What have you done to counter 0bama?
I did this just yesterday.
Feel free to pass it along to family and friends.
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 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.
It failed by 110,000 votes in Ohio. Had Kerry gotten 110,001 more votes in OH he would have been President.
Whether you think Palin is the best we can do or not, you have to admit she would do a lot better then John “did you know he served in vietnam?” Kerry and silk pony.
Wrong! John McCain ran for the presidency, not Sarah Palin.
Whether or not you "choose" to acknowledge the facts, the main stream media backed Obama for president because they are mainly liberals. From what I've read, 95% of black voters went for Obama. See any racism there?
I've read and heard plenty and my conclusion is that Democrats/liberals are hell-bent to destroy every value that has made our country great. I'm not being mean or vindictive by saying that.
The federal gov't, congress and courts are pushing their agenda to make the U.S. a socialist country, one in which everyone shares the fruits of their labor with others, many who don't contribute a thing.
This government is determined to take over our lives and that equals taking away our freedoms. Future generations won't know what real freedom is because the history books will deliberately omit the facts.
As to Governor Palin being a viable candidate in 2012, I wouldn't rule her out based on the elections you referred to: Reagan came into office 28 years ago, Eisenhower, 56 years ago and Truman, 64 years ago. We are dealing with a whole different set of problems today, so I disagree that anyone can, out of hand, decide that what took place 30-65 years ago is relevant today in determining election outcome.
You are a Romney guy, Palin would wipe the floor with Obama, Palin has a solid history of winning elections and knocking off giants and came into the McCain train wreck having earned the political position of being the most popular governor in America.
Romney does not win elections or popularity.
Your narrow around and around arguments sounds like you live in a small town and not much experience in the real world.
You point out good reasons why McCain lost, and you are right about the initial boost Palin gave the ticket.
But you’re still missing out on the fact that Palin helped boost McCain only up until the point when the public got to know her better, and decided they were thoroughly unimpressed. McCain’s drop more accurately tracks with Palin’s deflation, which brought him back down to where he should have been. As the public soured on her, McCain’s numbers soured.
See, this gets to the very heart of what I’m saying.
If Palin really was the Golden Child that so many people thought she was at first, the advantage over 0bama she brought would have had legs. But it didn’t. It fell apart when she fell apart. Which just goes to show that she would not be able to beat 0bama in a 2012 rematch.
I’m not a ‘Romney guy’.
He wasn’t my first choice in 2008, and he probably won’t be my first choice in 2012.
I’d pick him over Palin, that’s for sure, but I’d pick a lot of people over Palin.
I’d still pick Sanford over Palin at this point.
Wrong, wrong, wrong! No one connected him w/Bush - he was a Bush basher! He had NO fire in his belly - he played his old bipartisan game - the RINO that he is.
0bama ain’t my boy, which is precisely why I want the GOP to run a candidate who can defeat him, instead of Palin, who can’t, and already didn’t.
“You are right on that. I have talked to lots of people in the recent past who told me that they can’t stand the way she talks. I would counter with “But what about the issues?” People didn’t care. It’s like they are voting for American Idol, not a President.”
President Bush was a walking joke as far as speech and mannerisms go. And yet he still won, twice.
And what is wrong with the way she talks? She sounds like someone from the Mid-West.
For someone who supposedly “personally likes” her, you sure seem to hate most everything about her.
You wish.
Are you getting your Obama meet up groups ready
for the next election.
People with rock solid values and conservative principles do not “toe the company line”. They draw their OWN straight line and stay committed to it
Yeah you are are attacking, Romney has a lot of strong support on this thread.
So Sarah Palin wasn’t on the ticket?
People didn’t have an opportunity to pull the lever for her?
She wasn’t the one people came out to vote for in 2008?
No, that is incorrect. I’ve travelled all over the world but in doing so I have come to the realization that those who keep their minds and hearts open to the unsaved world are the ones who will end up admiring and serving the New World Order.
“There sits a man with an open mind. I can feel the draft from here.” - Groucho Marx
Conservative principles are not negotiable. They are founded in tradition. If they are negotiable in your own life then I would tend to think you have some “cleaning up” to do in that area.
Someone who screws around with a whore and had other gals.
Then thinks his wife and 4 sons should think it is OK.
It says a lot about you.
Am glad you are not a Palin suporter. We are better than that.
There was no personal attack in the statement you quoted from me. I’m referring to general principles, not Romney.
Your rigid thinking reminds be of Jimmy and Tammy Baker, Swaggert, and all the other trash who wear their religion on their sleave because they have no faith
Hey, Sanford is near the bottom of my list, too.
He’s just above Sarah Palin, who is just above John McCain.
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