Republican politics

I'll go ahead and say up front that I am a Republican. However, I am a conservative first, Republican second.

Before we go any further, I want to give some thoughts on what I see as the top four candidates in the GOP side of the race.

Rudy Giuliani was there for New York in it's darkest hour. His steadfastness for the citizens of New York helped earned him the title of America's Mayor. Giuliani casts himself as conservative who'll be tough on immigration and the war on terror. However, Giuliani's record is anything but conservative. In fact, he's a pro-choice Republican, which is a big strike against him here in the south.

Mitt Romney is someone I admit I don't really know that much about. I do know that he has waffled on key positions like a woman's right to choose in the past. And being from Massachusetts, he's got to be liberal.

John McCain, called a "Maverick" for his cowboy-like approach to politics, is really a long-shot to win this race. Yes, he is a a war hero who spent several years in the Hanoi hilton and for that we are in his debt. However, he's opposed President Bush on several issues and then on other issues, he's been right in step with Bush. His endorsement from Independent and former Democrat Vice Presidential nominee Joe Lieberman really won't help his cause to get to Pennsylvania Avenue either.

Mike Huckabee is the biggest surprise in this race. Huckabee spent ten years in Arkansas as Governor of that state. He's got a lot of very conservative values that play well with the so-called Christian right. It doesn't hurt that he was and is still is an ordained baptist minister. Of all of the candidates, Huckabee seems to have the most core conservative values. I believe he talks straight from the heart on many issues that will mold and shape this election. Those being the war in Iraq, the war on terror, immigration, the economy, health care and the future of the country. I feel he has some interesting ideas about how this country should be run.