Posted on 04/22/2011 8:56:20 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Republicans looked strong coming off the November elections, in which they gave congressional Democrats a shellacking in most regions of the country, more than complicating President Obama’s ability to push through his agenda.
However, when it comes to challenging the president himself in 2012, the GOP is fast approaching comedy-of-errors status. They have one candidate widely considered viable, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, who separated himself from the Republican pack of potential candidates in a recent poll. But he also trailed the president in the same poll by a wide margin.
At least the former governor is someone who could appeal to the moderate voters Mr. Obama has targeted in his re-election campaign, not only those conservative Republicans and Tea Party allies who seem to have the rest of the GOP lineup dancing frantically to their tune.
Consider the recent statements of Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Mike Huckabee, Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann, Haley Barbour or other widely known Republicans, and try to imagine them winning a voter majority outside the party faithful. They all have swerved too far to the right in the mistaken notion, based on the November election results, that the country really does support their often radical proposals on taxes and in favor of dismantling the social safety net.
Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty seemed like a moderate who might emerge, but thus far he’s tried too hard to appeal to the party’s hard right and has shown nary a spark of political charisma.
Mr. Romney, on the other hand, has been less vocal on social issues and focused on economic issues. He also could claim to have appeal nationally based on his election as governor of liberal Massachusetts. He seems to pose the greatest threat to an Obama re-election, but he first would have to win nomination in a primary process that favors far-right Republican views -- and he would have to overcome the fact he is a Mormon in a party dominated by fundamentalist Christian philosophy.
And then there is The Donald. Businessman, TV sensation, quip master Donald Trump is not much of a threat to win the Republican nomination once other candidates started to hammer him on his record as a businessman and whatever lifestyle issues would emerge as controversial. For the time being, he’s getting the most publicity, but that’s because he’s colorful and no one believes he is seriously running for president.
Everything could change, however, if Mr. Trump decided to mount an independent campaign for president. With his wealth and name recognition, he might go a long way in that role -- especially as, without a series of primaries to contend with, he would not face the same scrutiny as the GOP candidates.
The Donald as a real candidate is something to fear. We would hope the country would reject this "celebrity" blowhard and his think-last, pop-off-first comments, but in a three-way race, you just never know what havoc he would wreak. The bottom line is that politics may seem like "reality" TV, but at some point it actually is serious business.
The one the left is really pushing is Huckabee. CBS had him on top in three different poles.
If the Left wants Romney so badly, all they have to do is convince ObaMao to step aside and nominate him.
How can you have a democracy when state-run media isn't in charge?
The communists are desparate to pick our candidate for us AGAIN!
*WE* won’t. But we have an open primary problem...
From the most “progressive” city in the socialist-electing state.
But, it’s Mitt’s turn.
But in the minds of the ignorant, then MSM is the final word.
Maybe Palin runs as a independant. Nothing will suprise me any more and neither would this.
While I would disagree with the premise that the left wants Romney to be the nominee I totally agree with you that open primaries are a huge problem. In fact they'll be a far bigger problem than they were in 2008 because there will be no competition on the Dem side.
To be clearer, what would happen if Palin went independent and pre-polled stronger than the GOP, a month before the election? Snap the GOP off right at the knees with a audacious move. Needs to happen.
I have recently found out that an acquaintance that supported Obama in 2008 is now supporting Romney. That tells me all I need to know about that.
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Good line Vigilanteman!
Romneycare = Obamacare which = Big Government
Big Government = End of liberty = End of America
Repeal Obamacare
Repeal Romneycare
That will never happen. She is trying to pull the GOP back to conservatism.
That’s like switching from lemonaide to limeaide.
I had the first comment on the editorial: “Romney’s Bain Co. bought Burlington Coat Factory and sold the BCF store in Lower Manhatten to the Victory Mosque Jihadists. That’s what Jihadists do, build a Mosque on the dead victims.
I don’t think I’ll be voting for Romney. Besides, Governor Sarah Palin will win 43 states.”
I plan to use that without the “ade”. I have a visit in May coming up. Thanks!
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