Palin's Prospects (Fred Barnes chimes in)

Weekly Standard ^ | 7/5/09 | Fred Barnes

[pissant]

Forget about Sarah Palin as the Republican presidential candidate in 2012 and probably ever. She may have no interest in seeking the GOP nomination. But if she does, her chances of winning the nomination have been minimized by her decision to resign as governor of Alaska. She's knocked out one of three legs of the presidential stool and a second one is wobbly.

I say this reluctantly because Palin, in my view, is the most exciting Republican figure to emerge in decades. She mesmerizes crowds in a way that no other Republican leader can come close to matching. She has what can't be taught--real charisma.

But personal magnetism is only one of the legs, or underpinnings, for a successful race for the Republican nomination. The other two are experience in office and enough knowledge of foreign and domestic issues to talk about them persuasively. By stepping down, she's cut her experience short: it now consists of a meager two and a half years as governor of a thinly populated state. And, from all appearances, Palin has made little headway on the issue track.

Even a super-abundance of charisma cannot make up for her shortcomings in experience and knowledge. It might be enough if she were running for a lesser office. The election of Arnold Schwarzenegger as governor of California proves that point. But running for president on charisma alone? I don't think so.

[pissant]

Not sure Fred was a fan to start with.

[personalaccts]

Fred is a RINO.....More gov’t conservative is what he calls himself

[gov_bean_ counter]

Even a super-abundance of charisma cannot make up for her shortcomings in experience and knowledge.

No point in reading past here...

[IMissPresidentReagan]

Fred is just jealous that Sarah has more fashionable glasses than he. :)

[wny]

The lack of experience in office didn’t stop obama. but then he’s a demhole and there’s a different standard for them

[TornadoAlley3]

LOL at how they always underestimate Sarah Palin

[mountainlion]

Bob Dole resigned the position of the Senate Leader and the position of Senator and got the nomination. These guys need to do some research before they write their fabrications.

[Servant of the Cross]

You think a lot of Fred Barnes, right? Not. We do know you are not a fan of Sarah. Duncan Hunter, Duncan Hunter, Duncan Hunter.

I think Einstein said it best:

“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”.

[LS]

I think the experience thing, and especially his comments about the "foundations of conservatism" is critical. Palin has good instinct, but I have yet to see her delve deeply into conservative fundamentals based on a Friedman, Buckley, or any of the others. Reagan WROTE and spoke about every major issue over a period of 20 years, esp. on his GE circuit and his radio addresses.

However, this line kind of negates all that: "But running for president on charisma alone?"

One word: "Obama."

[LS]

Surely you aren’t citing Bob Dole as a model for how to win?

[OCCASparky]

They were shoveling dirt on Nixon in 1962 as well.

[starlifter]

[Earthdweller]

Fred never like her. This entire snotty piece is a joke.

[skimbell]

Fred's a big part of the reason that I stopped watching Fox. He and his moron buddy Mort got so carried away trying to grovel at 0's alter during the campaign that it made me sick. Watch Fred, when he really gets excited he starts stuttering. Toward the end of the election campaign last year all he could spit when he tried to talk about The One was O O O O O O O O....

Fred's a RINO.

[kittymyrib]

Fred “The Beatle” Barnes is living in the past. In today’s political climate, one can become President with absolutely NO experience in running anything but a campaign. BO is Exhibit A for the success of this strategy.
These old GOPers are seriously out of touch with the new politics of personality. And unfortunately for the GOP, with the exception of Sarah Palin, none of their prospects for ‘12 has a personality.

[DManA]

Democrats would never sit back and laugh while one of theirs was being pitilessly attacked.

[henkster]

“But running for president on charisma alone? I don’t think so.”

Which explains why McCain won so easily.

Great analysis Fred. You make an argument on theory that completely ignores recent facts. I stopped reading right there.

[MNnice]

Notice Barnes doesn’t mention “principles” as one of those legs. That’s why he and his ilk don’t understand the base.

Let’s see, did Obama have any experience? Nope. Did Obama have any knowledge about any issues other than being a community organizer? Nope.

[Jim Noble]

The other two are experience in office and enough knowledge of foreign and domestic issues to talk about them persuasively.

Hey, a guy with none of the above just got himself elected President!