"First, beyond this hothouse of Palin-bots,"
There is a little more going on than just freerepublic, as a conservative site, we merely reflect conservative preferences.
First, beyond this hothouse of Palin-bots, she has far too many negatives, both real (such as her lack of intellectual depth and experience, and her pandering to conservatives), and illusory (the mainstream media is 100% against her, whether their vitriol is fair or unfair does not matter--they are a powerful influence).
In the long run she will either be seen as a major, non-running party power broker for candidates who are electable--maybe someone like Sen. Jim DeMint or a total newcomer who appears on the scene--or an influential force in conservative politics like Phyllis Schafly. In fact, Palin would do well if she could become half as thoughtful or effective as Phyllis Schafly.
Nominating Palin in 2012 would be a sure-fire recipe for assuring a second term for Obama, notwithstanding his deeply troubled presidency. Obama is a wreck of a president, but from 2010 to 2012 he will flip back to "campaign mode," where he is brilliant. With the help of a syncopantic media, some luck, and running against a polarizing, not-up-to-it candidate like Palin, he can pull off a second term as well.
I disagree. Obama was able to win favor with so many because he was a blank slate where people could project their aspirations onto him. This is no longer 2008.
If things continue as they are, and they probably will, a yellow dog with mange will be able to defeat Obama in 2012.
As to Sarah’s ‘weaknesses’, the mainstream media has less influence now than ever before. Their mauling of her while she maintains poise and grace makes her look taller, and them look smaller. They made the same accusations against Reagan: too extreme, an intellectual lightweight, a fool, etc.
If she’s so intellectually challenged, and at a disadvantage from the media smackdown, then why is she so effective and successful? Look at the endorsement wins, look at the fundraising she accomplished for otherwise dark horse candidates, and consider the umpteen predictions about her political demise.
We were told she was a write-off after the election, and then after she resigned, and then when she became a commentator, and then when she endorsed candidates “that can’t win.” What happened? She is more influential now, than ever.
No less than the president himself was forced to tap dance and repeatedly respond to her comment on facebook. In two words, she described everybody’s unspoken fear of obamacare “death panels”. ...and then she backed it up with evidence on the wacky extreme positions of Rahm Emmanuel’s lunatic brother.
Since she was cut loose by McCain’s loss, she’s played the media and the opposition like a fiddle.
We’ll see though...or are you going to refuse to support her when she wins the nomination?
There is a little more going on than just freerepublic, as a conservative site, we merely reflect conservative preferences.