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Palin's Prospects (Fred Barnes chimes in)
Weekly Standard ^ | 7/5/09 | Fred Barnes

Posted on 07/06/2009 6:09:21 AM PDT by pissant

Forget about Sarah Palin as the Republican presidential candidate in 2012 and probably ever. She may have no interest in seeking the GOP nomination. But if she does, her chances of winning the nomination have been minimized by her decision to resign as governor of Alaska. She's knocked out one of three legs of the presidential stool and a second one is wobbly.

I say this reluctantly because Palin, in my view, is the most exciting Republican figure to emerge in decades. She mesmerizes crowds in a way that no other Republican leader can come close to matching. She has what can't be taught--real charisma.

But personal magnetism is only one of the legs, or underpinnings, for a successful race for the Republican nomination. The other two are experience in office and enough knowledge of foreign and domestic issues to talk about them persuasively. By stepping down, she's cut her experience short: it now consists of a meager two and a half years as governor of a thinly populated state. And, from all appearances, Palin has made little headway on the issue track.

Even a super-abundance of charisma cannot make up for her shortcomings in experience and knowledge. It might be enough if she were running for a lesser office. The election of Arnold Schwarzenegger as governor of California proves that point. But running for president on charisma alone? I don't think so.

(Excerpt) Read more at weeklystandard.com ...


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: fredbarnes; palin; palin2012
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Not sure Fred was a fan to start with.
1 posted on 07/06/2009 6:09:21 AM PDT by pissant
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To: pissant

Fred is a RINO.....More gov’t conservative is what he calls himself


2 posted on 07/06/2009 6:11:23 AM PDT by personalaccts (Is George W going to protect the border?)
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To: pissant
Even a super-abundance of charisma cannot make up for her shortcomings in experience and knowledge.

No point in reading past here...

3 posted on 07/06/2009 6:11:50 AM PDT by gov_bean_ counter (Barak Obama: Pontificator in Chief and Poster Child for the Peter Principle)
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To: pissant

Fred is just jealous that Sarah has more fashionable glasses than he. :)


4 posted on 07/06/2009 6:12:08 AM PDT by IMissPresidentReagan (Palin stepped down from her state to step up for her country. Thanks to sheikdetailfeather)
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To: pissant

The lack of experience in office didn’t stop obama. but then he’s a demhole and there’s a different standard for them


5 posted on 07/06/2009 6:12:08 AM PDT by wny
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To: pissant
LOL at how they always underestimate Sarah Palin
6 posted on 07/06/2009 6:12:45 AM PDT by TornadoAlley3 (Obama is everything Oklahoma is not.)
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To: pissant

Fred gets wood everytime he talks about Obambi. Enough said.


7 posted on 07/06/2009 6:13:01 AM PDT by Abbeville Conservative (Sarah Palin, the only cure for the RINO virus.)
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To: pissant
Bob Dole resigned the position of the Senate Leader and the position of Senator and got the nomination. These guys need to do some research before they write their fabrications.
8 posted on 07/06/2009 6:14:03 AM PDT by mountainlion (concerned conservative.)
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To: pissant
You think a lot of Fred Barnes, right? Not. We do know you are not a fan of Sarah. Duncan Hunter, Duncan Hunter, Duncan Hunter.

I think Einstein said it best:

“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”.


9 posted on 07/06/2009 6:14:04 AM PDT by Servant of the Cross (the Truth will set you free)
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To: pissant
I think the experience thing, and especially his comments about the "foundations of conservatism" is critical. Palin has good instinct, but I have yet to see her delve deeply into conservative fundamentals based on a Friedman, Buckley, or any of the others. Reagan WROTE and spoke about every major issue over a period of 20 years, esp. on his GE circuit and his radio addresses.

However, this line kind of negates all that: "But running for president on charisma alone?"

One word: "Obama."

10 posted on 07/06/2009 6:14:16 AM PDT by LS ("Castles made of sand, fall in the sea . . . eventually." (Hendrix))
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To: mountainlion

Surely you aren’t citing Bob Dole as a model for how to win?


11 posted on 07/06/2009 6:15:21 AM PDT by LS ("Castles made of sand, fall in the sea . . . eventually." (Hendrix))
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To: pissant

They were shoveling dirt on Nixon in 1962 as well.


12 posted on 07/06/2009 6:16:44 AM PDT by OCCASparky (Steely-Eyed Killer of the Deep)
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To: pissant

13 posted on 07/06/2009 6:17:03 AM PDT by starlifter (Sapor Amo Pullus)
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To: pissant

Fred never like her. This entire snotty piece is a joke.


14 posted on 07/06/2009 6:17:34 AM PDT by Earthdweller (Harvard won the election again...so what's the problem.......?)
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To: wny
Fred's a big part of the reason that I stopped watching Fox. He and his moron buddy Mort got so carried away trying to grovel at 0's alter during the campaign that it made me sick. Watch Fred, when he really gets excited he starts stuttering. Toward the end of the election campaign last year all he could spit when he tried to talk about The One was O O O O O O O O....

Fred's a RINO.

15 posted on 07/06/2009 6:17:56 AM PDT by skimbell
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To: pissant

Fred “The Beatle” Barnes is living in the past. In today’s political climate, one can become President with absolutely NO experience in running anything but a campaign. BO is Exhibit A for the success of this strategy.
These old GOPers are seriously out of touch with the new politics of personality. And unfortunately for the GOP, with the exception of Sarah Palin, none of their prospects for ‘12 has a personality.


16 posted on 07/06/2009 6:17:59 AM PDT by kittymyrib
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To: pissant

Democrats would never sit back and laugh while one of theirs was being pitilessly attacked.


17 posted on 07/06/2009 6:18:13 AM PDT by DManA
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To: pissant

“But running for president on charisma alone? I don’t think so.”

Which explains why McCain won so easily.

Great analysis Fred. You make an argument on theory that completely ignores recent facts. I stopped reading right there.


18 posted on 07/06/2009 6:18:35 AM PDT by henkster (Bumper Sticker: Please don't tell 0bama what comes after a Trillion!)
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To: pissant

Notice Barnes doesn’t mention “principles” as one of those legs. That’s why he and his ilk don’t understand the base.

Let’s see, did Obama have any experience? Nope. Did Obama have any knowledge about any issues other than being a community organizer? Nope.


19 posted on 07/06/2009 6:20:53 AM PDT by MNnice
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To: pissant
The other two are experience in office and enough knowledge of foreign and domestic issues to talk about them persuasively.

Hey, a guy with none of the above just got himself elected President!

20 posted on 07/06/2009 6:20:53 AM PDT by Jim Noble (Pas d'ennmis a droit)
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To: pissant
Palin didn't know enough to correct [debate opponents]

Palin for high office? Maybe in the future but not now, she cannot cut it, says Party stalwart.

One thing that I have to admit is that the Party critics of Palin adhere to the tradition of mainstream Republicans.

The quote is from The Conservative Revolution: The Movement That Remade America, by Lee Edwards and has been modified to illustrate my point.

"In the words of Nelson Rockefeller's public relations head, Stuart Spencer, "We had have to destroy Barry Goldwater Sarah Palin as a member of the human race."

21 posted on 07/06/2009 6:21:04 AM PDT by WilliamofCarmichael (If modern America's Man on Horseback is out there, Get on the damn horse already!)
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To: mountainlion

Yes. But Dole is not a Conservative and a man. These are big prerequisites to the country club types that have taken control of the party.


22 posted on 07/06/2009 6:21:17 AM PDT by Rational Thought
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To: pissant
I have one thing to say: Community Organizer and 145 days in the Senate = President Obama.
23 posted on 07/06/2009 6:21:28 AM PDT by politicalmerc (NObama: more arrogant than Bill Clinton, more naive than Jimmy Carter, and more liberal than LBJ.)
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To: pissant

Anyone who has followed this fool tool for as long as I have, should not be surprised by his rino’s diatribe. He is another Spectre, without the balls to admit his true allegiance...


24 posted on 07/06/2009 6:21:44 AM PDT by JDoutrider
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To: mountainlion

“Bob Dole resigned the position of the Senate Leader and the position of Senator and got the nomination. These guys need to do some research before they write their fabrications. “

You are comparing apples and potatoes. He didn’t resign three and a half years before the election. He resigned during the campaign.


25 posted on 07/06/2009 6:22:08 AM PDT by DemonDeac
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To: pissant

hmm, obama ran on charisma alone, and now seems to be trying to run the world by charisma alone.

I’ll take charisma, if a truly good, dedicated person with unwavering principles is behind it.


26 posted on 07/06/2009 6:23:06 AM PDT by silverleaf ("Never forget that everything Hitler did in Germany was legal ( Martin Luther King))
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To: Servant of the Cross

Take Albert’s advice. Instead of worrying and commenting daily about what I think of Palin or anyone else, post your own threads.


27 posted on 07/06/2009 6:23:15 AM PDT by pissant (THE Conservative party: www.falconparty.com)
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To: pissant

Oh well, it’s Monday morning & the RINOs have gotten their talking points meme to be repeated endlessly all day.

“Too bad, I really liked Palin, but she’s ruined her chances by being a quitter...”

These people don’t have an original thought in their heads. They are also scared $hitless of Sarah Palin.


28 posted on 07/06/2009 6:23:27 AM PDT by alicewonders (Sarah Palin is the face of America's future.)
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To: mountainlion

Bob Dole resigned the position of the Senate Leader and the position of Senator and got the nomination. These guys need to do some research before they write their fabrications.”

Actually, you better do your own research. Dole resigned from the Senate AFTER the primaries were over, quitting the Senate in mid June. The last primary in 1996 was in early June, and Dole already had more than enough delegates to be formally nominated at the Convention. His resignation from the Senate was a general election tactic.


29 posted on 07/06/2009 6:24:46 AM PDT by ConservativeDude
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To: pissant

Sorry, Fred. She still has more talent, charism, and EXPERIENCE than the Obamaloon. Far more. Hopefully, she can preside over the imprisonment of the Loon (soon, soon).


30 posted on 07/06/2009 6:25:17 AM PDT by Da Coyote
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Comment #31 Removed by Moderator

To: pissant

Fred and his mates should come up for air once and a while. Perhaps he, Stephen Hayes, Byron York, Krauthammer should do a trip around the country and see what real people think.


32 posted on 07/06/2009 6:27:24 AM PDT by fortunate sun (What's fat, ugly, lives in Alaska and makes Grendel's mother smell like roses? Linda Kellen Biegel)
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To: gov_bean_ counter

Has Fred delineated the idiotic remarks by Biden?

Does he mind that our president thinks there are 57 states.

The list of ignorant comments by our pres and his veep could take pages.

Yet, Fred mocks Sarah?


33 posted on 07/06/2009 6:27:27 AM PDT by Carley (OBAMA IS A MALEVOLENT FORCE IN THE WORLD)
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To: MattMa
Isn't that how the mulatto idiot in the White House get there? He had no experience in governing at all.

Another day; another case of liberal projection.

They are realizing, deep down, that THEIR guy won on charisma alone, so that's what they NEED to accuse conservatives of.

It's an addiction. It's predictable and pathetic of them.

34 posted on 07/06/2009 6:27:42 AM PDT by TChris (There is no freedom without the possibility of failure.)
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To: pissant
Not sure Fred was a fan to start with.

Actually, Fred is the guy who pointed me to Sarah. In 2006 he wrote an editorial pointing out Sarah's victory as a bright spot for the GOP in an otherwise dismal election. He was pushing for Palin as VP. I think people who opine that not running for reelection forget recent history:

* George Allen running for US Senate reelection in 2006 was a disaster. The RATS targeted him not because they wanted his seat, but to destroy him as a Presidential Candidate. They got both after "Macaca" got him on video and the Washington Compost made it a front page story for 16 days.

35 posted on 07/06/2009 6:28:33 AM PDT by 11th Commandment (Proud Member of the DHS radical list since Jan 20, 2009)
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To: pissant
If beetle boy wasn't an enthusiastic proponent of the disaster that is is known as John McCain his opinion might carry some weight.

As it is Fred is worse than a waste of time.

36 posted on 07/06/2009 6:28:56 AM PDT by Pietro
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To: pissant

Fred Barnes has never been a Palin fan, so I take his opinion with a big grain of salt.


37 posted on 07/06/2009 6:28:57 AM PDT by Virginia Ridgerunner (Sarah Palin is a smart missile aimed at the heart of the left!)
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To: Earthdweller
Fred never like her.

Not true.. see post 35

38 posted on 07/06/2009 6:29:34 AM PDT by 11th Commandment (Proud Member of the DHS radical list since Jan 20, 2009)
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To: 11th Commandment

That is an excellent point.


39 posted on 07/06/2009 6:29:36 AM PDT by Rational Thought
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To: mountainlion

Barack Obama resigned as Senator as well as Hilliary. So what’s new?


40 posted on 07/06/2009 6:29:40 AM PDT by tirednvirginia
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To: pissant
"Even a super-abundance of charisma cannot make up for her shortcomings in experience and knowledge. It might be enough if she were running for a lesser office. The election of Arnold Schwarzenegger as governor of California proves that point."

Good point. But a better and more precise example would have been Barack Obama.

41 posted on 07/06/2009 6:31:19 AM PDT by Hatteras
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To: pissant
Fred Barnes trashed Sarah some time ago when he adopted the Krauthammer doctrine.....GO BACK TO ALASKA AND SHUT UP. Fred adopted this from Charles K.

I say this reluctantly...Fred is a AHOLE

42 posted on 07/06/2009 6:32:12 AM PDT by Friendofgeorge ( Yes I Love Sarah Palin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
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To: DemonDeac; mountainlion
You are comparing apples and potatoes. He didn’t resign three and a half years before the election. He resigned during the campaign.

The rallying cry of the Palin Detractors!

Including the Democrats, the Media, and the RINOs!

And the correct response is SO?
43 posted on 07/06/2009 6:33:26 AM PDT by SoConPubbie
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To: pissant

Rumors of her political death have been greatly exaggerated. Sounds like a new tag line.


44 posted on 07/06/2009 6:34:04 AM PDT by johncocktoasten ("Rumors of her political death have been greatly exaggerated.")
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To: pissant

Fred, get a life. Here you are, playing the old game.


45 posted on 07/06/2009 6:34:36 AM PDT by BornToBeAmerican (We the people, ..... never)
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To: pissant

Fred is annoying to listen to on TV. He can’t get a sentence out of his mouth in a comprehensible fashion. I’m amazed that he is on TV at all.


46 posted on 07/06/2009 6:35:27 AM PDT by xzins (Chaplain Says: Jesus befriends those who seek His help.)
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To: pissant

“Winners never quit and quitters never win.” - Vincent Thomas “Vince” Lombardi


47 posted on 07/06/2009 6:36:36 AM PDT by meandog (Doh!)
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To: pissant

Fred, go back to the beltway, where you belong.


48 posted on 07/06/2009 6:38:02 AM PDT by Reagan69 (No Representation without Taxation)
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To: pissant

Go along to get along Republicans, and voting for the lesser of two evils brought us to zero. So the worst case scenario has already happened, and I have no need to vote for a moderate again because he/she can win. If there is no conservative on the ballot next time, I will not send money, and I will not vote. If anyone says you have to be practical; Why, as the left nationalizes the banks, the car industry, health care, etc.


49 posted on 07/06/2009 6:40:30 AM PDT by throwback
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To: pissant
She only has two legs, Fred and they are an asset! Photobucket
50 posted on 07/06/2009 6:41:30 AM PDT by Quickgun
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