Posted on 11/19/2010 6:50:35 AM PST by WebFocus
By telling Barbara Walters that she thinks she can defeat President Obama, Sarah Palin has dimmed hopes cherished by sensible Republicans that she might decide against a run for the White House in 2012. Here are just some of the reasons she should not run.
The Republican nominee should be someone with a vast and impressive record in government and the private sector. Voters chose a novice with plenty of star power in 2008 and will be inclined to swing strongly in the other direction in 2012. Americans will be looking for sober competence, managerial skill, and maturity — not sizzle and flash.
After the 2008 campaign revealed her substantive weaknesses, Palin was advised by those who admired her natural gifts to bone up on policy and devote herself to governing Alaska successfully. Instead, she quit her job as governor after two and a half years, published a book (another is due next week), and seemed to chase money and empty celebrity. Now, rather than being able to highlight the accomplishments of Sarah Palin’s Alaska, we get Sarah Palin’s Alaska, another cheesy entrant in the reality-show genre. She’d so much rather be out dog sledding than in some “dull political office,” she tells the audience. File that.
It’s true. She is wildly popular with a swath of the Republican electorate. And, as a conservative woman politician told me, political consultants (who get paid the big bucks, win or lose) will doubtless descend upon her with game plans showing how she can win in Iowa and then cruise to the nomination. Maybe. But the general election would be a problem, since 53 percent of independent voters view Palin unfavorably along with 81 percent of Democrats, according to a recent Gallup poll.
There is no denying that Sarah Palin has been harshly, sometimes even brutally, treated by the press and the entertainment gaggle. But any prominent Republican must expect and be able to transcend that. Palin compares herself to Reagan. But Reagan didn’t mud-wrestle with the press. Palin seems consumed and obsessed by it, as her rapid Twitter finger attests, and thus she encourages the sniping. She should be presiding over meetings on oil and gas leases in the North Slope, or devising alternatives to Obamacare. Every public spat with Dave Letterman or Politico, or the “lamestream media,” or (God help us) Levi Johnston, diminishes her.
Speaking of television, have you watched “Dancing with the Stars”? Calling the show cheesy would be too generous. Perhaps the former governor should not be blamed for the decisions of her adult daughter. Yet there in the audience we see Sarah and Todd Palin, mugging for the camera and cheering on their unwed-mother daughter as she bumps and grinds to the tune of “Mamma Told Me Not To Come.” Her parents had advised her, the 20-year-old Bristol told an interviewer, that she had to stay “in character” if she expected to win. Being “in character” evidently meant descending to the vulgarity that DWTS peddles on a weekly basis. The mama grizzly was apparently unfazed by, or — equally disturbingly — unaware of, the indignity. And she is supposed to be a conservative culture warrior?
Voters prize judgment, above all, in a presidential candidate. Some of Sarah Palin’s 2010 endorsements were sound and arguably helpful. Others betrayed flightiness and recklessness. Tom Tancredo, Palin’s choice for governor of Colorado, has ridden his anti-immigration hobby-horse in a style perfectly suited to alienate Hispanic voters (describing Miami, for example, as a “Third World city”). Her endorsement of Christine O’Donnell was irresponsible and damaging, losing a seat that would otherwise have been a Republican pick-up. Of course, O’Donnell received an absurdly disproportionate amount of ink and attention during the race (the liberal press naturally seizes upon any opportunity to make conservatives look kooky), but Palin should have anticipated that. Besides, this one cannot be laid at the feet of the biased media. O’Donnell was a thoroughly unqualified candidate.
Palin has many strengths. I admire her fortitude and her principles. Her ability to connect with a crowd is something most politicians can only dream of. I will always remember her 2008 convention speech as a rollicking star turn. She would be terrific as a talk-show host — the new Oprah.
But a presidential candidate? Someone to convince critical independent voters that Republicans can govern successfully? Absolutely not.
— Mona Charen is a nationally syndicated columnist.
Reagan was different. He had a far longer career, as an actor, a leading anti-communist in Hollywood, an elected union leader, a two term governor of a major state, and a commentator and writer. Reagan had even done a stage act in Vegas in the early 60s.
In 1967, Reagan beat Robert Kennedy so badly in a debate over the Viet Nam war that even the national press rated Reagan the clear winner. Reagan also ran for President and lost in 1968 and 1976, which gave him a stock of experience and national contacts.
The result was that when Reagan ran in 1980, he had a potent command of the issues that refuted claims that he was dumb, a well-honed affable public manner that disarmed critics, and a formal speaking style that could be both inspiring and impressive.
Palin, for all her qualities and great promise, is not up to that standard — at least not yet.
Awww. Looks like you didn’t stick around to reply to post #217. Somehow I suspect you are reading it though and that we’ll see a re-tread reply soon enough. (how many permutations of ‘lady’, ‘lawyer’ and ‘gop’ can one come up with)?
“Yep, when all else fails, try the “concern troll” approach”
Concerned? Hell yeah I’m concerned!!! The last thing I want is Obama in the White House for a 2nd term. You can call me a troll all you want, doesn’t change anything.
I’ve never seen so many “concern trolls”. Long term members *and* recent sign-ups.
“Reagan was different.”
Straw man argument. Nobody is saying Palin is Reagan.
The historic comparision is about polls this far out...they are meaningless, they don’t mean anything, especially for the “American Idolized” Independents.
No way in hell the Indys vote for Obama...they despise him now.
Lol...Well, my dog's can of Alpo can beat 0bama.
Never will any political debate will be more fascinating with Palin in the ring. It will wind up as the media feeding frenzy in any case and made to be ALL about "style," and nothing about substance.
Yes, Palin did hold her own against Biden, but most expected a mismatch. It's easy now to say Biden was a lightweight. Speaking of "lightweight" debaters, BOTH 0bama and McCain fit that bill.
Palin can more than hold her own either way IMO. You just wonder to what length the primary candidates are willing to play dirty and personal.
OTOH, Romney should get trounced based on his 0bamaCare-like reminder of RomneyCare alone.
I fully support Sarah and would campaign for her if she decided to run, but hope she does not run. I think she is better as an outsider, providing support to candidates, and speaking her mind on Conservative issues.
That being said, I do not support Mitt for President, as I think he is wishy-washy on the issues and will say whatever he thinks to get elected. I don’t trust his Conservative principles, and think he parses his words too much. I am looking for a NEW fresh Conservative face for 2012, someone with experience and Cons principles.
a copy of the health care reform law he called his greatest achievement.
____________________________________________
Yeppers Romney needs to retire now that he has acheived Maslows Self-actualization
Citizens do not care if every terrorist in al Qaeda,
and every RomneyBOT, and every ObamaBOT likes
what MITT ROMNEY did. Not one citizen of Massachusetts
ever got to vote on RomneyCARE or RomneyMARRIAGE or
the Romney COVERUP of the BIG DIG.
(and then the carpetbagger Romney fled to La Jolla, didnt he?).
If the Heritage Foundation drafted or liked Romneycare, then they suck too.
They also like China/globalization, so they are evil. Anyeone promoting moving all our factories to China is a traitor.
With all that you say, why was her approval ratings in the 80 to 90% range during her tenior? You fail.
I say that you have a filthy mouth.
LOL. Well, you just joined Sarah's List a couple of days ago! The media assault called "STOP SARAH PALIN" is into Week 3, so I guess those who oppose her are coming out of the proverbial woodwork....lol.
I mean she stands for everything FR stands for, so, what's the real problem?
I say you need a bar of soap in that mouth. This is NOT DU.
Don’t ask me. :)
My FReeper beeber says you have crossed the line with your rhetoric in that post noob.
So your reality is the indy’s would/could consider voting for Barry. Do you buy your reality or is given to you?
FR is really a troll magnet these days.
They and their bosses must think that FR’s conservative message is quite dangerous.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.