Must be something Bozo the Clown put in the water cooler...
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.
Just like any other troll you can go hundreds of posts without saying anything meaningful, factual or useful, just delivering insults and attacks of your own creation.
You are striving to move the party left.
He wasn’t around for the election either, obviously. Many conservatives stayed home because they refused to pull the lever for McCain, even with Sarah. McCain is vehemently hated by most conservatives. Jesus Chris himself on the VP ticket couldn’t have helped him against Obama.
I can’t compare Palin to Reagan, not enough of Palin out there fighting like Reagan did before he decided to run. Reagan united the US like no other in my lifetime. He was able to show how dumb the opposition was without actually saying it, just putting a different emphasis on what his opposition said usually did the trick. Palin is so despised by the left and a lot of women. If she can’t nail the female vote or the minority vote she’s toast.
Bubba on the other hand had Ross Perot’s help in both elections, he didn’t necessarily schmooze the voters as much as Perot splitting the Republican vote.
And now I read she’s quitting as governor of Alaska, yet more fuel for the left to label her as a quitter, can’t handle the pressure etc.
*Sanford couldn’t even manage his personal life.”
How true.
Think the guy is a nerd who never got the girl he wanted. He got the girl he needed for his career*
You hit it, right on!
BTW my grandmother was from your City.
Now Steve, you’ve gone too far. Even I tolerated you to this point.
But enough is enough.
You are too unstable. Go get the Rx refilled and take two and call your 2012 candidate in the morning.
After McCain no more campaign manager for you!
(No soup either.)
Grandma is from Nueva York? :)
Must be something Bozo the Clown put in the water cooler...
“She might as well, because she’s finished in politics. She has zero chance of winning any elected office again, now.”
The irony of this statement is hilarious. You support Romney. The candidate that has absolutely no chance of ever winning a national GOP Primary.
Your efforts here are sincere yet like hitting jello with a baseball bat. It goes nowhere.
Or something he planted here...
Sure seems drug-induced to me....
>It is a double whammy, counterpunch is both a Romney man and a McCain guy, he is trying to move FR left.<
To: NYC Republican
Pawlenty is more of an apolitical non-ideological moderate than a conservative. And Joe Biden would absolutely eat his lunch, and then drink his milkshake.
Romney is the most effective advocate for John McCain, and has the sharpest teeth as an attack dog. Plus he is unflappable. That is exactly what McCain needs in a VP. Remember, the VP is a supporting role. He is there to sell the top of his ticket while assailing the other party’s.
Romney was hand-made for the job.
I think the reason so many unacceptable names have been floated is to try to keep some element of surprise while lowering expectations amid the persistent speculation it is going to be Romney. Then when Romney is picked over Lieberman, Ridge, and Pawlenty, everyone will breath a sigh of relief and hail the selection.
115 posted on Thursday, August 28, 2008 4:23:03 AM by counterpunch (John McCain - For the LOVE of Country)
“CanadaFreePress and Macleans are two vastly different
sources.”
Well shame on me. I screwed up as I’m very aware of the difference between Macleans and Canada Free Press, therefore I humbly apologize for my error, however mightn’t the post as I replicate it below still have some standing?
“...then one might be inclined to believe they get their information from a source, or sources that reflect an attitude in their writing style.
This fellow is reflecting an attitude in his writing style that tells me he spends too much time with RINO’s.”
I think so.
Hoboken :)
You’ve tried your hit in run in several threads, thinking you’re clever.
But you still refuse to answer, did you support McCain over 0bama once the nomination was settled?
>Romneybots are all the same.<
Romney is the most effective advocate for John McCain, and has the sharpest teeth as an attack dog. Plus he is unflappable. That is exactly what McCain needs in a VP. Remember, the VP is a supporting role. He is there to sell the top of his ticket while assailing the other party’s.
Romney was hand-made for the job.
I think the reason so many unacceptable names have been floated is to try to keep some element of surprise while lowering expectations amid the persistent speculation it is going to be Romney. Then when Romney is picked over Lieberman, Ridge, and Pawlenty, everyone will breath a sigh of relief and hail the selection.
115 posted on Thursday, August 28, 2008 4:23:03 AM by counterpunch (John McCain - For the LOVE of Country)
Another lying troll exposed! Well done, ansel12!
Do you realize that question is completely illogical?
Though I never said such an absurd thing, you deliberately and falsely misinterpret the fact. An honest and sincere person has no need to twist the truth, which is what you did.
In my lifetime I have never heard anyone say they were "pulling the lever" for the running mate. Did Obama win the election because Democrats/liberals flocked to the polls in their great desire to have Biden for their VP?
A resounding NO!
Lastly, many conservatives did not agree with some of McCain's policies---not all of them--- but some. When he chose the conservative Alaskan governor as a running mate, there was a strong hope that she would balance the ticket.
No matter whom McCain might have chosen for a running mate, I guarantee you that no true conservative would have voted for Barack Obama. The last six months have proven, without a doubt, that their distrust was justified.
My guess is that you enjoy being an agitator or are blind to the facts.
My last words.
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