GTroyP1: The Republican party has a problem, they have no new ideas. I have to admit that Buchanan is right about something. Not much, but he's right about that. The Republican party needs real leadership if they want to be successful, and they don't. That makes me feel very comfortable.

olegator: I do wish your questions could be a little more objective. I had assumed you were trying to facilitate discussion, not polemics. The Republican diversity (politically correct term?) is similar to that of the Dems. You have your nuts on the far left (Ms. Fonda, before becomming grossly rich), we have our nuts on the right. I supported Lamar, till he had to drop. Dole is at least competent and apparently honest. More than you can say for the Clintons. I disagree with Forbes flat tax, as structured, but appreciate his raising the question of serious tax reform, instead of the "tinkering" previuos administrations, Dem & Rep, have done. I still believe the Republican party is our best hope, (Barring Buchanan).

Colestock: As a card carrying Republican, believe it or not, I'll be voting Democrat this coming election, I'm sure. Of the candidates that ran for nomination, the only one close to my own standing was Taylor. The rest are fluff.

Josh48: I think the Republican party has more toes than heads, and overall less fingers than it needs. Also: twice the nostrils of the average person.

cylee: the lesser of the evils should be alexander. my passport is up-to-date because Buchanan scares the hell out of me. i am not a republican and have seen what has been going on for many years. I say let bill doe his job. He really hasn't done that bad. I just have a feeling we are heading into a civil war like we have never seen.

nanderson: Unfortunately the Republican Party will lose this election because of the poor quality of runners for this election. I am a republican and can not make up my mind as to whom to vote for. I don't want to vote for someone that has been in politics for more than ten years. (they all seem to sound the same after that length of time), I would rather vote for a businessman instead of a lawyer (too many lawyers already). So whose left? I hate to say this but it looks like another four years with Hillary Clinton!

ajduffy: I can't believe that people are voting for Buchanan -- a man who would like to annex Canada and buy Greenland, among other things. I don't think he'll win, but the fact that he's even a contender scares the hell out of me. And a reminder from those of us north of the 49th parallel and around the world: when you Americans choose a president, you're essentially choosing one for all of us, so be careful...

melissag: Due to a complete lack of imagination on the part of the Republican elite as a whole, my money is on the "Dreadful Dolt" ... Bobby Boy Dole! (He's failed to even get the Republican nomination twice already ... so the third time must be the charm! Obviously the Republicans don't really want to win the White House this time around!)

amitchell: The redefinition of "conservative" by public figures such as Rush "there is no ozone hole" Limbaugh is beginning to have repercussions for the Republican Party. My father's definition was that a conservative believed that the federal govt. had three jobs: defend the borders, deliver the mail, and get the hell off my back. Today, it is used by those who consider the ACLU subversive, and those who would create a religious state or sell services to the highest corporate bidder. I predict a schism of the GOP into a "pro-business" party, with corporate welfare, tax breaks, and environmental free-for-all, and a "pro-family" party, with "Christian" dogma and a jihad vs. personal freedoms, gays, single folks, free speech, etc. It kinda makes you hope the Dems nominate someone responsible and credible, since Lyndon Larouche is a nut case.

Lakean: I'd say that people are going to go for either Forbes or Alexander. Dole is a has been and hasn't got a chance. The thing is, is that none of them have got a snowball's chance in hell aqainst Clinton which makes me a very happy person : )

mags: I am continually dismayed at the weak showings for Alexander, who seems to be the only GOP candidate with any sense of moderation and/or compromise. I thought that Americans would in the end come further center, but the results so far show that moderation is not necessarily winning out.

Klein: You have certainly loaded the question. paranoid isolationism, fiscal tinkering, gee where do you guys stand? I'll agree with your characterization of Buchanan's policies. As history, and the logic of economics shows free markets and non-interferance(except to prevent force and crime) by the government are the only ways to sustain both growth and freedom and opportunity. If the Republican party choses Pat, it will be chosing ideas from the same philosophic foundation as Socialism and yes, Fascism. which really doesn't distinguish him that much, the Democratic platform incorporates most of the Nazi economic platforms from the 1920's.