This post started as a comment I left on this post at Intellectual Conservative. The post is about conservative dissatisfaction with the Bush presidency on a number of issues, and the desire of conservatives to distance themselves from Bush.

Conservatives should probably spend a little time reminiscing about we wound up with eight years of the not so conservative son.

In the 2000 GOP primaries it was Bush or McCain. Bush was hands down the better choice. That made it a general election choice of Bush or Gore. I doubt many conservatives would have rather had Al Gore as president. Likewise in 2004 is was Bush or John Kerry. Enough said?

Bush may not be the ideal conservative president but given the choices we had to make he's the best conservatives could hope for.

Unfortunately the early indications are that 2008 doesn't hold out much promise for conservatives. The acknowledged not officially running front runners for the Republican nomination are John McCain and Rudy Giuliani. Both candidates who would surely be an equal disappointment.

Maybe it’s time to spend a little less time tearing apart the party and a little more time finding a real conservative to run for the White House.

Any suggestions?

UPDATE: Tuning Spork left three suggestions in the comments:

Tom Kean
Generally OK. Anti- Senate amnesty bill, low spending and de-regulation. Loses points for supporting Medicare Part D and having his picture with John McCain in his ad. A huge unknown without a snowball's chance in hell of getting nominated.

Lindsay Graham
Lindsay "Gang of 14" Graham? I don't think many conservatives would be overjoyed with Graham for President in '08. Here is what he said about the Senate illegal immigration bill

The program is not amnesty. Amnesty is what President Carter gave to Vietnam draft dodgers who fled to Canada.

John Warner
Has the conservative chops but by the time of the 2008 election he will be 81 years old. While not a disqualifying factor in my opinion, it may limit his electability.

Anyone else?

UPDATE: Apparently Tuning Spork was referring to Tom Kean Sr. not his son who is currently running for the Senate.

He would probably be a candidate conservatives could support though I haven't found much to indicate that he is interested in running.

Terry added another name to the list.

George Allen
I think George Allen qualifies as a strong Reagan conservative. I think if he runs as a conservative and conservatives get behind hin, he has a good shot at the nomination and a good chance to break the senatorial candidate jinx.

Posted by: Stephen Macklin at 10:22 AM | Comments (5) | Add Comment