To: GROUND ZERO™ who wrote (733160 ) 3/20/2006 2:07:35 PM From: pompsander Read Replies (1) | Respond to But Bush isn't running again. Whomever the Republicans eventually nominate (and I expect the nomination battle to be quite long and quite ugly), that person will not have the same across the board conservative/republican support that GWB had in 2000. Much of American was ready for a change after eight years of Clinton and Mr. Bush was presented as a reasonable choice. His lack of experience in international affiars was offset by Mr. Cheney. His lack of broad experience in government was offset by the strength of his kitchen cabinet advisors. He, personally, seemed like a nice man who had come through some hard times in his personal life to improve himself and achieve great things. He was easy to rally around, as the republicans had no executive branch record to defend. He was the "outsider" who would return integrity to the Oval Office and bring about smaller government, compassionate conservatism, avoid foreign entanglements, etc. What's not to like? Sure, he couldn't name all the world leaders but he had greybeards around him to guide him. And it was time for a change from Clinton. Nevertheless, it was a very close thing with Gore.
