David Petraeus, Joe Scarborough eyed for '12

politico.com ^ | Sept. 4, 2009 | MIKE ALLEN & JIM VANDEHEI

[Free ThinkerNY]

Top Republicans, inspired by President Barack Obama’s recent drop in popularity, are newly optimistic about their chances of challenging him in 2012 and are focusing on some surprising names.

Some major donors and GOP strategists have approached Joe Scarborough, the host of MSNBC’s "Morning Joe,” about a national run, according to party sources.

Former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole of Kansas, the Republican nominee in 1996, told POLITICO that he would like to see Army four-star Gen. David Petraeus — the head of the U.S. Central Command, which includes Iraq and Afghanistan — run for president as a latter-day Ike.

Some fiscal conservatives, convinced that they’ll never “out-Obama Obama,” are sold on a solid-but-unflashy choice: Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels. Former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) was able to generate some early buzz — and news coverage — simply by telegraphing plans for a quick trip to Iowa later this year.

Then there is freshman Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker, a former Chattanooga mayor who cut a high profile as an opponent of the Obama administration’s auto industry strategy and keynoted the South Carolina GOP’s annual dinner in May.

“Several GOP candidates are coming to the view that the way to run against Obama is not to out-Obama Obama with flash or sizzle,” said Dan Senor, an adjunct senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and a Bush administration veteran. “They want to go in the opposite direction: smart, back-to-basics, competence.”

[penowa]

Joe Scarborough? ROFLOL!

[heiss]

ok, I haven’t really studied Corker in detail, but he looked impressive in 2006 elections..

At least he is not in Senate Centrist Coalition with McCain/Graham etc so there is hope :)

[griswold3]

Joe ‘Choker’?
Get real! The guy is a real tool!

[paulycy]

Scarborough? I am not sure he would run as a Republican, honestly.

Joe might try a different, more media centric approach like a Joe Scarborough/Geraldo Rivera ticket.

[ari-freedom]

“We’re going to need someone of real substance”

about time we did. Let the liberals have their american idol.

[imfrmdixie]

Palin/Sessions....an A+ team...from Alaska to Alabama and kicking butt!

[counterpunch]

Mike Pence is great, but his proper place, at least in the near future, is Speaker of the House.
One of the main reasons Republicans are not reaping much benefit from the Democrats' plummeting approval is that voters don't believe the GOP is in touch with America either.

As long as John Boehner is leading the House GOP, that will remain true. Mike Pence is the one who can regain America's trust in the GOP. Until then, the Republican party will remain in the wilderness, regardless of how poorly the Democrats do.

 

[bobby.223]

wasn’t joe involved with some gal that got hurt in his office a while back? anything to that?

[rebapiper]

At one time I thought Joe Scarborough was going to be the shining light of the Republican party, he's not the same Joe he used to be. I listened to him many times.
He has let NBC use and ride on his shirt tails, when all else fails to get viewers they go running to Joe, other than that they would not have any following. NBC and MSNBC are DEAD horses, they are no longer in the running.
I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY ARE COMPANIES PAYING NBC AND MSNBC FOR PRODUCTS THAT NOBODY IS BUYING WHEN ADVERTISED ON THE CHANELS. OBERMAN WELL PAID FOR FILLING A SLOT AND NOT VIEWERS. MANY PRODUCTS COULD BE SOLD CHEAP IF THE COMPANIES WOULD WAKE AND STOP SPONSORING THESE STATIONS, WHY KEEP THEM ON THE AIR? I REFUSED TO BUY ANYTHING NBC OR MSNBC ADVERTISES. I'm surprised their not all sitting around with a can of coke cola in their hands like the rest of the RATS do.

[steven33442]

Have you noticed that all of the ultra-liberals on MSNBC have their own shows, but the one Republican is chaperoned by at least 3 or 4 liberals at all times?

Or they get that nut job Pat Buchanan to represent “conservatives.”

I cant watch his show with all those dimwits surrounding him.

[Joe 6-pack]

"I'd consider Petreaus, but I know nothing about his political positions. If he made those manifest, I'd be willing to listen."

I agree. While I think highly of Petraeus's accomplishments in CENTCOM, Colin Powell and Wesley Clark are two very good examples of why we should be wary of blindly throwing our support behind any general officer just because they wore stars and served their country honorably.

Having served as a Provost Marshal and having briefed and discussed law and order issues with numerous general officers, I think most FReepers would be surprised at how many view second amendment rights with suspicion...not all mind you, but a surprising number.

[rebapiper]

The Clinton's didn't come from nowhere, they came from Acorn, election fraud, the homeless, the illegals and lets not forget, the grave sites were opened and bodies were flying thru the air to their nearest polling station.

[Mogollon]

The person that drives the leftists into coniption fits is Palin. Therefore, she should be our nominee in 2012...all we need to do is find a genuine conservative to be her running mate.

[weepnomore]

What about Eric Cantor ?

[ColdWater]

“Some major donors and GOP strategists have approached Joe Scarborough,”

Scarborough has some hidden baggage. He will never run.

[mmichaels1970]

Corker seems to be entrenched in the McCain/Grahamnesty wing of the party - a mushy get-a-longer. No?

Appears so to me:

A GOP Senator Looking to Meet Halfway

"There is a common ground," Corker said Wednesday in an interview before his final town hall meeting. "It's half a loaf, possibly, from the administration's viewpoint. But what it does is take us way down the field."

snip

One proposal that appears to be gaining traction among some Democrats and Republicans, including Corker, would limit the insurance people are required to buy to only a catastrophic coverage plan.

Does this mean our benevolent leaders will only use force to get us to purchase only the most basic of plans? Hopefully they can reach a bipartisan compromise on the penalties. Maybe instead of jailing people who refuse to purchase coverage, a smaller fine can be enforced?

[steven33442]

Sarah Palin is the Democrat’s Dream Candidate.

Perhaps Levi Johnston could be her Campaign Manager?

[Antoninus]

Sarah Palin is the Democrat’s Dream Candidate.

Sure, noob. That's why they've invested so much time and energy trying to destroy her. Makes perfect sense.

[La Enchiladita]

Good point. I’m with you.

[steven33442]

When Sarah Palin made a fool of herself on Saturday Night Live . .that is when she lost my support. Sorry.