Posted on 08/23/2011 1:16:50 PM PDT by AmericaTalks
There is much speculation about whether or not Sarah Palin will enter the 2012 GOP presidential race.
Those who admire and respect her believe she wields a tremendous amount of power with regard to the choice of the candidate who will eventually end up facing Barack Obama in what can only be the most important election of our lifetime.
But that candidate should not be Palin. And the reason is blatantly obvious.
She can't win.
It has nothing to do with any lack of political gravitas. Despite how her critics and detractors have attempted to portray her, Palin is intelligent, articulate and politically astute. She understands the issues facing America under Barack Obama as well as if not better than any of the declared candidates.
On the economic meltdown that has metastasized under the current president's lack of leadership, Palin's message of lower taxes, deregulation and free market principles has resonated loud and clear. She understands that Obama's Keynesian policies of government intervention and redistribution of wealth will never solve the malaise that has overtaken our nation's economy. Palin knows government cannot create wealth or permanent employment. Only the private sector can do so. And yes, revenues can be raised by creating more taxpayers, not by raising taxes.
Palin also realizes that our debt problem is out of control. We are passing a tremendous burden on to our children and grandchildren. Eventually the note will come due. She knows that the fiasco our nation just endured with raising the debt ceiling without real spending cuts, will only result in a further erosion of our status as a world economic leader.
On foreign policy, Palin understands that Barack Obama is trying to diminish our role in the world, by apologizing for our wealth, our military strength, and most importantly, our sovereignty.
Sarah Palin also perceives the threat that Sharia law poses to the United States, and is keenly aware of Obama's attempts to reach out to the Islamic world in such a way that would create an atmosphere in which Sharia might be incorporated into our society and our justice system.
Of course, no one understands energy policy better than Palin. High gasoline prices could soon just be an unpleasant memory if we just used the resources we have in this country. Domestic drilling, coupled with research into alternative energy sources, could easily make us energy independent in just a few years. But Obama's hard line stance on domestic and offshore drilling has only made us more dependent on foreign oil, and has added to our economic woes.
Yes, Sarah Palin has the knowledge and political savvy to be an effective president. So with all of this going for her, why can't she win?
Perception.
When Palin was thrust into the limelight in 2008, it was because of a floundering John McCain candidacy. In an act of desperation, she was brought in to do what McCain himself could not or would not do, namely to attack Barack Obama on his associations and his socialist beliefs. She was the barracuda sinking her teeth into every aspect of a man who fashioned himself a messiah, sent by some higher power (George Soros) to fundamentally transform America into something unrecognizable from what the Founding Fathers intended.
The mainstream media immediately began marginalizing her. Palin found herself facing condescending interviews by the likes of Katie Couric and Charles Gibson. In the end, it was McCain himself, refusing to go after Obama, that lost the election. Unfortunately, Palin was left holding the bag.
Since that time, Sarah Palin has had the opportunity to bring home the message that everything she talked about during that ill-fated campaign regarding Obama's character and ideology has proven true. And her down-to-earth, folksy delivery still resonates with a lot of people, mainly but not limited to the Tea Party, who see our nation slipping away from us at an alarming rate under the current regime.
One would think that this would only serve to make Palin a viable candidate for the GOP 2012 race.
So why doesn't it?
Two things.
The media has a longer memory than most of main street America. No matter how she might like to shake the perception that she is somehow an airhead, Palin cannot escape the scrutiny that has and would be placed not only on her, but also her family during a presidential campaign. She is well aware of this, and it may be the reason that, despite her bus tours, etc., she has yet to throw her hat into the fray, choosing instead to tease her followers about mounting a bid while continuing to chastise Obama from a position from which criticism from the media and the far left is minimal.
Palin's detractors are not limited to the left, however.
The mainstream wing of the Republican Party also fears a Palin candidacy. They view her as a threat to the status quo. In recent years, Republicans have strayed away from their conservative roots. Palin reflects a return to the core values of limited government, fiscal responsibility and American exceptionalism. This scares many RINOs in the GOP, who prefer more government and compromise.
These elements will do everything in their power to keep her from getting the nomination.
There is another factor to be considered here as well. With Michele Bachmann already in the race, a Palin run might eclipse Bachmann's candidacy, or at least the two of them might cancel each other out. Bachmann has already been overshadowed in recent days by Rick Perry, and as she struggles to make news above the fold, Palin might only serve to make her more obscure.
If Palin had declared before Bachmann, there might be a different story emerging here. But she may have waited too long.
Sarah Palin would best serve the party and her country by remaining a strong voice for conservative values. Her influence in the 2012 race could be monumental. She could be a kingmaker.
It isn't clear yet whether Sarah Palin will get into the race. But what is clear is that Obama needs to be defeated in 2012. The country cannot survive four more years of his presidency.
But with all of her strengths, a Palin candidacy is a no win proposition.
Palin's time has come and gone.
Listen to America Talks weeknights at 6 pm Eastern Time and Saturdays at 9 am Eastern Time at blogtalkradio.com/americatalks and at americatalks.com.
It’s those “Independents” Stupid. Those three-headed donkeys who will decide the next election. If Sarah Palin is unable to pull them along, it’s over.
Yeah, and Trump and Bachmann and Cain about had it sown up earlier this year too.
Jeesh!
I could tell you why I think you're wrong, but there's no point. You never follow up on your threads, and I doubt you even read any of the replies.
For now, Palin is my first choice. I'm not sure if she's my only choice. There are Republican party aparatchiks who I absolutely will not vote for. Romney and Huntsman come to mind. There are other potential "second choices" which I might consider, and some I am very skeptical of.
However, I will say that whoever the eventual nominee is, they will receive the same treatment that Palin has had for the past 4 years, on sterroids. We know what they can dig up on Sarah (nothing), and how she handles the, ummmmmmm, special attention (with class and a measured response).
I don't know what the press will find, post-convention, when they vet the other potential nominees, and I don't know how they will handle the scrutiny.
Obama will run the most negative campaign ever in 2012. The Party Propaganda Ministry will participat and do their part to smear and ruin every Republican in every race at every level of the ballot.
Sarah Palin can take it. I'm not sure the others will fare that well.
Sarah Palin will attract far more independents than the establishment bozos. Palin is as close to an independent candidate as they come.
Thanks for taking the time to respond, upsdriver. On that point, we are in complete agreement. However, there's a "yeah ...but" coming. :-)
Dont be afraid of debate or opposing views.
The history of the author (whom I have pinged as a courtesy, hopefully not in vain) is such that he doesn't bother to engage us in a followup give-and-take. The article was posted and then he vanished into the ether. That's why I characterized it as a "hit piece" in the sense that it was a hit (possibly to draw reaction, which it has done) followed by a run. If he does come back to participate in a reasonable discussion, then I'll humbly withdraw the objection I made in post #21.
One thing Palin does not lack is timing. Watch the whole pack of media savages pointing like bird dogs on Sept. 3.
Well in the Rasmussen poll she is down 17% to Obozo. SO what, Reagan was also down big to J Carter. If she is on the same stage and debates Obozo she will destroy teleprompter man.
Also when the country goes into a 2nd sharp recession (continuing the current depression) anyone not named Obama will be elected.
If this is how well thought out you site is I don’t think I will bother to visit, thanks for the heads up.
Oh, wait...
You won't even hang out and defend your drivel?
LOL Good one.I love the way she toys with the media like a cat with a mouse.
For some reason I was under the impression that the majority of Alaskans do not have a party affiliation. Do you happen to know?
Governor Palin is an undeclared contender—a noncandidate—who gets 33% against Obama’s 50% in a poll which could be biased against her, more than a year before the election.
I believe it’s logically impossible, for anyone who truly wants Obama defeated, to see this fact and argue that she can’t be elected.
You betcha!
Not many have the base and the name recognition that Palin has.
Palin may enter the race, but I not think that she will get nearly as far as her supporters suspect.
I believe that Palin will definitely get in the race; that she's already experimented with issues to hit Perry with; and once she does announce it's going to be a knock-down, drag-out fight between the two of them.
David Zublick has a radio program on BlogTalkRadio, in fact, he has a program coming up in about 20 minutes. 6pm Eastern
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/americatalks/2011/08/23/america-talks
We just have differing opinions on whether Palin can win or not with David being wrong in this case.:p
I think a ZOT should be awarded for posting them. I’m sick of them.
Really, it doesn’t matter who runs against Obama. Whether Obama is relected boils down to a referendum on him and how he’s doing his job. Who runs against him is secondary. Right now, I’d say the chances of his re-election are not good. But a lot can change in a year.
Shepherd: Gordo...Gordo, I have to urinate.
Von Braun: Urinate?...We did not think of that.
—The Right Stuff
They said the same thing about Winston Churchill in 1935.
Wish you are correct. But that’s not what the polls show. The Independents peel off in droves when she is added to the mix.
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