Palin, Other GOP Governors Vie For 2012 Limelight (Palin Shines, Barbour Reflects)

National Public Radio ^ | November 13, 2008 | Greg Allen

[flattorney]

The future of the Republican Party is on display this week in Miami, where the Republican Governors Association Annual Conference is taking place. Former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin spoke there Thursday — as did several other GOP up-and-comers. The conference comes at a critical time for the party, just nine days after its worst loss in decades. This is the first time in 14 years that Republicans do not control the White House, the House or the Senate. This, in part, helps explain why an event that usually attracts a few dozen political reporters drew at least 200 this year.

The other draw was Thursday's featured speaker, Palin, who kicked off her speech at the annual fall meeting with a joke. "It hasn't been that long since we last gathered," she said. "And I don't know about you, but I managed to fill up the time. I had a baby. I did some traveling. I very briefly expanded my wardrobe." One reason for the media interest, of course, involves Palin's future. She fueled speculation about her plans during several recent interviews in which she suggested that she would consider a run for the White House in 2012. She's not alone. You could hardly turn around this week without running into someone who is being touted as a possible Republican presidential candidate, including Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal.

Although Palin said she was done looking back at the last presidential campaign, she is not yet ready to begin looking at the next one. "We're focused on the future, and the future for us is not that 2012 presidential race," she said. "It's next year and our next budgets and the next reforms in our states, and it's 2010 when we'll have 36 governors' positions open across the U.S."

Palin's Remarks - - Palin also seemed to be trying to put some of the last campaign's harsh rhetoric behind her. She had kind words for President-elect Barack Obama, saying that she wished him well and that his election was "a shining moment in American history." But Palin also said that if the Democratic-controlled Congress or the White House overreached in areas such as taxes, health care or energy policy, it would be up to Republican governors to keep them in line. That's a point on which South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford agreed. It's a new era for the GOP, he said, and it will be up to the states to put the party's core principles — lower taxes, less government, state's rights and strong defense — into practice.

"I think this is, first of all, going to be a definitional time both within the Congress, within the governorship, within the GOP at large," he said. "And then from a standpoint of advancing policy so that you show a different route, it's going to be on the forefront of the governors' tables and really the governors' responsibility." Some governors such as Pawlenty and Utah's Jon Huntsman called for retooling the Republican Party to appeal to younger voters, Hispanics and African-Americans.

But Palin and other conservatives have a different focus. They believe the way back for the GOP is not to change its message but to return to its core principles. The party has gone astray, Palin said, and she places the blame on Republican leaders in Washington. Leaders there "spent public money in disregard of the public interest, just like the opponents they used to criticize," she said. "They got too comfortable in power. Maybe they forgot why they were sent to Washington and who they were sent to serve." It was a theme picked up on by other governors. As Rick Perry of Texas put it, Republicans lost the election because of "D.C. values displayed by leaders who don't reflect the party."

[flattorney]

Photo: The Bull and the Buck, Haley Barbour and Bobby Jindal

11.13.08: “The Bull Reflects” - -A week after the GOP's worst electoral loss in decades, Republican governors are gathering in Miami this week for some serious soul-searching. Not only did Barack Obama rewrite the electoral map, but congressional Democrats also picked up more than 20 house seats in their second straight election — a feat not accomplished since the 1930s. So, if ever a gathering needed a Pollyanna, this week's meeting of the Republican Governors Association is it. And Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour filled that role. "I have looked down in the grave for the Republican Party, and this ain't it," he said. Barbour recalled the post-Watergate era, when at one point during the 1976 campaign, sitting president Gerald Ford trailed Democrat Jimmy Carter by 32 points. "I have seen a lot worse, folks," Barbour said. "I can remember when Mary Louise Smith, the party chairman, literally appointed a committee about whether we should change the name of the party."

MAR

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

You could hardly turn around this week without running into someone who is being touted as a possible Republican presidential candidate, including Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal.

Oh dear G-d.

[Pinkbell]

My sentiments exactly.

[exist]

I wish people get off the Pawlenty thing. He has no chance. He looks like a waiter.

On the other hand I wish Barbour would get into the mix. But maybe he likes it too much in Mississippi. I wouldn’t begrudge him that.

[Pinkbell]

I can see it now. The conservative vote will be split between Jindal, Palin, perhaps Romney, and/or others. The Rockefeller wing plus Dems crossing over to give us the weak candidate will all vote for Crist - giving him the nomination. We have to make certain that doesn’t happen. This scenario is what left us with McCain and ultimately a lost election.

[SMCC1]

I’m not a big fan of Pawlenty. I think he’s big on ethanol too.

[Arizona Carolyn]

This confirms what I've felt, Pawlenty is too liberal and some Utah friends told me Huntsman is too environmental and didn't exactly rock his re-election this year.

I go with the Palin wing of the GOP.

Anyone have any ideas how this is going to affect Pawlenty if Franken steals that senate seat?

[Arizona Carolyn]

Crist! No way in hell!

[Arizona Carolyn]

No on anyone who ran in the 2007/2008 primary.

[skr]

The states that allow the different partiess to vote for each other’s primary candidates gave us McCain, and they’ll probably try to give us Crist or Pawlenty, too. Why can’t the GOP close its primaries in all states?

[FFranco]

Right now, it looks like Gov. Palin has a good shot at it unless she somehow screws up or something big unexpected happens. I hope she makes it. A Palin/Jindal, for example, ticket would be revolutionary.

[Pinkbell]

They definitely should. The Dems ought to close theirs too, unless they want people crossing over giving them another Hillary/Obama type situation.

[Caipirabob]

Yesterday the SoFlo liberals were pimping this jerk as the next great GOP hope:

[chief_believer]

I am with you on Pawlenty. And, your waiter comment was funny.

I actually feel the same way about Jindal. No interest. Wonky, dry, smart as a whip, thin resume and lacking a ‘telegenic’ presence. He is young at 36 with impressive accomplishments - but I don’t feel he and Pawlenty will bring the national appeal in a general election.

Haley would serve the party well by being the RNC Chairman again. And, his input of who would be good would go far in my book.

[Paul R.]

From The Associated Press (on Kentucky.com)

“HENDERSON, Ky. — Plans for an ethanol plant in western Kentucky have been scrapped.

The Gleaner quoted President and CEO Kevin Sheilley of the development agency Northwest Kentucky Forward, saying the project by Kentucky Five Star Energy for an $85 million dollar plant is dead.

The limited liability corporation had optioned a 95-acre tract in an industrial park between Robards and Sebree.

The rising cost of corn and increasing public opposition to using food grains for fuel were seen as factors.” More...

Information from: The Gleaner, http://www.thegleaner.com/

http://www.kentucky.com/471/story/590559.html

[tuckrdout]

I can not watch him speak for 2 minutes....he is a snoozer!

I really like Jindal! He is great. I also really like Rep. Cantor from Virginia....I know this was about governors, but I wanted to get in a shout out to Cantor!

Like Sarah said, we have all got to start preparing for the congressional seats in 2010. Start making files on your congressional representative. Pay attention to every little thing they do and say. Keep recordings from C-span, on your TiVo....remember....and be involved with the selection of good Republican people to run against them. If you know of a good person, get out there and ask them to run! We have to organise, and start NOW!

Oh, and if you can afford it....buy a newspaper!

[exist]

Well, Jindal's a great Governor and a solid conservative. But Rush branded Jindal 'the next Reagan'. I doubt though that Jindal is capable of giving a speech like this.

[ari-freedom]

it’s about time we had a smart republican for a change. Being ‘telegenic’ won’t help when you are dealing with Putin or the medicare crisis.

[tuckrdout]

I hate to say this, but Romney can not get the nomination. He really should not try to get it. He should try for a Senator. He could definitely win a senate seat.

Does anyone know what the laws are in Mass. if a senator resigns—or dies? Kennedy is going to need a replacement in the next year or two; and I am thinking Kerry is going to have a cabinet post. So, Romney needs to jump on one of those!

Massachusetts folks, get to work!

[9YearLurker]

I’d personally prefer Barbour to Pawlenty without a thought, but surely you can’t give Barbour the advantage based on looks?