Republicans you respect....

[ludwigb]

What Republicans are, in the opinion of DUers, relatively stand-up guys? Who are genuinely open-minded, sincere, likable, etc.

To start off, there GOPers like Shays and Chafee (voted against IWR!) that tend to cross party lines a lot and I certainly respect that.

But I also just like certain Republicans for thier honesty and open-mindedness--Chuck Hagel comes to mind. To a lesser extent Lugar and McCain. And despite all his faults, Pat Buchanan is a likable and articulate voice for my own thoughts on many occasions.

Who else is out there?

[kiahzero]

1. A few

Chafee, definately. New England Republicans like Chafee need to take back the party.

McCain and Buchanan, because they are both intellectually honest. I may not agree with them all the time (disagree with Buchanan most of the time), but I can trust them.

[mdmc]

2. My parents

usually though, gop folk choose that party for reasons that I don't respect.

[boxster]

3. I've been pretty impressed with Hagel, though his views are way

too conservative for me. At least he's been critical of the Bush Administration, which is rare on that side of the aisle.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

4. Bill Weld, Lincoln Chafee, Olympia Snowe

and some other Mass Repubs of old like Edward Brooks and Frank Sargent.

Bill Weld was more liberal than a lot of Democrats in Mass. We always elected RINOs to the governorship-until recently. ROmney is a conservative asshole.

[Damn Ann the Man]

66. lol...

A UT Democrat = an MA neo-Nazi (Outside of Salt Lake City municipal politics of course...Don't they have a socialist mayor?)

[dakota_democrat]

5. John McCain

He won't BS you, and that's something I like in a politician.

[calimary]

44. Welcome to DU!

Cheers!

[Badger1]

6. Thinking

Ummmmmmm, lets see,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,ummmmmmmmmmmmm, mabey, no,,,,
how bout,,,,oh no not him ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ummmmmmmmmmm
let me see,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,ummmmmmmmmmmmm, no,,,,,,,,,,
I'll have to get back to you later.

[illini]

7. Paul Findley

He is former congressman from the local area. He wrote a big letter in the local Jacksonville Journal Courier. The letter was very critical of shrubies foreign policy. He has also taken a lot of flak for it. The usual stuff "unamerican" "closet liberal". My mother voted for him and she doesnt vote for a republican lightly.

[SeveneightyWhoa]

8. Lou Dobbs.

Thats all I can think of right now, seriously. Maybe also that one conservative from Cali that ran against Arnold Swarzenegger, whose name I can't recall.

[SeveneightyWhoa]

10. Oh and Pat Buchanan as well.

I like any Republican that stays true to conservatism and isn't afraid to stand up to their party's fascist tendencies.

[terrya]

20. I can ALMOST see your point about Buchanan.

He's said some things I can actually agree with.

But Lord, that man's homophobia is too much to take.

Terry

[CheshireCat]

40. Lou Dobbs and Pat Buchanon

have earned my respect lately - especially Lou Dobbs. His series about the exporting of American jobs has been a true public service.

Don't have quite as much respect for Pat B., but he does stand by his principles (some of which are despicable - such as immigration policy)

Hats off to both these men for having the courage to stand up for their convictions at a time when so few have the courage to do so.

[catzies]

42. Tom McClintock. He's my State Senator.

He has some intergrity but not much IMO. I don't know if he stands by his principles all the time or just when he's in the news.

[Wickerman]

9. What, title of the shortest book in the world?

heh, heh.

I have a little respect for a very few, and its never complete. Charles Grassley of Iowa comes to mind. I think he is sincere in his beliefs and not very bought and paid for. I disagree with him often. I am often furious with him, but I think I almost respect him. McCain falls in similar camp. There might be others.

:think:

[Room101]

11. Ron Paul - Texas

nt

[info being]

59. Yes, Ron Paul

I saw him speak and agreed with nearly every word. I'm a Kucinich Democrat / Green.

[Andy_Stephenson]

73. Ron Paul is a good man...

He needs to go ahead and turn away from the darkside.

But in his district he has to run as a republican to get elected.

[Bluzmann57]

12. Rep. Jim Leach

Formerly of the first district in Iowa, now in the second district, after redrawing the map. He is an honest man and doesn't always vote along party lines. He actually cares about his constituents.

[PVnRT]

13. Lugar, to an extent

If he were running against Bayh here in Indiana, I would vote for Lugar. There, I said it. Flame away.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

14. Repubs I respect

I respect McCain, Hagel, and Tancredo. I may not agree with them, but they have proven to me repeatedly that they are willing to stand against their party to fight for what they believe is right (even if I don't agree with them). These are guys that truly have the interests of the country at heart, instead of their own or Halliburton's.

[dolo amber]

15. Ron Paul

One need do no more than read this to understand why.

[GOPisEvil]

16. Ron Paul is really a Libertarian in Republican clothing though.

He ran for President as the Libertarian candidate a while back. But, being that he is from Texas, and rural Texas at that, he knows that to win election, he has to be a Republican in name at least...

[SAP]

55. What year?

I really didn't expect to see an A&M avatar here.

[calimary]

48. Did you see this - from that ?

From that link from dolo amber:

"Will the euphoria of grand military victories—against non-enemies—ever be mellowed? Someday, we as a legislative body must face the reality of the dire situation in which we have allowed ourselves to become enmeshed. Hopefully, it will be soon!"

MOST interesting.

[SheilaT]

17. Kevin Phillips.

He's thoughtful, intelligent, articulate, and never succumbs to believing the hype, any hype. In 1969 he wrote a book called The Emerging Republican Majority in which he correctly assessed the way the country was changing. He has written several other books since, looking at the economics of our political system -- The Politics of Rich and Poor (1990), Arrogant Capital (1994), and Wealth and Democracy (2002).

His most recent book, American Dynasty: Aristocracy, Fortune, and the Politics of Deceit in the House of Bush (2004) describes the multi-generational lies of the Bush family. Clearly Phillips is a genuine Republican of the sort any of us would respect, with the kind of values the party had in earlier years. And he's very distressed at what's been happening in recent years.

He used to be a commentator on NPR's Morning Edition quite regularly, and disappeared several years ago. I wish I knew why, whether he simply had better ways to spend that time, or if they no longer wanted his insightful opinions.

[ludwigb]

18. Thanks for all the great replies...

A lot of them are new names to me, so that's great.....

What was the name of the GOP New Mexico governor a few years back who fought for marijuana decriminilization? Johnson? Whoever he is I'd also add him to the list. Ron Paul is good too, although he is definitely a RINO.

[burrowowl]

63. Johnson

was more of a Libertarian. Vetoed about everything he could Cut social programs.
And before he became gov. ran a sleazy contruction company!

[Skittles]

19. NONE

if they deserved any respect they would NOT associate themselves with the party of racists and homophobes.

[BradCKY]

21. We can't act like the far right.

By painting everybody who is a republican with the same brush, we are just as intolerant as the neo-con/far right.

I respect Pat Buchanan and John McCain because at least they stand by their beliefs and on a very limited number of issues I actually agree with them (ex. Pat Buchanan and the Iraq War).

[Skittles]

31. I'm not painting them with the same brush

I'm saying, I cannot respect republicans who share the party platform with a bunch of racists and bigots and homophobes. PERIOD.

[Speed8098]

74. I'm with Skittles

Every Republican I have ever met doesn't know his ass from a hole in the ground. When you point out a FACT that rejects their argument, they resort to degradation.

So my answer is NONE

[Speed8098]

75. Just broke 1000 posts

Been here a couple of years...Finally made it.:bounce:

[rman]

27. well, Dems associate themselves with a party of globalization

-

[NewJeffCT]

22. back in the day - Lowell Weicker

Shays from CT is decent as well...

[salin]

24. was going to say Weicker... didn't he eventually leave the party

to become Independent?

Another former r senator - Warren Rudman.

[tom_paine]

23. Kevin Phiilips, Barry Goldwater

Unfortunately (and this is quite symbolic if you ask me) Republicans worthy of respect are either istracized by their party or dead.

[wuushew]

32. Didn't Goldwater support Vietnam?

n/t

[Richardo]

35. Goldwater supported NUKING Vietnam...

...so I guess that's a "yes".

I liked the retired Senator Goldwater persona much more than the Senator Goldwater persona.

[Zomby Woof]

56. Lincoln, and domestic agenda TR

Which means that really, the only good Republicans are dead Republicans...

[proud patriot]

25. My Grandparents and

The author of An American Dynasty , man I just heard him
on Democracy Now this morning ...Wow !

I also respect McCain even though I dissagree with him
on many issue . William Buckley is another one .

[noonwitch]

26. Milliken, Weld, McCain, Snowe, the late George Romney and GR Ford

I'm from Grand Rapids, Michigan, so I have to like Ford. Everything there is named after him, from a freeway to the airport.
William Milliken was the governor in the 70s. He was more liberal than Bill Clinton-anti-death penalty, pro-choice (even supported medicaid abortions), pro-environment, etc. He gave the most touching tribute at Coleman Young's funeral, as he appeared to be the one person who was going to miss Coleman the man, and the rest of the speakers were going on about Coleman the legend and his legacy.
William Weld strikes me as the same type of republican, the kind from when the repubs were the liberals.

[locustfist76]

28. Fred Thompson

...before he retired.

[Brian Sweat]

29. Lincoln was ok and TR was pretty cool. Ike wasn't bad either.

[Richardo]

30. Paul O'Neill; McCain; Goldwater; Eisenhower; TR; Snowe;

[Richardo]

57. ...and John Dean.

If he's still a Republican.

[locustfist76]

33. Jesus

sorry...that's just a joke.

[starroute]

34. My congressman, Jim Greenwood, isn't bad

We're a swing district, so he has to run as a pro-environmental moderate, and he seems to be a decent guy in general. However, I haven't heard of him taking any principled stands lately. I suspect that he was at his best in the late 90's and has just been rubber-stamping Bush initiatives since then.

[The Blue Knight]

38. McCain and Jim Jeffords

!!!

[1gobluedem]

36. Former Michigan Governor

William Milliken. The most moderate Republican I've ever come across and a great governor. Pro-choice, pro-environment. I think he even endorsed current Democrat Governor, Jennifer Granholm, when she ran in 2002.

[corporatewhore]

37. Ron Paul Lou Dobbs Pat Buchanan

[Bandit]

39. I think David Gergen is a straight shooter but he is still a Republican

:shrug: It is hard to find any Republican that deserves respect.

[brainwashed_youth]

41. the usuals

McCain, Goldwater, Buchanan, etc. And to a lesser extent, I like Bob Dole. He seems to be an ok guy.

Oh, and my parents. Also, I like JC Watts. I've got to meet him in person and he seems to be an alright guy.....seems to be

[rasputin1952]

43. Let's see...

this shouldn't take too long:

Jim Jeffords. I still LOL when I see Lott's face when Jeffords jumped ship!

McCain. He is the closest thing to TR the R's have, but he is still lightyears from TR.

Goldwater. But NOT when he was a Senator. I lived in AZ during his final years, and he was exceptionally critical of his party. He would actually growl when he spoke of the GOP.

TR. 'Nuff said.

I did notice Hagel mentioned a few times. As I'm living in NE now, I would not vote for him, one simple reason: DIEBOLD! He is rather adamant that there be no paper ballots for recounts. With his connections to DIEBOLD, that show me, he knows something we don't. I could be wrong, but when it comes to votes, I want honest counts.

O8)

[0007]

45. All dead ones

[The Political Eye]

46. Don't Kill Me but I like Bob Novak (at times!)

nasty but with a smile. Like his middle east stance and he enjoys the rough and tumble without being a whiner

[rasputin1952]

58. Ugh...I find him to be the most repulsive of the bunch...

a traitor in fact!

Funny how he can't shut up, until he gets caught, then his lawyers keep that jaw shut. He's a reptile.

:grr:

[burrowowl]

47. Abe Lincoln

n/t

[bleedingheart]

61. Thaddeus Stevens and Lincoln...both of whom are dead

[togiak]

49. Hmmmmmmmmmm

Alot of the New England Repubs have views that I agree with. I tend to agree with most of the moderates from both parties. I used to respect McCain until I saw him campaigning for Bush in the New Hampshire primaries.

I have been known to vote for a repubican or two in my life but now my position has changed entirely. I find that the Republican leadership is so good at getting everyone behind them that it doesn't matter what their views are. They pretty much vote in lock step with what the leadership wants. So each Republican in congress just furthers the far right agenda even if they don't want to.

[Tims]

50. Does any one remember Senator Everett Dirkson?

The last of the great political orators. Had this booming voice and a persona you just couldn't help but respect and admire. He put out a spoken word record titled "Gallant Men" in the late 60s that was in response to the antiwar movement, but was not so much the flag waving, rah-rah USA, super-patriot claptrap we get today, but a serious homage to the men fighting the war without beeing an excuse for the war. I was still young then, so I can't really say I know much about were he stood on most issues, but he always seemed to be above the pettiness of the rest of the politicians of the time. He seemed to be a person who could wear the title of "Statesman" were the rest of his fellow congressmen were simply "politicians".

Someone a little older than I may set me straight and convince me that he was simply just another Republican, but he seemed to inspire trust in the way that other politicians couldn't.

[Jack from Charlotte]

51. Warren Rudmen, as much as I know of him..........

was on that Pentagon commisioned group along with Sen. Gary Hart, that gave the warning that Bin Laden would likely attack us..... about 7 days after the moron administration was installed. Also, he was a writer of the Gram, Rudmen, Hollings Bill that tried in vain to balance the budget during the huge deficits of the Reagan and elected-Bush administrations.

Also, since he's not from the South, it's less likely he's a racist like about every other Southern republican.

[stanwyck]

60. I do!

I'm from Illinois. I ran into him, literally, as a small child at O'Hare airport. What a voice! A charming man and one of the last old-time Republicans. Back when they believed in fiscal restraint but NOT getting into the personal lives of U.S. citizens. The whole Bush-fundie movement would be appalling to Dirkson. He's of the generation which believed asking a person about their religion was the height of bad manners. He would loathe GWB.

[beanball]

52. Jake Javits senator/New York

a real republican,before the dixicrats took over the party.

[NoPasaran]

53. Bill Ratliff

Now-retired Texas State Senator from Mt. Pleasant. One of the hardest-working legislators, he was chosen by the Senate to act as Lt. Governor in 2001 when Rick Perry succeeded to the governorship. He declined to run for election to that office in 2002 when it became clear that David Dewhurst would spend millions of his own dollars campaigning against him. He opposed Tom DeLay's congressional redistricting scheme that dominated the regular and special sessions of the Texas Legislature last year. In my opinion he conducted his affairs with honor and exemplified the bipartisanship that had been a feature of the legislature until that was jettisoned by the Republicans in 2003. He will be missed.

[texasmom]

76. Bill Ratliff is my choice, too. He's just about the

only Republican I respect. I really admire his courage against the extreme Right overtaking of the government in Texas. He was the only Republican who stood with the Democrats in opposition to redistricting. He will be missed.

[Nomad559]

54. Scott Ritter

Isn't Scott Ritter a Republican?

[JohnnyFianna1]

62. Lincoln

Goldwater because he was completely honest about his intentions, Dole because he promised to fulfill Clinton's promises, McCain because he reminds me of Dean, Lincoln for obvious reasons, Theo Roosevelt because he was the first real progressive who won the presidency, Eisenhower because he had an interesting ability to see corruption in his own party pioneered the modern Progressive foreign policy and could've (and should've been a Democrat, but he was drafted by the Republicans first), and of course the irreverent Pat Buchanan and Chuck Hagel.

[rhino47]

64. Barry Goldwater

I didnt agree with alot of his politics but I still admired him.John McCain too

[Darranar]

65. John McCain comes to mind...

if only because he stood up to Bush.

[Ksec]

67. Nope. Cant even think of one that would tell the

truth about * and what hes doing. McCain is even lying for him.

So no. I dont respect any of them. Not one.

[Isere]

68. You won't believe this

But I have a certain grudging admiration for...oh, God, I can't say it...Charles Grassley.

OK, don't automatically revoke my DU membership! I know he is hard, hard right.

But you have to give him credit for standing up for fraud in government and trying to reform the corrupt rules of the Senate. I was in DC and happened to hear him on the floor of the senate railing against the "secret holds" that allow any senator to put an anonymous hold on a nomination.

He has zero personality and hews to a hard-right agenda, but he seems to me to be someone who honestly believes in honest government.

Flame away, if you desire.

[Zan_of_Texas]

69. Chuck Hagel open and honest? You must be joking. Right?

Sure, he seems to have presidential ambitions. But, folks, we're not even sure he was ever elected Senator.

Seriously. He had a $1 million to $5 million stake in a company that owned the company that counted 80% of the vote in Nebraska, when he ran. His first victory was a "stunning upset."

He somehow omitted the information about his stake on his Senate disclosure forms.

This material has been covered at The Hill, and was first uncovered by Bev Harris.

[mb7588a]

70. I would vote for john mccain. nt.

[hellhathnofury]

71. 2nding

McCain, Chafee, Snow, Paul O'Neill, to some extent Grassley, retired Rep. Pete McClosky.

[grasswire]

72. Senator Mark Hatfield...

..from Oregon. He was against the Vietnam war, and took enormous flack for it.

[Ganja Ninja]

77. Does Abe Lincoln count? Otherwise I'm stumped.