Posted on 07/02/2009 9:30:03 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Sounds far-fetched and, to some, totally implausible. But the Republicans are losing potential candidates at a pace that is downright alarming if you believe in a healthy two-party system. The demise of John Ensign’s political career a few weeks ago and the surreal downfall of Mark Sanford last week is enough to send chills through the even the most optimistic Republican strategist. We know that of the 2008 crop, only Mitt Romney seems likely to stay on as a contender. The old stalwarts like Newt Gingrich may get a lot of press, but it is unlikely they can mount a real challenge to Obama in 2012. Yet, the presidential election of 2012 will be more than a simple coronation of Barack Obama if the economy stalls and there is no progress in two important areas: national security and healthcare.
Ballooning deficits and a sluggish economy could alter the mood of America by the time the 2010 mid-terms come up, giving hope to the GOP for the next presidential primary season. This is why Sarah Palin is maintaining a persistent media presence, whether it is debating David Letterman or being the biggest Republican draw on the lecture circuit. She clearly has her eyes set on the presidency.
The latest edition of Vanity Fair brings this possibility forward, though not in a favourable light. Journalist Todd Purdhom paints a picture of a woman with a narcissistic personality, who’s short on knowledge, disinterested in policy discussion, and not ready for primetime. In the end, the story says more about John McCain’s competence and character than it does about Palin, simply because he flubbed his most important decision as a presidential candidate. That said, Palin brought much needed energy to an otherwise lackluster campaign and, to this day, she energizes the base as no other candidate can. Could it be possible she may someday be a candidate for the presidency?
My experience tells me that no one should be written off in a hypothetical context. Barack Obama is proof positive of this. I still maintain that, without Bush, there is no Obama nomination. Palin is a street smart politician who has benefited from being underestimated most of her career. McCain’s disastrous choice may have been fatal to his electoral chances, but it brought Palin to the forefront of national attention. Since then, she has become a celebrity that transcends her party. However, if she is to be taken seriously and considered a viable contender, she needs to change the negative perceptions of her and develop a political profile that appeals to those outside her narrow base.
To do this, she must gradually reduce her exposure and begin to educate herself on the issues. She will not be ready for 2012 by remaining governor of Alaska and playing the celebrity. The GOP has too proud a tradition to have a re-run of the 2008 vice-presidential candidate. Also, the base Palin relies on for support no longer holds the sway it once did. Social conservatism is losing steam as a political movement thanks to the dubious habits of people like Gingrich, Ensign and Sanford, and the election of an African-American president as well as the increased attention paid to gay rights issues shows that Americans have begun to cast their old divisions aside. The future for the GOP lies with fiscal conservatism and strong national security policy—not with turning back the clock. Palin must embrace the values that created the Republican party in the first place—a belief in the individual, a belief in a limited role for the state, and a commitment to equality. The party of Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Eisenhower, and (the pragmatic version of) Reagan is the path to a Republican resurgence. Palin is nowhere on that radar. She is all about celebrity status and controversy.
In the lead-up to July 4, Americans usually reflect on their great democracy. Overall, it is healthy and has shown resilience through the decades. But the Republicans have to become a viable alternative for this democracy to remain vibrant. So is Palin a real possibility for 2012 or 2016? Will she someday be a formal candidate for the presidency? Most definitely. But can she ever win? Based on what we have observed so far, I would say definitely not, though politics has been known to produce some strange developments.
I call it trashing when it seems to be part of a concerted effort by both the democrats and the RINOs. This all seems way too orchestrated for me. I don’t think that it is a coincidence. So I will continue to call it trashing because I know the real source — protect the ONE (0bama or Romney) at all costs.
You aren’t pro abortion tonight?
Sunday, June 28, 2009 12:21:01 PM · 331 of 473
goldwaterepublican to NoGrayZone
i dont have a uterus but anyone who does can be damned sure ill stay out of it.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 3:10:17 AM · 71 of 84
goldwaterepublican to elkfersupper
“Breathing is addicting, food is addicting, sex is addicting.
Where are you nanny-state activists going to stop? “
hopefully at ALL drugs, prostitution, and abortion...im a real republican, self sufficient, living off the land...i wonder how many of you RINOS can handle it?
Yeah, that must be that other 2.1% of the time bringing down Rush’s average.
During the election she had him rattled badly, it took weeks and even national press suggestions to get Obama to take his attention off her and start running against McCain again.
I wasn’t referring to the concerted effort by the MSM.
I was referring to debates on Free Republic between Republicans and Conservatives here. My point is we should be able to debate these issues without resorting to the same tactics liberals use to slander those who disagree with them. If you are talking to a conservative who isn’t sure Sarah can beat Obama don’t immediately say something like, “So, I can see Obama is your man” or “Stop trashing Sarah”, etc. It’s based on a false premise and it’s jumping the gun.
And a sense of humor and perspective always helps the debates too.
In which world - yours, or the real one?
Politicians don't draw crowds unless they have voters fired up and enthusiastic. Sarah Palin drew crowds like no one's seen on our side in decades. Those enormous crowds didn't show up out of mere "curiosity". They came because of the real hope that Sarah represents to us.
You probably don't recall that Obama followed a LOT of musical acts at places where he spoke to large crowds. It happened so often, that it became clear that he couldn't draw large crowds unless there was free entertainment.
Going through life in denial won’t help you.
You never answered my question.
If you knew Sarah Palin would LOSE against 0bama in a 2012 rematch, sending him back to the White House for another 4 years, would you still want her to be the Republican nominee?
Nope. And you have every right to voice your opinion and concerns. When the primaries come, and if she runs, by all means campaign hard for your guy and against her.
But also don't be surprised when people react quite strongly to your, with all do respect, flimsy argument that Palin will lose in 2012 because somehow she was actually the one running against Obama and not McCain.
The fact of the matter is, McCain Palin was up any where from 2-5 points over Obama-Biden until Lehman Brothers Imploded and the Treasury Secretary and Congress began running around like chickens with their heads cut off screaming the sky was falling and we would all soon be living in boxes. Then Obama and the Media kept playing the McCain clips where he said “The Fundamentals of the Economy are strong” and the rest is history.
You are blaming Palin, who was in the race for about two months in one of the longest General Elections in history, who also gave McCain the only sustained period of being ahead of Obama in the entire race and basically gave McCain the only chance he had in the entire race of being elected, for his failure to be elected. THAT is why people are reacting so strongly to your post.
But Palin , especially being overly controlled by McCain's incompetent staff, could not overcome the image of a confused old man who was so out of touch with reality appeared to keep chanting “all is well” as peoples retirement, homes, and college funds dropped to near worthlessness.
I deal in facts not theory
0bama would run circles around Palin worse than he did McCain in a debate. We’ll need someone with a strong command of facts to call 0bama out when he lies.
If we had someone who could nail 0bama like that, he would be finished.
I don’t think Palin is up to the task, certainly not face to face with him.
It could very well be that Obama will bring himself down, I suspect on foreign policy (the major weakness of most Democrats).
Maybe it will come down to a simple matter of people getting tired of neck muscle aches from watching him play tennis with his 2 teleprompters for four years. LOL!
Left right left right left right!
I think you may be naively assuming that everyone here on this site is here as a conservative. I believe that there are some who would infiltrate in order to influence the weak. As I have already stated, as long as I see the organized effort on the part of certain anti conservative groups, not just the MSM, I will continue to call it as I see it.
Because V.P. Nominee's don't shape the campaign's message. That is up to the Top of the ticket and their crew of advisors. The V.P.’s job is to be the attack dog, leaving the top of the ticket to have the appearance of being “above the fray”, and generally being the campaign's cheerleader.
When you stay on a thread beating down her supporters and constantly attacking her then you are attacking her, you are working diligently towards beating her down and squelching her popularity, this is a long thread and you are in it tooth and nail.
A liberal technique is what you are doing, hammering at her image and pretending that you aren’t for post, after post, after post, after post.
Give it up already - you’ve been trashing and stop the spin!
If you don’t think she can win - DON’T vote for her but your constant put downs are TOO TELLING for you to excuse yourself saying your aren’t trashing! I like her but.... I voted for her but. Like those libs calling in to the media....I’m a republican and I’ll never vote for “X”...... That game is so old! If it walks like a duck....
And, I'm telling you again that she was toeing the company line when she made that statement.
Show me some statements from Sarah Palin regarding illegal immigration from BEFORE she was McCain's running mate.
Only those statements will show her real position on the subject. I know enough about her at this point, that I do not believe that she supports anything but conservative solutions to illegal immigration.
Principles are not negotiable.
If they are TRUE principles, you NEVER need to temper them.
“I’m telling you again that she was toeing the company line when she made that statement.”
People with rock solid values and conservative principles do not “toe the company line”. They draw their OWN straight line and stay committed to it.
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