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 Ensigns 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, whos short on knowledge, disinterested in policy discussion, and not ready for primetime. In the end, the story says more about John McCains 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. McCains 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 policynot with turning back the clock. Palin must embrace the values that created the Republican party in the first placea 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.
No, but your ridiculous attack on Christians and the republican voters, thinking that you can replace them with non religious Obama voters is idiotic, bringing up Goldwater only makes it more appropiate.
Sarah Palin resigning. Can’t even complete her first term. Reagan wouldn’t have done that.
She’s done.
Hey counterpunch, looks like you and I were right last night and SoCal and the others were wrong. Sarah is resigning and won’t even complete her first term. Reagan wouldn’t have done that.
She’s finished.
Just as I wrote last night over and over again: WE NEED FRESH CONSERVATIVE BLOOD IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY!
Looks like you are the TweedleDUMB, dear, since Sarah is resigning and won’t even complete her first term. That’s not something Reagan would do.
Keep smokin’ that weed and keep your illusions, if it makes you feel better. Some of us live in the REAL WORLD. :)
Remember the nastiest little poster on FR and why she is so nasty, she is pushing john thune.
deannadurbin=john thune that says volumes about the guy.
Remember the association nasty=deannadurbin=john thune.
Proof is the pudding. Since the Republicans have been taken over by the religious kooks we have seen fools like Pelosi, Reid, Waxman and Obama taking over.
Tons are people are turned off by religious nuts. Leave religion where it belongs.
Too many people in the Republican party are on the government Teat anyway. They are no different then Socialists. All they care about is running people’s lives. They have forgotten what fiscal conservatism is all about.
What they need to care about is getting rid of ALL government that is possible.
And don’t bother sending anymore graphs. The only relevant graph that is the one that shows the Socialist with super majorities. Perhaps if you tone down the religious stuff maybe 10-15% of the independents would vote Republican. All we need is about 5% more.
If we don’t get rid of government, the government will get rid of us.
John
Proof is the pudding. Since the Republicans have been taken over by the religious kooks we have seen fools like Pelosi, Reid, Waxman and Obama taking over.
Tons are people are turned off by religious nuts. Leave religion where it belongs.
Too many people in the Republican party are on the government Teat anyway. They are no different then Socialists. All they care about is running people’s lives. They have forgotten what fiscal conservatism is all about.
What they need to care about is getting rid of ALL government that is possible.
And don’t bother sending anymore graphs. The only relevant graph that is the one that shows the Socialist with super majorities. Perhaps if you tone down the religious stuff maybe 10-15% of the independents would vote Republican. All we need is about 5% more.
If we don’t get rid of government, the government will get rid of us.
John
“Remember the nastiest little poster on FR”
Hey! stop talking about yourself that way! God loves you. :)
Counterpunch and I were right. Remember THAT when John Thune is the nominee in 2012. lol!
She just sealed her fate she will never become President imho she just lost my vote
What I will do is associate thune with your war against the freepers here, and your constant attacks on them as you smear thunes name by associating it venom and personal attacks and a lying poster.
“Hitler and his movement were very, VERY popular in Germany. By 1935-36, he could have won any open election with 70+% of the vote.
It’s getting to be too late now, but any time between 1960-1995, any honest German of a certain age would tell you that, after a few beers.”
But he didn’t. He got much less of the vote.
http://www.fff.org/freedom/fd0403a.asp
Hitler didn’t get much more than a third of the vote. I’m merely advancing the idea that a similar psychology was deployed in our last election allowing for someone with similar attributes running on vague propaganda did even better.
McCain’s loss can be tied to the financial crisis in September and his subsequent mishandling of it in the eyes of the press (and public).
Obama did nothing but sit in a room and pretend to be doing something other than present.
He benefited from the fear which was ginned up by everyone in government and the media.
Obama gave no answers, offered no solutions. He merely sat there, and did nothing.
Then he went back out on the campaign trail and attacked McCain for it.
The polls never showed McCain in the lead again.
It’s Sarah’s fault.
“*should not be mere popularity contests but should be literally, hiring decisions for capable and competent leaders and managers.*
Sanford couldnt even manage his personal life.”
How true.
Think the guy is a nerd who never got the girl he wanted. He got the girl he needed for his career.
Those guys fall and fall hard when they find themselves near a hottie like little Ms. Buenos Aires.
My lawyer is a great lady from Buenos Aires, (now a proud American citizen). She had more style and class than almost any woman I’ve met in my life.
Those Buenos Aires woman are known for being dangerous. My thing now is how long before Ms. Buenos Aires-Sanford dumps him and moves on. She will not want to be part of this circus my guess.
The lovely worded letters will come to a screeching halt if they haven’t already.
You keep insisting that a 2012 run by Sarah Palin would be a "rematch" between her and Obama. This ignores the fact that she was the VP candidate in the 2008 race - NOT the Presidential candidate.
You start your argument from a false premise, so everything that follows doesn't hold water.
What's true is this: Sarah Palin ignites, excites, and inspires the right conservative base like no one in a generation. That cannot be denied, or eliminated from any intelligent analysis of the next presidential election, or of her potential to win the White House in that run.
You're trying to swim straight up Niagara Falls, and getting nowhere.
Yes, “Sarah’s done” alright. She’s done in Alaska.
But she now begins.
I like Bobby Jindal and also admire Romney too as every time I heard him represent McCain he was very sharp, focused and excellent on message.
But I’m curious what Sarah can do with some study. Gal has won my heart and many others. She’s going to need some seasoning. If she is up to it, she will gain steam.
Without the weight of national office to bring her up to speed, she went toe to toe with Joe “The Biden” quite easily. And Joe Biden in order to seem more polished made up a ton of false information.
He was never called out for it unfortunately during the debate or soon after. But he told a lot of whoppers and showed what a true buffoon he is.
Every time he opens his mouth, another line of utter stupidity reveals itself.
Would Sarah do worse. Highly unlikely.
Stop hating. Just say she’s a very admirable character and that’s it. You can choose another candidate to support without hating.
We’re not vapid liberals/leftists here don’t ya know?
Yes, “Sarah’s done” alright. She’s done in Alaska.
But she now begins.
I like Bobby Jindal and also admire Romney too as every time I heard him represent McCain he was very sharp, focused and excellent on message.
But I’m curious what Sarah can do with some study. Gal has won my heart and many others. She’s going to need some seasoning. If she is up to it, she will gain steam.
Without the weight of national office to bring her up to speed, she went toe to toe with Joe “The Biden” quite easily. And Joe Biden in order to seem more polished made up a ton of false information.
He was never called out for it unfortunately during the debate or soon after. But he told a lot of whoppers and showed what a true buffoon he is.
Every time he opens his mouth, another line of utter stupidity reveals itself.
Would Sarah do worse. Highly unlikely.
Stop hating. Just say she’s a very admirable character and that’s it. You can choose another candidate to support without hating.
We’re not vapid liberals/leftists here don’t ya know?
Battling them on this website seems to have become a huge job, lately.
I'm not looking to participate in an echo chamber. I don't mind differing views. We conservatives disagree on all sorts of things, because we're not hard-wired to a hive mind, like liberals are.
But, there's a big difference between reasoning, well-informed people having spirited discussions, and having to deal with near-suicide cases who want you to succumb alongside them, or combative people who have nothing better to do than get under your skin, or obvious liberal plants, ad infinitum....
No kidding.
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