Sarah Palin For President

Macleans ^ | July 2, 2009 | John Parisella

[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.

[deannadurbin]

I like Sarah personally but I really feel she is damaged goods, and most of the damage she has done all by her lonesome.

I like John Thune. He is handsome, articulate, conservative, and an up and coming leader in the party.

http://thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Biography.Home

[counterpunch]

When I voted last election, I voted for Palin, like everyone else who pulled the lever for the GOP.
Everyone who was going to vote for Palin already did, and we came up short.
Trying the same thing twice and expecting different results, it has been said, is the definition of insanity.
So lets be sane and try something different.

[SoConPubbie]

Both Fred Barnes and Charles Krauthammer recently lamented that Palin has spent all her time since the election running around like a celebrity, picking fights with talk show hosts, and accepting plaudits from her adoring public, and no time whatsoever brainstorming with and learning from nationally known, qualified people on the challenges facing the nation in foreign affairs, the economy, and the drearier quarters of public policy. In other words, she's all glitter and ambition and no substance, and she's not doing the work necessary to become substantive. And, unlike dear old George, she has a noticeable Coulteresque mean streak, but without Coulter's smarts. She is not qualified. We just had an unqualified Republican president. We don't need another one.

So, for proof, you offer up ONLY the opinion of two NOTORIOUS moderate Neo-Cons who were in the tank for Rudy, a liberal Republican, from the beginning of the primaries.

One of which, Krauthammer, is totally wrong on the social issues from a conservative perspective.

This is what passes as proof in your mind?

This is what you propose to change the minds of conservatives on a conservative web-site?

[Niteflyr]

I like Sarah personally but I really feel she is damaged goods, and most of the damage she has done all by her lonesome.

ehhh....pish tosh...:o)

[Windflier]

Either Palin can pull in the votes, or she can’t. People had to opportunity to choose her over 0bama, and they passed by the millions.

Ahem....

Sarah Palin wasn't running for president.

Those "millions" didn't pass Sarah up. They passed up McCain.

In fact, McCain wouldn't have gotten nearly the support he did, if she hadn't been his running mate.

[SuziQ]

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.

No, in the end, the story is just another wild eyed liberal attack on a Republican who they KNOW can do them some damage should she decide to run for President. They saw how she energized the conservatives in 2008, and they want to keep those voters down, and poison the waters for independent voters, as much as possible in 2012.

[spikeytx86]

Reagan was portrayed from 76’ on as a stupid old fool who was the puppet of the elite and who would help bring on Armageddon.

“I say whoever the male candidate is in 2012 let Sarah be vice president nominee to bring in that homespun heartland vote.”

And this says it all. The one commonality I have seen among Palin Trashers here on FR is the fact that she is a woman. This attitude of “Well the little lady served her purpose and now should just smile and go back home and leave governing to the men” attitude always seems to show itself after enough posts.

And BTW, the “homespun heartland vote” wins elections. If the GOP doesn't win those states they don't win the white house. Obama wining CA or NY by 60% did not secure his victory, it was his wining in the “homespun” states of OH,IN,CO, and NC that brought him victory. It's nice to see how you think about that vast swath of America in between NYC and San Francisco though.

[SoConPubbie]

When I voted last election, I voted for Palin, like everyone else who pulled the lever for the GOP. Everyone who was going to vote for Palin already did, and we came up short. Trying the same thing twice and expecting different results, it has been said, is the definition of insanity. So lets be sane and try something different.

Sorry, but your stated position still defies logic.

You still negate and ignore the huge negative impact that John McCain with his wrong-headed positions on Global Warming, Campaign Finance Reform, Tax-Cuts(Voted against them), Embryonic Stem-Cell research, ANWAR, Amnesty, etc had on the lack of votes he got.

Instead, you illogically place all the blame on Sarah.

Your position does not compute my friend and would appear almost insincere if I did not know you better from your posting history.

[Iscool]

Perhaps if the race had been close, then Palin supporters could have some credibility to their claims. But it wasn’t. It wasn’t even close to being close. Either Palin can pull in the votes, or she can’t. People had to opportunity to choose her over 0bama, and they passed by the millions.

I can't speak for anyone else but because of Sarah Palin, MCCain got two votes from my home...Without Sarah, MCCain would have gotten zero votes from my home...

[Niteflyr]

I guess you prefer slick con artists? I don’t see any fatal damage there....GWB looked like an idiot on so many occasions compared to Palin...and Barry The Clown?...don’t get me started...

[Niteflyr]

I can't speak for anyone else but because of Sarah Palin, MCCain got two votes from my home...Without Sarah, MCCain would have gotten zero votes from my home...

Ditto...

[deannadurbin]

Yes, but could you really imagine Sarah in a Presidential Debate with Obama? I cringed when she had one against lame Biden and sounded like a schoolgirl giving a debate in high school. Obama would clean her clock with his scripted, smooth responses.

[counterpunch]

But now, suddenly, Palin was the reason McCain lost?

I guess you didn't see where I said “It wasn’t her fault he lost” even though that's the first thing I said and you even included it in your reply...

Palin did not cause McCain to lose.
But she didn’t help him win, either.
And that means she doesn’t have what it takes to attract the sort of votes we’ll need to defeat 0bama.
 

[Niteflyr]

Obama would clean her clock with his scripted, smooth responses.

Me thinks Americans will be fed up with "scripted smooth responses" and the TOTUS by 2012....

[SuziQ]

It wasn’t her fault he lost, but the theory that she could attract enough votes to beat Barack 0bama was tested, and it failed. By nearly 10 million votes and 10 points, no less. If she was the only thing making John McCain competitive, she sure didn’t do a good job. They lost in a certified landslide.

Oh good grief! She was in the race for fewer than 6 weeks before the election! Many folks didn't have a clue who she was! You can't hang John McCain's loss on Sarah, and IIRC, That One didn't win by 10 points, it was more like 6, and with less than 53% of the total vote, I don't consider that a landslide.

[beckett]

“Conservatives on this website” can do what they will. They can live in their little dream world if it makes them happy. But Palin is a LOSER who will never occupy 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

Why? Because she is unqualified. And serious people — right, left or indifferent to party labels — can see it, and will not vote for her.

[Niteflyr]

Palin did not cause McCain to lose. But she didn’t help him win, either.

RINO McCain was beyond help....he didn't run like he wanted to win...there was no fire....

[deannadurbin]

I’d just prefer a candidate who is professional and articulate, without any negative baggage, like John Thune. I don’t think Sarah can win against the Obama machine. Let’s face it: there is a large segment of America who are now lazy and on welfare and unemployed. When people are worried about the economy they vote for Democrats. When people are worried about foreign policy they vote for Republicans.

[SoCalPol]

*It was called the Cold War*

I lived through it and since San Diego has the largest
concentration of military in the world and other major targets, we had air raid sirens that would go off
for
drills during the 50s to early 60s.
In school we would do duck and covers.

[JerseyDvl]

I think she is all the more impressive when considering her detractors always compare her to Zero when it was McCain who lost. He would have been slammed like Carter with anyone else on the ticket.