Some people have suggested that next Republican nominee would be Rudy Giuliani (former mayor of New York) or Arnold Schwarzenegger (assuming a change in the Constitution to allow someone of foreign birth to be elected). That very well may happen, but it's possible that the Democrats would offer a candidate who would be hard to distinguish from a New York or California Republican. In that case, I might support the Constitution party candidate instead of the Republican party. Bush has demonstrated that the Republican party doesn't need to be afraid of being conservative. According to the exit polls from Tuesday (if you happen to believe them), Americans like having a President who is concerned with moral issues. A Pro-Choice candidate could win the nomination, but lose the election. (Many Democratic voters are actually Pro-Life. You'd never guess it from the Democrats who are elected. Out in the cities and towns, many Democrats are actually concerned about moral issues.)
I suspect the GOP would have a better chance at winning in November with a conservative candidate from a swing state such as Ohio or Florida. Kasich represented Ohio for many years in the House of Representatives. I'm not opposed to Florida Governor Jeb Bush as a candidate, but I'm not sure if Americans are in favor of a Bush Dynasty in the White House (GHWB, Clinton [oops], GWB, Jeb?). It might be a good idea allow the Bush family a break from national office. I haven't put a calculator to it, but I'd think that Jeb'd still be plenty young in 2012 or 2016. And there's always the potential for George P. Bush to follow in his uncle and grandfather's footsteps someday in the not-so-distant future. Also, I wonder if Jeb actually has presidential aspirations (he would know better than most that's it's an extremely difficult job). Could he really want to leave Florida's great climate for D.C.?
Since Kasich actually had a brief campaign for President back in 2000, he might be interested in running again. The end of his speech when he dropped out epitomizes that he fully grasps what has made Bush such a good President (before he was even elected):
But I'm also very excited with the fact that I'm going to make it a top priority to fight and work for the election of my friend George Bush to the White House in 2000. And I want to tell you that it's an easy decision for me, because George Bush is a man who believes in bottom up. He does believe in the power of people. You think I haven't been watching him cut taxes, provide for strengthening of faith-based institutions, the need to stand up for people who rarely get stood up for, the need to stand up for people who rarely get stood up for, to end the polarization in America, to end the division that we have. And George Bush's term of compassionate conservative really kind of defines exactly what John Kasich is all about. And many times when I watched the governor delivering a speech or an interview on television, I swear I could have turned the sound down and put my own voice in there. And so I feel as though I have a soul brother. I've got somebody that sees this future for our country the same way that I do. And I'm very privileged and honored today to have George Bush with us and I'd like for him to come out on the stage.And as John doesn't have any Presidents in his immediate family, he shouldn't be as much of a lightning rod for wacko conspiracy theories as a third Bush candidate would be.
More info on Kasich (it's somewhat dated, but I think the essence is still accurate):
