As a result of Wednesday's post soliciting topics from The Daily Detour readership, one of our readers asked me to weigh in on who I think is going to secure the GOP nomination for president. We could certainly spend considerable time on this, but I'll be bringing plenty more political fodder to you as we get closer to E-Day. (In fact, one of the benefits of going on a cruise with my Chief Strategist and All-Around Techy-Guru, Dave, is that we had plenty of time to plot further developments of the blog--including how to make it more user-friendly as a political resource for our readers. Stay tuned!) Right now, it will have to suffice for me to just do a quick "fly-by" on the subject.
Where political elections are concerned I would consider myself something of an idealistic pragmatist. That is to say, there are certain ideal principles I am looking for in a given candidate, but at the end of the day, the candidate who shares my basic ideals and the electable candidate are not always the same horse in the race. So we must simply do our best to weigh each variable carefully in an attempt to make the most judicious decision at the ballot box.
Because my life and thinking are profoundly shaped by the Christian worldview, I attempt to vote for the candidate who best adheres to those Christian convictions which shape my political philosophy. For example, the starting point for my evaluation of a candidate's positions begins with "culture of life" issues (abortion, embryonic stem cell research, euthanasia, etc...). Certainly, there are other critical issues to evaluate such as a candidate's view on our U.S. Constitution (whether or not one holds a strict constructionist philosophy concerning constitutional interpretation), or in our current global setting, a person's views on defense and how to address the War on Terror. While such issues are of considerable importance, I would concur with the prophetic statement written by Dr. Francis Schaeffer and Dr. C. Everett Koop's nearly 30 years ago:
Cultures can be judged in many ways, but eventually every nation in every age must be judged by this test: How did it treat people?
When considering a candidate's political convictions, I wonder, what is the price tag on a human life? I mean, how much of a tax credit would I need to receive to sufficiently justify eroding basic human rights?
Sizing up the presidential competition is a laborious task. The Presidential field is becoming increasingly crowded and complex, with over 20 Republican and Democratic candidates to choose from, including a handful who have yet to make the jump into the race. It's important to at least begin directing an occasional fleeting thought toward who you might consider for our president in the coming election. What criteria will shape your evaluation of the possible contenders?
So, what do you think? Who are going to rise to the surface as the presumptive GOP and Democratic candidates for president in the '08 primaries? Whether Democratic or Republican, I'd be interested to hear your preliminary case for the candidate of your choice.
(As for me, my idealistic tendencies have me currently leaning toward Sen. Sam Brownback in the primary. He is an articulate and intelligent Christian conservative who shares many of my convictions. Will he win the primary? The pragmatist in me says, "Not a chance." He'll need the 1980 U.S. men's hockey team to miraculously upset Romney or Guiliani. But at least I can more readily vote my conscience in the primary. Then, in the general election, when the options are more limited, my principled idealism will be tempered by more pragmatic realities. And in some desperate cases, that sometimes means just holding your nose and pulling the lever. No matter what, however, the "I just won't vote" philosophy is not a viable option. If a person doesn't exercise their freedom to vote, they have simultaneously eliminated their freedom to express any further opinions about their elected leades. But that's a stump speech for another time...) 
Here are my thoughts- I think the two main candidates for the GOP will be Romney and Guiliani, and the two main candidates for the Democratic party will be Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama. (I'm sure I'm just repeating what everyone already thinks.) I think Obama will get the nomination for the Democrats and I'm not sure who will get it for the Republicans. I personally am planning on voting for Romney at this point. My preliminary reasons for this include the fact that I feel the Republican party platform conforms more to my understanding of Biblical thinking, and I like what I hear about Romney's stance on issues that I care about. I heartily agree with you on your belief that a candidate's stance on the sanctity of life is far more important than other issues such as economics.
Posted by: jean crane | June 02, 2007 at 08:39 AM
OK I'll bite.....I think agree with Jean on who the candidates will probably be. As far as who I will vote for- I would LOVE to see Obama as president. I would also actually vote for Hillary even though she isn't my favorite person in the world because I think it is high time we had a woman as president!!!
Posted by: Abby | June 04, 2007 at 04:53 PM
While I have no problem with a female president, I'm not sure Hillary should be the one to blaze that trail. If (When) things go badly, there may never be another.
One question Abby - if Rosie O'Donnell was running for president, would you vote for her too just because she is a woman?
As I said in an earlier post, I think Saddam Obama is the Anti-Christ - just read the left behind series - he is Nicolae Carpathia!!
John - Can we do a blog on how Obama and Carpathia are alike?
Not sure I agree with Giuliani as a candidate - my gut says McCain, although I'd rather see Thompson and Romney. Giuiliani may pull in some of the votes from the left, but I don't feel its worth it. I'd rather give it to the other side - too left for me.
Posted by: Jim | June 05, 2007 at 12:05 PM
Jim-
Rosie O'Donnell....probably wouldn't vote for her but she is far, far less qualified....I actually wish Elizabeth Dole would have ran though.....
Funny you should say that about Obama...when I first heard him on Oprah I told my husband..." This guy sounds so great he must be the antichrist...."
So if he is let's elect him- we'll be that much closer to the rapture.....and if he's not..... life in our country and world might get a little better....
Posted by: Abby | June 06, 2007 at 10:13 AM
I'll give you that Abby, on both accounts.
Posted by: Jim | June 07, 2007 at 12:33 AM