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.
Yes, Barry ran against Sarah. Johnny boy quivered just looking at ‘his friend’ barry.
And we must remember, Sarah was ‘on the leash’ - we have NOT SEEN HER in FULL BLAST mode, yet!
sidenote: Mr&Mrs.LettuceHead went on the Asian junket with ‘his friend, barry.
Read it earlier, interesting, but doesn’t change the fact.
Clueless people don’t live long in my job (flying, for last 12 years, my previous job was dealing with explosive, after 8 years I decided it was time for a change & they were some clueless people in the office). Did I quit? No, it was a transfer (with a promotion) to another job in the same corperation.
Misogynist? WOW, big word, did you need a dictionary for that one?
But to answer, Sorry, no, Christian, Conservative, Heterosexual, pro-live & pro-gun.
Just tired of the “fall all over yourself” effect the former gov seems to have on otherwise smart people. It reminds me of the fall all over themselves effect Obama had on the left during the 2008 primary and election.
“Winners never quit and quitters never win.”
Vince Lombardi
Got another troll here, Mr. R.
standing right next to you...with my voting aged kids behind me on line...what a silly question.
They’re like cockroaches. JimRob’s zot-finger is gonna be in traction... =8-0
Real pro-liFer's don't make that spelling mistake.
The rest of your story smacks of a Lib-in-disguise "seminar-caller" to Rush.
No they don't.
If this thread is any indication... :)
Real conservatives don’t call themselves “heterosexual”, either. We’re just normal.
Anywho, sadly she was right in that the Heritage plan would become the basis for Romneycare...
HOWEVER (this is the important part)
IT WAS A THINK TANK EXERCISE.
Except for the slightly pie in the sky creators of the concept (yes we have those even in conservative circles) no one thought it would work in the real world especially where it could be beset upon by legislatures that were less the 1005 conservative. (ie Dems)
Now for the bonus question:
WHO has been the ONLY politician on the Republic side to EVER bring this plan into the light of the real world where it was destine to fail miserable and not be an actual conservative solution?
Yeppers, Mitt “Socialist turd” Romney.
And guess what happened to it.
Yup, it not only sucked when it was put into play, but sucked more because DEMS got hold of it and further screwed it up.
Gee and Mr. Brilliant did see that one coming.
Or did he?
Well he still supports it EVEN AFTER THE DEMOCRATIC ADDITONS MADE IT MORE SOCIALIST....
Hum...
Yea Mr. “Conservative” Mitt Romney! (AKA "The Schmuck")
Ah, you must have missed out on the escapades of Mr. Jim Thompson back in the spring. Ask some of the folks around here who can share that story with you.
BTW, syncro took the pic!
Here's a clue for you, playing video games in your mom's basement isn't actually a job. Why don't you give the GED another try.
But to answer, Sorry, no, Christian, Conservative, Heterosexual, pro-live & pro-gun.
One thing you will learn if you take a GED-prep class is proper punctuation and capitalization. As has already been noted, it is PRO-LIFE, not pro-live (unless of course that's some sort of function on your video games).
Anyhow, I'm betting that you will have a little more free time starting today, you should really try to make the most of it.
LOLOLOLOL!
You do realize that your pal Obama effectively quit the Senate after about a month in office in order to start his George Soros backed campaign for president. He continued to get paid as a senator, but he was basically nothing but a Presidential Candidate. Then he actually had the audacity to literally quit the Senate before he was sworn in as President! Oh the horror!
If McCain hadn't run such a pitiful campaign, then Palin would have quit her Governorship to take the job of Vice President. Her plan was to quit in January 2009. She held on until July.
Welcome to Free Republic, Newbie.
IBTZ
For the millionth time, she didn't QUIT, as you want everyone to believe.
You also ought to be paying attention to what's happening to the other PDS'er this week who've been taking shots at her, or else you might get weeded too.
Thanks for the encouragement. :)
QUITTING is easier then standing up for what is right.
Never said I supported Romney, not a big govt fan and I have issues with his social policies.
Sorry to break the news to you, Palin failed to swing the Senate over to the GOP, think O’Donnell, Angle, Fiorina.
Palin endorsed less then 20 House members just over half won, that really tipped the balance.
Yes, as I life long conservative I must be a troll because I dare to question Palin’s pre-ordained status as the GOP nom in 2012.
ROTFLOL!
Really out loud!
What, do you have a spy cam in his basement???
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