Of course, though most would’ve been astonished to learn of her opting not to run, despite it clearly being her turn. Cruz seems serious for 2016 (or to the point, has not shot down any entreaties for him to run). Although I tended to subscribe to the belief that they should be a former Governor, there are exceptions to the rule when some Senators (or others) demonstrate exceptional leadership skills. Go back even to Warren Harding, who was more a Senate backbencher (who lost a run for Ohio Governor), turned out to be a fairly excellent President who resolved the Wilson Depression of 1920 VERY fast.
Is there one (or more) candidate(s) you’re particularly leaning towards ?
Most here but not me..
Back as far as Spring 2011 I was posting here that Palin had zero intention of running in 2012.
Making believe you are running for POTUS or ‘seriously thinking about it’ brings many benefits for those desiring attention. Look at Trump.
The reason why I was sure that she was not running when mostly everyone else was SO sure she was is because she was allowed to stay working for FNC as a political commentator the whole year while Newt and Rick were told to resign in early 2011 by FNC management. They knew.
There was no way FNC would have kept her on if she was considering it, instead they let or encouraged her to tease about on Greta to pull her (FNC) ratings up knwoing full well she wasnt.
There are NO candidates right now. My Palin example for this was intended to illustrate how she was called a ‘candidate’ thousands of times here over a couple of years when she really wasnt., But many swore she was especially to me.(Iowa trip, NH, Bus tour, passion video, ...all solid proof LOL)
Once again going against the flow, my list was not intended to define who I will ‘like the best’. It was a list of what the GOP needs as a strong candidate to beat a Dem. I found last years line-up very weak and in many cases flawed, perfect for Obama.
Now a candidate might appear who meets all those conditions but has positions I disagree with. Like what if Christie does everything on that list? That wouldnt work for me.
I wasn't. It was clear when she quit as Governor. I was astonished that everyone seemed to think that was some kind of master stroke that would help her win the White House rather than what it was, her walking away from running for office to pursue other career opportunities.
I wish she would have said outright that she wasn't running for President than tease all the poor sots with vague maybes even though she was still under contract with Fox News the entire time and even after she had long passed the point where one could enter the race.
But still you had people fantasizing she could swoop down on the convention. The power of wishful thinking versus logic and reason. Frankly with some people it was an unhealthy obsession with a figure they had put on a pedestal unfit for any mortal human being.
Harding is maligned as the one of the worst Presidents, I have to rate him among the best, clearly better than the vast majority of his successors.
I don’t think any backbenchers will be getting elected President in the age of TV though. A shame cause some would surely be good Presidents. In the old days you could have dark horses or impressive flashes in the pan just come out of nowhere.
Cruz though I find quite viable despite his limited tenure. Obama was the first case of a President with such a small time in (meaningful) station since what, Wilson? He was a totally unknown failed US House candidate 8 years prior to his election. It won’t be as easy for Cruz without the help of the MSM but in the age of celebrity there is something to be said for striking while the iron is hot, if Cruz wants to be President he shouldn’t wait.