Is Petraeus a Republican?

However, is a Rockefeller Republican a Republican any more? The Primary process has become too long term and complex for someone like Ike to walk in and win by default. You can't sail by on prestige and esteem. You have to appeal to the talk radio people, the religous right, the anti-tax/anti-govt. crowd, and all the rest. None of those groups are particularly enamored with Northeastern Republicans (one reason that, outside of the Maine sisters, there aren't any). Moreover, Petraeus is no Eisenhower when it comes to Prestige. The non-Whig Generals (as the Whigs found famous ones like Harrison, Taylor, and Scott to unite their disparate regional interests and occasionally broke through) were Washington, Grant, and Eisenhower. Each were the central military leaders of the conflicts that were the crucibles of the American experience: The Revolution, the Civil War, and World War II. The Iraq war was never that important. Petraeus would be wise to skip this party.

I've known several quality military leaders who have considered themselves Northeastern Republicans (figures, since the Coast Guard still draws more heavily from New England and the Mid-Atlantic than the other branches do). One actually described himself as "a Yankee Republican, which in most other states means a Democrat."

First of all, GEN Petraeus has CATEGORICALLY denied that he was EVER interested in running for office. He's a wonk -- much more interested in a teaching position at the Wilson School than the dirty world of politics.

Second of all, the previous commenter is correct. Rockefeller Republicans have been systematically chased out of active GOP politics -- whether by the Republicans themselves (not only in the well-known case of Sen. Specter, but also in recent retirements like Rep. Jim Greenwood of PA or Rep. Sherwood Boehlert of upstate NY) or by Dems defeating them (Chris Shays of Connecticut being the most prominent example I can think of).

I would imagine that the only way former Rockefeller Republicans would come back is if Rob Simmons wins the nomination in CT, goes on to defeat Chris Dodd, and is greeted as a full-fledged member of the Republican caucus. If that happens, expect a Rockefeller resurgence.

I doubt it.

In 2009, "Northeastern Republican" = "Moderate Democrat". Maybe those policy leanings could get General Petraeus elected as Senator from New Hampshire, but they won't get him beyond Super Tuesday in the Republican primaries.

Not only is Patraeus a Republican, he's a Democrat too. You know the kind. They tend to gravitate to things like the Senate Finance Committee and the White House.

gw