If 10 Long Shots Debate In a Forest...

... does anyone hear it?

As the owner of this blog and someone who holds a BA in Political Science, I'm exercising my right to go off topic. Besides, news on Warhammer is slow these days. The 10 declared GOP candidates are facing off tonight in a debate. I don't get cable, and I can only stand so much of a crappy internet stream, so I'm not watching it. I'm not even motivated, because honestly I don't think any of those 10 have what it takes in overall appeal and/or core support to slay the hate monster driving the Democrat candidates' support. The truly conservative hopefuls debating tonight lack the face/name recognition, and the well known ones (I'm looking at you Mr. Giuliani) aren't conservative enough. Whichever Republican snags the nomination is going to have to overcome a massive set of obstacles, including:

• The ferocity of the "Bush = Hitler/Satan/worse" crowd, tightly networked on their left-wing blogs, and now financially supported by the likes of George Soros.
  
• An admittedly unpopular predecessor who respects the Presidency too much (and lacks the communication skills) to have fired back at his harshest critics throughout his terms. As a result, the Republican side of the political no-man's land is full of impact craters, while the Democrat landscape remains largely pristine.
  
• An American public tired of a prolonged war, having lost its resolve thanks to a combination of ingratitude, decadence, and an incessant smear campaign and steady stream of bad news from the left and the mainstream media respectively.
  

I'm going to remain disengaged in this campaign until my man - Fred Thompson - makes the big announcement. He's well known, charismatic, pragmatic, and unabashedly conservative. Thompson doesn't have to worry about getting his name or face out there. He doesn't have to make excuses or backpedal on his voting record or convictions. I also think he'd mop the floor with Hillary in a debate. She's popular enough in her own political circles, but her sharp voice, sneering face, and liberal track record will make great fodder for the national voter landscape. Don't get me wrong, I believe we'll have a woman president in my lifetime, but I see her as much more of a Margaret Thatcher than a Hillary Clinton. As for Obama, it would take someone with powerful charisma and a quick wit to peel away the well-spoken and smiling exterior to reveal his true liberal core for all to see, should he secure the Democrat nomination. (Alas, in the ethnic barrier-breaking vein, my choice for the 2000 nomination - Alan Keyes - didn't get very far.)

Until Fred steps in, all this debating and campaigning is just background noise to me. If only...