Ditto on McCain -- I'd rather just vote for Hillary and watch her drop the Democratic party further into the ash heap of history. Any Senator who thinks that political speech should be restricted just prior to a federal election will never ever get my vote for any office.

That being said, while I like Gingrich, I wonder about his negatives. These are twofold. First, the rather ugly way he left his first wife. Second, the disasterous way he dealt with Bill Clinton in 1995-1997. Gingrich bears a portion of the responsibility for the Republican party becoming addicted to growing the budget, because Gingrich couldn't lead the Republicans into standing firm in the face of Clinton in the budget showdowns. If he cannot do that, what makes us believe he will be any more effective in the White House?

Unfortunately, my personal favorite, Haley Barbour, just announced that he will not be running in '08. A pity. I would have supported him (or Jeb Bush) in a heartbeat.

Count me, too, as one who would rather see Hillary win then to support McQueeg. His smack down of Obama doesn't even scratch the surface of redemption.

Flap handicaps the 2008 race:

Rudy Guiliani as GOP Presidential nominee

George Allen will be GOP VP

vs.

Hillary and Richardson

Newt seems to be the best chance of spreading a new strain of Bush Derangement Syndrome to a new generation of electoral politics....

I suspect a big part of Newt's work in the primary campaign will have to do with answering questions about his role in the way the revolution of '94 faltered--and what he learned from that experience.

I've heard that awful story about his first wife, but I'm not sure it's true--at least, the way we got it told to us. And even so, I'm really more interested in a guy's policies vs. his personal life. (Up to a point, of course. Bill Clinton was beyond the pale regarding that.)

And keep in mind that as wary as we are about Gingrich's luggage, Hillary's is far, far worse.

McCain might as well just announce that he is a democrat. He has been so chummy with Hillary and supported so many democratic agendas I can't see a difference between him and Hillary.

With Rice out of contention I don't see any leaders in the race for '08 but like all elections it usually comes down to the primaries before we have a true leader in the polls.

If he runs for president in 2008, I will support Cong. Tom Tancredo.

He has a lifetime rating of ninety-eight (98) from the American Conservative Union. Cong. Tancredo is pro-life and pro-second amendment. I fully support his opposition to any legislation that legalizes illegal aliens. The security of this nation's borders are a disgrace. If Cong. Tancredo were elected president, this country's borders would be secured.

Problem with that, TNC, is that Tancredo hasn't got a chance in hell of winning a single state. He is unknown, nationally, and largely a single issue candidate. Those are HUGE obstacles to overcome.

Frankly, I'd rather see him take over at Homeland Security than become President. There are too many unknowns.