My Top Ten Favorite Conservatives/Republicans

There seem to be a lot of Top Ten thingamabobbers floating around the blogosphere. I've posted a few of my favorite names already as well, but not a complete TOP TEN. So, here it is:

10. Dinesh D'Souza----Why? Because as a conservative/Republican Mr. D'Souza has done more than anyone to re-ignite the debate between atheists and theists. Not only that, but he's been kicking butt! In addition to that, I admire Mr. D'Souza's independent thinking when it comes to the issue of why Muslims dislike western culture. In the war between D'Souza and Victor Davis Hanson, I agree with many points of Hanson's, but find many others to be naive and wishful thinking. I'm in D'Souza's camp.

9. Haley Barbour---Why? If anyone has bothered to track Mr. Barbour's comments this election cycle there is a consistency of focus from the Mississippi guv. He has consistently dismissed questions about speculation about running for president or VP. He has demanded focus from the GOP for the here and now. I always admire that.

8. Tim Pawlenty---Why? Well here's my favorite kind of Republican. Someone who tries to expand the Republican base to regular folks who might otherwise vote Democrat on impulse. He's the originator of the phrase "Sam's Club Republican."

7. John McCain---Why? Why did I choose John McCain?! Fact is, I used to strongly dislike this guy. I guess you might say he is the only one of this list who is on here for something besides his conservative credentials. What I like about John McCain is his story. The guy has spent his entire life in public service: the navy, as a POW, and in congress. Yes, I strongly disliked his various sins against the GOP, and his oft-time leftist positionings. But there is no denying: John McCain is an American hero.

6. Sarah Palin---Why? Everybody concentrates on her mostly as a social conservative. The media denounced and attacked for it. Ironically, when she was first picked they were questioning her credentials in that area. But hey, she's the Repub Veep, so what's to like? I mean it's not like she ran against the GOP good ole' boys in Alaska, right? It's not like she resigned her post on a committee in protest of ethics violations, right? It's not like she had executive experience from being a mayor and governor right? It's not like she gained an inside view into fiscal and environmental issues from serving on various boards and committees or by having to balance a state budget right? I mean this lady is evil!

5. Mike Pence---Why? Because Mike Pence has stood against the tidal wave of me-too-ism in the House. Even when stalwarts Coburn in the senate and Cantor in the house were for the bailout, Pence stood against it.

4. Michael Steele---Why? Well, I like Steele for his contributions. He donated the phrase, "drill, baby, drill." But also his senate candidacy in 2006 represented the hideous tactics of leftism. When Democrat Harold Ford jr. ran against Republican Bob Corker in my home state of Tennessee, the liberal media was all over the race and ready to label TN voters as racist if they did not shoo-in their candidate. Sure enough, when the election was over, accusations of racism were front and center. Mr. Ford graciously pooh pooh-ed those accusations and graciously accepted his defeat. Meanwhile, nobody was crying racism over the losses of Lynn Swann, Ken Blackwell, or Michael Steele. In addition to this, I think Mr. Steele's personality will help the GOP, especially as head of the RNC. (Plus: he guest-hosted for Hugh Hewitt, and you can't help but like him).

3. Mitt Romney---Why? Because Romney represents the best parts of conservatism: leadership, innovation, and self-sufficiency. He led the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics out of a debt-hole and did the same with Massachussetts in later years. A lot of people disliked his healthcare plan in MA, but what they don't realize is that his mandate did not require state government to pay for people's healthcare. Only that they were required to obtain it. This SAVED the state's healthcare program a lot of money. Just in case nobody realized this, there was been a different governor of the state since then, named Deval Patrick. Did you guess? He's a Democrat.

2. Hugh Hewitt---Why? Because Hugh Hewitt presents not just his views, but those of REAL experts. A lot of talk show hosts hire their uncle's counsin to come on the show and opine on the war on terror. But Hugh Hewitt gets only the best, even when he disagrees with them on the subject discussed, as in the case of Robin Wright. Hugh realizes that not all the experts are conservatives. In addition to that, his callers tend to be sane and are, as the late Dean Barnett said, "high-end news gatherers." Also notable is Hugh's diverse lineup of subjects: small businesses, music, movies, Shakespeare and literature, religion---and of course politics. How can you go wrong with Hugh Hewitt?

1. George Bush---Simple. Iraq sucess. My #1 issue.