The GOP Presidential Primary Isn’t Big Enough for Palin and a Bunch of Others

National Review Online ^ | 11/22/10 | Jim Geraghty

[FTJM]

The two Republicans whose names came up most often on the NR cruise? Sarah Palin and Chris Christie.

In my interactions with only a fraction of the 700+ NR cruisegoers — mostly older, mostly well-off, passionate about politics, and many heavily involved with the tea parties — I found about two-thirds wildly enthusiastic about Sarah Palin; you could hear the gasps when Scott Rasmussen predicted she would not be the 2012 Republican nominee. Most of the remaining one-third said that while they personally liked Palin, they didn’t want to see her run in 2012, or anytime soon. An isolated few didn’t seem to like Palin much at all.

I was struck by how many Palin fans agreed with me that resigning the governorship, while understandable, is a serious misstep for any aspiring president. If you want to govern, it is best to demonstrate that you can govern.

The Palin family has taken over your television, between “Sarah Palin’s Alaska” on TLC and Bristol Palin dancing up a storm on “Dancing With the Stars.” You’re also seeing Palin on the cover of People and other non-political magazines. It’s odd to see a Republican begin to master the domination of pop culture that Obama practiced in 2007 and 2008, and this is certainly a way to keep Palin enthusiasts at a fever pitch. But I’m not sure this approach gets her where she wants to go, or at least whether it wins over the folks who aren’t on board with her already.

[upsdriver]

Sarah Palin will win you over, eventually.

[rbmillerjr]

“Palin has said that if a “real” Conservative runs, she won’t and will instead help that candidate, so if Pence announces, which it appears he will, there won’t be the problem you describe.”

That’s not what she said. She said if a conservative that can get the job done....Pence obviously can’t as he polls at about 2%.

[ScottinVA]

IMO if Sarah is serious, she needs to get a coach to help her polish her speaking style (to soften it and add a touch of deliberateness). As you may recall, Maggie Thatcher worked with a National Theatre voice coach who lowered her pitch by 46 Hertz to a point where it fell half-way between the range of male and female.

That would be a GREAT idea. Maggie Thatcher did so, as well as Lauren Bacall (though Lauren went a bit far, IMO).

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

IMO if Sarah is serious, she needs to get a coach to help her polish her speaking style (to soften it and add a touch of deliberateness). As you may recall, Maggie Thatcher worked with a National Theatre voice coach who lowered her pitch by 46 Hertz to a point where it fell half-way between the range of male and female.

Definitely. It's her only significant drawback. She always sounds like she's talking to teens.

I realize some people refuse to take her seriously, and evaluate her honestly, no matter what; but she needs to work on the gravitas. A book on energy policy would be a good move too. It'd be a great way to get the subject discussed -- plus 0bama & company are very vulnerable there.

[rbmillerjr]

“because she is not conservative enough.”

She is the most conservative candidate that we will have that has a chance to win...her record is very conservative.

[earlJam]

... or will encourage me to go 3rd Party. Could go either way.

[rbmillerjr]

“But if Romney trips her up on economic issues, she’s toast.”

Romney won’t trip up anybody, he’ll be too busy defending
MittCare. He’s burnt toast before he even starts.

[SonOfDarkSkies]

I wonder how we can get some emails to Sarah re: this suggestion?

I think she would make a great president, but a little work to broaden her appeal would help her attract those stubborn independents.

[upsdriver]

And resigning the governorship was unhelpful if the goal was to build Palin's case for the presidency - at least according to conventional political thought. Defying convention is possible, but it's not lot of fun playing against a stacked deck.

Defying conventional political thought has been Palin's strong suit throughout her career. It's why I admire her so much, she isn't like the typical politicians who have systematically ruined our country. Resigning the governorship was a stroke of genius.

[roamer_1]

She is the most conservative candidate that we will have that has a chance to win...

Immaterial. John McAin't was arguably more conservative than Obama too (though that isn't saying much). Principle is more important.

her record is very conservative.

No, it is not.

[FTJM]

“Palin has said that if a “real” Conservative runs, she won’t and will instead help that candidate, so if Pence announces, which it appears he will, there won’t be the problem you describe.”

That’s not what she said. She said if a conservative that can get the job done....Pence obviously can’t as he polls at about 2%.

Actually, she said "do the job"...

"ET’s Mary Hart asked her bluntly: “Are you going to run for president?”

Palin began her response with what would be expected at this stage of the political cycle: “You know I have not decided what I’m going to do in 2012. I don’t think any of the potential candidates have. I think that still it is too early for anybody to get out there declaring what their intentions are.”

Then she added some caveats and conditions to provide a glimpse of her thought process on THE QUESTION, saying her decision would entail a family discussion and “a real close look at the lay of the land and to consider whether there are those with that common sense, conservative, pro-Constitution passion, whether there are already candidates out there who can do the job, and I”ll get to be their biggest supporter, and their biggest helpmate, if they will have me. Or whether there is nobody willing to do it, to make the tough choices and not care what the critics are going to say about you, just going forward according to what I believe the priorities should be.”

And then came Palin’s big finale: “If there’s nobody else to do it, then of course I would believe that we should do this.”"

Pence, and DeMint, certainly fit that description.

[upsdriver]

That’s true, you could go third party. I suppose it depends on who is running as a third party candidate. BTW, have you read Palin’s book, Going Rogue?

[faucetman]

Obviously we don't know if Sarah is running for POTUS, but if she does and doesn't win the primary, the nominee would be a FOOL not to choose her for Veep. She would be a fantastic veep. She already has of course and for those who say she is short on experience, would agree she has enough experience to be veep. She is the world's best campaigner, a HUGE plus. She would get 4 or 8 years experience at the highest level and then run for POTUS.

A more engaged veep on domestic issues (Constitution, energy, immigration, etc.) would be a real asset.

A foreign policy, national security President would be the perfect compliment. While the President would of course lead on ALL issues, he could delegate the hard work to Sarah.

So who could this foreign policy, national security President be?

John Bolton. (totally serious)
(putting fingers in ears going lalalalalalalalalalalalalala) so I can't hear everyone laughing.

Stranger things have happened. We only need one rock star on the ticket.

Or we could nominate Hugh JeDett

[wtc911]

We only need one rock star on the ticket.

______________________________________

We don't need any rock stars on the ticket, we've already got one in the WH. And we sure as hell don't need a dual presidency.

We need one mature, experienced, competent, electable candidate at the top.

[The Pack Knight]

Like osamaobama? He was gov of IL for 8 years... uh nope, he was mayor of Chicago... uh nope...he was a US Senator for 2 years before he announced his Presidential candidacy.

Since when did all this experience become a requirement.

So, evidently "better than Obama" is all you're looking for in a President. You have some awfully low standards, buddy.

[rbmillerjr]

Palin: “...whether there are already candidates out there who can do the job”

Your comment: “Pence, and DeMint, certainly fit that description.”

Pence and DeMint don’t even come close...they can’t do the job because they poll at around 2%. They can’t win the nomination.

[ansel12]

Do you have a link to that?

[Diogenesis]

jerry557: "We will see. But if Romney trips her up on economic issues, she’s toast."

Actually, as non-RomneyBOTs know,
Romney knows NOTHING about good economy.

MITT ROMNEY - THE PROVEN BAD GOVERNOR

"As U.S. real output grew 13 percent between 2002 and 2006, Massachusetts trailed at 9 percent.
* Manufacturing employment fell 7 percent nationwide those years, but sank 14 percent under Romney, placing Massachusetts 48th among the states.
* Between fall 2003 and autumn 2006, U.S. job growth averaged 5.4 percent, nearly three times Massachusetts' anemic 1.9 percent pace.
* While 8 million Americans over age 16 found work between 2002 and 2006, the number of employed Massachusetts residents actually declined by 8,500 during those years.
"Massachusetts was the only state to have failed to post any gain in its pool of employed residents," professors Sum and McLaughlin concluded.
In an April 2003 meeting with the Massachusetts congressional delegation in Washington, Romney failed to endorse President Bush's $726 billion tax-cut proposal."
[Cato Institute annual Fiscal Policy Report Card - America's Governors, 2004.]

“Romney praises Obama again
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney praised President Obama
at a GOP fundraising dinner Wednesday ..
"I also think it's important for us to nod to the president when he's right," Romney said....
Romney, who spoke at a dinner for the National Republican Senatorial Committee,
said he's pleased with the president's plans to "finish the job" in Iraq and Afghanistan
-- lines that drew applause from the partisan audience. He also applauded the president
for standing up to the auto industry.
"I hope he continues to be tough ....The former businessman even offered faint praise for
Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, saying that after a series of initial missteps,
"I think he's finally getting close to the right answer."

[rbmillerjr]

I find it amusing that some of these “concerned that Palin isn’t electable” frauds...will point to people who poll at 2% as their guys...lol...I mean, really.

[ansel12]

Having said all that, it’s easy to picture a half-dozen GOP candidates quitting the race the day after Palin jumps in. She’ll suck most of the oxygen out of the room, almost all of the media attention, the donations, etc. The 2012 Republican presidential primary could quickly shift from a wide-open free-for-all to a one-on-one match between Palin and the anti-Palin.

Woo hoo!! FR is Palin Country!!

48 posted on Tuesday, October 26, 2010 12:12:51 PM by Jim Robinson