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.
I miss him as much as my dad.
Whatever you're on, please stop drinking, smoking, and/or ingesting it.
Huntsman has less chance than Duncan Hunter had, last time around.
Not saying it would happen or that it’s even politically smart. I think it’s been more than proven by the msm and rino’s that she can’t pull them anywhere. It’s pointless to fight on their battlefield. Audacity is what wins. With the Tea Party, inflation, gas and grocery prices, now is the time to strike with a independent party. The iron is hot.
That cartoon could be Obama just as easily.
Those were the days!
I think that either Mitt or Huckabee would suit the libs from the standpoint of being easy to knock down in the general election, but with Mitt they have the best of both worlds.
They can blast him as a crazy Mormon fanatic in the general election (reminding everyone about the Mormon’s historical discrimination against Blacks), and if by some chance he does win — hey, he’s as close to Liberal as you can get and still have an “R” after your name.
It’s “win-win for the Dims...
I completely agree with the iron part but liberals will cast themselves into molten vats of steel before accepting they are wrong.
Well, it's a bit of an exaggeration to say we want to dismantle the "social safety net", but otherwise, where's the mistaken notion? Our "radical notion" on taxes and spending is we can't afford any more! Cut both...drastically...and NOW!
The Leftists just really don't get it, do they? Oh well, their loss...again.
Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!
The left can have him. It is where he belongs
I completely agree. 2012 is the last election for awhile, no matter who wins.
The Bennington Banner? Sounds like the People’s Republic of Vermont. Nuff said.
Mooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooroooooooooooooooon.
I figure Romney has not a hesitation to court democrats, the Maine twin types and various other socialists and moderates, since he is utterly out of sight from any and every conservative media and conservative event. Not a word has been heard from him, so where the heck is his money and cheery poll ranking coming from, the democrats?
what would happen if Palin went independent and pre-polled stronger than the GOP, a month before the election? “ =============
Trump and Palin may both duke it out running as Independents. They’re the only two viable candidates, although Trump would likely run away with the Independents who will decide the race in 12.
Jon Huntsman—on April 30, 2011, he is a member of the Obama Administration, on May 1st 2011, he becomes leader of the conservative movement and the dream President of conservative America.
You have a weird sense of humor.
I assume you,re from Ok due to your tag. So am I. I think Trump’s only purpose is to split conservative’s/Tea Party voters. As I’ve tried to tell Second Div Vet, Trump’s attempt to bring out the LFBC has and will fail. If it hasn’t come out by now it won’t. The media don’t want it to, among others. Makes a great lure, though. As does Rezko and zero’s complete inability for the job. Hasn’t changed anything, has it?
That’s why Governor Sarah Palin is the most conservative of those candidates with a real chance of winning. Mitt Romney ... do I really have to go into why he’s not the one? Tim Pawlenty is Mitt with a Midwestern accent. Huckabee pardons murderers, is VERY squishy on immigration and the nanny state. Newt is last century’s newspaper and went “green” with Nancy Pelosi. Michele just caved on the BC and we don’t elect House members to the White House.
I like it. Maybe she should wait until very late (like December 2011) and do just this, all the while planning how to execute it perfectly. BOOYAH!!!!
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