Nobody of any political orientation likes Bush.  The disagreement is who is the better alternative?  Republicans don't win elections because people like them.  Republicans win elections because Democrats are the only alternative, hence Republicans get elected.  As long as that is the case, Republicans will keep Democrats as their opponent.  On a short leach and with a few token office holders where ever anal lube is sold by the gallon.  So I thought it would be entertaining to hear who do you nominate for President for the next election?  It does not have to be a Democrat, but we all know it will be.

there's lots of, um, rocket scientists who think Bush is a swell guy.  

I think it'd be interesting for some of the party freaks to get together and stipulate to a govt of right leaning Dems and left leaning Repubs.  Or at least ones that had the highest percentages of voting against party lines.   The question would be enforceability.

Do you know the scene in the movie Gladiator, when Marcus Aurelius/Richard Harris tells Maximus/Crowe that the reason he wants him to succeed him is precisely because he doesn't want to?

Draft Colin Powell.

You gotta get those ears sharpened or stop dating Shadner.  Being a "swell guy" and a swell President are two different things.  Bush ranks high in the "having a beer with" polling data, that's true, though I'd rather go horndoggin' with Bill Clinton personally.  Anything else and your Rocket Scientists are playing you.

I can't see Colin Powell as Gladiator.  I think of him as more of a dancing and singing YMCA Village People kinda guy.  Maybe Jesse Ventura would join him as VP.  In a featured boa, of course.

[Being a "swell guy" and a swell President are two different things.  Bush ranks high in the "having a beer with" polling data]]

Of course.  But most people DO NOT make that distinction, or he wouldn't be getting votes.

[[though I'd rather go horndoggin' with Bill Clinton personally.]]

So would anybody who'd rather get laid than drunk.

[[can't see Colin Powell as Gladiator.]]

He's not.  The point is, the only reliable politician is the one who DOESN'T WANT THE JOB.  Show me anybody else out there who doesn't want the job.  Hell, these days, every elementary schoolgirl wants the job.

[[I think of him as more of a dancing and singing YMCA Village People kinda guy]]

Get serious.   I'll bet he's the ONLY black guy on the face of the earth who can't dance.

I don't think Colin can do that throw-the-sword-thru-the-heart thing at 40 paces.  I'm pretty sure he could do a regimental nuclear zone fire, though, and that is one HELL of a lot more impressive.

The distinction people made is he isn't Kerry.  

So you buy Powell's whole "I don't want the job" spiel?  I'd ditch the rocket scientists for brain surgeons, if I were you.  Or continue consulting the elementary school girls for political guidance.

I think Powell dances just fine, regardless of his race.  Because anybody of any color can push a nuclear button.  And will eventually.  But a musical interpretation of "don't ask, don't tell" is a special skill I'd like to see more and often.  Usually in a dress and on hormones,  but I can get serious over an impressive sword.  As you pointed out, he is black.

The ONLY thing Bush has over Kerry is sheer stupidity.   The entire election came down to a squeaker in Ohio.  

Powell's got nothing to prove to anybody.  In his shoes, I wouldn't want the job either.  I'd get a boat and be fishing.  The LAST thing I'd want is to deal with assholes who had "other priorities".

As for any other point you may have wanted to make, you're going to have to work on coherence.  Spit it out, in 100 relevant words or less.

on every one of your points.

but she may end up with it.

Hal Phillip Walker in 2008

They all have degenerated into charismatic icons for the "2" parties to win power with. Neither party gives a lick for the Constitution any more and each succeeding party is left with years of fixing the mess created by the former but always enjoying yet more power over the people by the loss of liberties stripped from us by the predecessors. The GOP always touts itself as the guardian of LESS Gov't and fiscal prudence (not from where I'm standing). The Dem's always talk choice, tolerance and liberality but want to legislate it out of existence. It's interesting also how both parties immediately put their partisanship aside and join to eviscerate any third party alternative that gets a head of steam behind em'. Compare the daily liberties enjoyed by Americans 50 years ago against today. The Taliban & Al-Qaeda have won; our media just has not been allowed to inform us of it yet.

Sounds like I made you all emotional about this.  Maybe you should tear yourself away from discussion boards this weekend, clear your head and catch a movie - Martin Lawrence is back in Big Mama's House 2.  Based on your logic, he would meet your Presidential critria too.  Or "be fishing".

I can't teach you English.

and politics is about power.   The political process is about parties fighting over who gets to push you around most.

The best thing a non-participant can do is try to keep them more or less balanced (or unbalanced, depending on how you see it), and fighting each other instead of pushing you.

You are right, and the GOP understands this particularly well, that leaders are figureheads; they cannot be very good at most of their responsibilities, and so the GOP often focuses on  getting somebody who is very good at being a figurehead.

...looking forward to your movie review.  Maybe you can spell check the script?  Kisses...

http://soma.npa.uiuc.edu/courses/physl490b/models/lizard_aggression/lizard_anatomy.gif

you're gonna need them

...Uhura means "freedom" in Swahili, but what does Spock mean?  Cowardly constipation?  Poltical hack in Moe haircut?  Ah, both.  I'll check back in a few days - knock yorself out, honey.