conservative enough for the conservatives of all sorts in the GOP, and he’s brighter and more photogenic than his brother. He’d be a formidable opponent for any Democrat. \*\*
This means that after '08, we will either have the second Clinton or the third Bush as president.
[ul]☹ [sup] **At my age, that seems like a life sentence, with little hope of parole.** [/sup][/ul]
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### Author:  [@Jello](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jello)
#### Post date: [September 18, 2003, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-not-bush-who/201667/30 "2003-09-18T20:27:04Z")
Another liberal, and I like and respect Republicans like Fred Thompson, Chuck Hagel, George Voinovich and Chuck Grassley. Can’t say I’d vote for them against Democrats, but I could tolerate them as Presidents. I hate Cheney when I’m not watching him, but he always impresses me and strikes me as quite intelligent and likable when he’s on Meet the Press.
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### Author:  [@Fuji\_Kitakyusho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuji_Kitakyusho)
#### Post date: [September 18, 2003, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-not-bush-who/201667/31 "2003-09-18T20:57:07Z")
Bill Maher?
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### Author:  [@IUHomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IUHomer)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2003, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-not-bush-who/201667/32 "2003-09-19T02:57:11Z")
No way Jeb would get the nomination after the 2000 fiasco. Too much baggage and Republicans know it.
```
I think the Republican centrist candidate could win and they will have to move closer to the center to have a shot in 2008. I wish the Republicans would tell the religous right to go screw themselves. They are a vocal minority, not a majority, in this country and in the party and are allowed way too much voice in the party platform. Of course its the same way with groups like the ACLU and such for the liberals, so it almost balances out. And really the religous right needs the Republican party as much as the party needs it. By itself, the religous faction of the power would have no power and would get no on elected. My prediction, and hope, for the next decade or so is that as more Gen X Republicans gain power the religous right becomes less and less prominent in the party. Until then, I'll be looking for third party candidates.
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