GOP 2012 Race For President Still Wide Open

IBD Editorials ^ | April 21, 2011 | CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER

[Kaslin]

Unified Field Theory of 2012, Axiom One: The more the Republicans can make the 2012 election like 2010, the better their chances of winning.

The 2010 Democratic shellacking had the distinction of being the most ideological election in 30 years. It was driven by one central argument in its several parts: the size and reach of government, spending and debt, and, most fundamentally, the nature of the American social contract.

2010 was a referendum on the Obama experiment in hyper-liberalism. It lost resoundingly.

Of course, presidential elections are not arguments in the abstract but arguments with a face. Hence, Axiom Two: The less attention the Republican candidate draws to him/herself, the better the chances of winning. To the extent that 2012 is about ideas, about the case for smaller government, Republicans have a decided edge.

If it's a referendum on the fitness and soundness of the Republican candidate — advantage Obama.

Which suggests Axiom Three: No baggage and no need for flash. Having tried charisma in 2008, the electorate isn't looking for a thrill up the leg in 2012. It's looking for solid, stable, sober and, above all, not scary. Given these Euclidean truths, here's the early line. (Remember: This is analysis, not advocacy.)

Long shots

Michele Bachmann: Tea Party favorite. Appeals to Palinites. Could do well in Iowa. Hard to see how she makes her way through the rest of the primary thicket. A strong showing in debates and a respectable finish would increase her national stature for 2016. For now: 20-1 to win the nomination.

[WayneS]

Based on the current republicrat ‘front runners’, and assuming the current occupant runs for re-occupancy, I may seriously consider scheduling a long-overdue root-canal for election day 2012, instead of going to vote.

The pain on that day will be about the same, but a root-canal serves a purpose after it is over...

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Krauthammer at the recent Pennsylvania Leadership Conference:

During his speech, Krauthammer emphasized that the Republicans needed a candidate with a clean slate, so that the 2012 presidential campaign can focus on ideas rather than personal baggage.

“I want a candidate who is dull as mud,” quipped Krauthammer. “Someone who will not attract attention but will make the arguments.” Among prospective 2012 candidates, he said Pawlenty best fits the bill.

And this is precisely why the GOP is a perpetually losing party.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

The latest wishful thinking from the GOP cocktail club...

[ken5050]

So, I guess we'd better concentrate on taking control of the Senate, and then spend the next 4 years checkmating Obama every day.

However, giive us 4-6 months of $5/gallon gas, and Obama's favorables will be in the LOW 30's..

[Buckeye Battle Cry]

I agree with his analysis of Palin. If she defers, she’s a king/queen maker. Whomever she taps on the shoulder becomes the front runner overnight/ All of the anti-RINO conservatives want a single name they can rally to. This would be death to Romney’s dreams because his only hope is a large field with each contender taking a small percentage of support leaving him with the most support at 20%.

It would be her perfect revenge for the way Team Romney trashed her in `08.

[freekitty]

Draft West.

[Diogenesis]

Krauthammer is NOT a conservative, but
rather a DNC plant.

Krauthammer has been the the serial rumpswab for MONDALE,
and OBAMA and ROMNEY.
Want proof: He claims, Romney is a "Serious guy. Pre-vetted (2008)"

The only thing pre-vetted about Romney in 2008
is that HIS TEAM threw the election to Obama (with Krauthammer).

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"Despite outspending his rivals by huge margins throughout the primaries,
(Mitt Romney, Carpetbagger UT,CA,MA,NH,Mexico) lost Iowa, South Carolina, Florida and California.
The only primaries he won were in Michigan, where Dad was governor; LDS states;
and a few states on Super Tuesday in which his California-obsessed rivals
couldn't spare the cash to advertise.
Only John Connolly in 1968 had a worse cash-to-delegates ratio.
And John McCain rightly did not like Romney's tactics during the primaries.
(W)hen (Romney's early leads) started slipping away, he resorted to unfair,
distorted, scorched-earth negative ads, betting that his opponents couldn't
afford to spend enough for the truth to catch up to his charges."
[Romney: A Mistake for McCain, 7/23/2008, Dick Morris]

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RINO Misogynists for Obama:
“Go Mitt. Go Mitt. Put the witches on their stakes."

[privatedrive]

Does anybody care what Chuckles thinks anymore?

[org.whodat]

Krophandle being his normal progressive self.

[jpsb]

"The latest wishful thinking from the GOP cocktail club..."

Too funny and true, gonna bump your comment.