Krauthammer: Palin isn’t a serious candidate for president

Hot Air ^ | July 01, 2009 | ALLAHPUNDIT

[RobinMasters]

Oh yes, he went there. We’ve been having a running debate on Twitter this afternoon about Sarahcuda and my contention that criticism of her is verboten among righty blog readers, HA’s included. This thread will be an interesting test case. Most of the heat Kraut takes will be for his contention that “You cannot sustain a campaign of platitudes and clichés over a year and a half if you’re running for the presidency.” Didn’t Captain Hopenchange do exactly that? Well, yes and no. Granted, the most memorable line he uttered in 18 months on the trail was “Yes we can,” but he’s done countless policy interviews, debated Hillary 20 times and McCain three, and held numerous press conferences. The TOTUS jokes are fun but The One’s perfectly capable of straying off script when need be. Is Palin? She seems at ease when discussing energy or life issues but the jury’s still out on most everything else, which is why Kraut feels comfortable asserting that she hasn’t (yet) brushed up on national policy the way we all thought she would.

[Jeff Chandler]

A Democrat can get away with being weak because they’re seldom tested and the image presented to the American people is generally positive.

[Max in Utah]

I for one would be much happier with a candidate with core convictions and principles than I would with a polished, articulate, but unprincipled policy wonk like Newt or a "say anything to get a vote" RINO like Mitt or McCain.

Absolutely! We desperately need an honest* president with true conservative values who will abide by the Constitution.

.

*as honest as it's possible to be in that job, anyway...

[JLS]

1. Palin is going to sweep through the primaries.

2. Palin has real policy experience and positions, her campaign is hardly platitudes.

Krauthammer is just nuts about this. After this administration the American people are not going to be voting for candidates from DC for a long long time.

[StandUpChuck]

Krauthammer prefers Romney.

Romney really is the frontrunner.

[presently no screen name]

which is why Kraut feels comfortable...

Who cares what/why/how Kraut feels - there is always someone who feels they KNOW more because who we are. If he says it enough, the sheep will listen and that's what he's counting on - for the voters to MAKE him right. That's how propaganda works, people listen and obey.

[Eagles6]

Hmmm...Wonder if we could get Palin/ Sowell a ticket? I’d go for that.

[Eddie01]

Just so we’re clear, Charles Krauthammer is not a conservative, nor does he support conservatives.

He is at best a RINO lapdog.

[Natural Law]

"*as honest as it's possible to be in that job, anyway... "

Unfortunately, the definition of an "honest" politician is one that, once bought, stays bought.

[OpeEdMunkey]

I don’t think anyone is a serious candidate right now.

Palin has a job to do. Her performance in running Alaska will have a direct bearing on her seriousness as a candidate. Romney has time on his hands so he should be taking shots at the Democrats. Same with Cheney.

[Gondring]

Sarah Palin isn’t a serious candidtate for president.

And baraq was?

Yeah, I know... everytime I suggest that BHO might actually win the election, the flames start flying! Yeah, he has no way of winning...

</sarc>

[itsahoot]

He wasn’t saying that she sucked or that he wouldn’t vote for her or anything like that.

Actually, he was. His elitist attitude showed through his platitudes. He probably voted for Obama, as thrilled as he seemed after the election.

I have had enough of the Rhodes Scholars running this country, time for some common sense.

[Sudetenland]

Krauthamer is right on this...to a point. Palin does need to establish her bona fides on the heavy issues, her performance against Biden was not even "adequate."

I'm certain she has the brains to do so prior to the campaign, but she needs to begin to do so now.

On the otherhand, she will never satisfy the elitist in our party or the LIbtards in the Dim Party. Republicans need to know that going into the 2012 election. The press will attack her at every turn and there will be no let up on the drum-beat that she isn't smart enough on the issues. That much is clear.

On the "Pro" side, she has a lightning wit and a quick tongue and she will hold her own in any exchange. She's smart, tough, personable in a way we've not seen on the right since...dare I say it...Reagan. She has a natural affinity with the people and she's a great campaigner.

If she spends the time now really becoming a policy wonk, learning the fundamentals in foreign policy and economics so that they come natural to her, she should wipe the floor with any opponent.

But know this for sure...there will be no "level playing field" in this election. She will have to fight to get herself heard over the roar of the Obamedia machine.

[SoDak]

I have to agree with that assessment.

[Eddie01]

Krauthammer can’t walk and is lucky to have any work at all. His opinion is bogus.

This comment is repulsive and in no way representative of any kind of discourse tolerated on FreeRepublic.

If you have shame, now would be a good time to feel it.

[muawiyah]

The problem here is that Krauthammer has a well-known phobia of holyrollers, and Sarah has been a member of a Pentecostal church or two. The Kraut, on the other hand, has probably never entered any Christian church not vetted by Rome (Catholic, or "Separated Brethren" using John-Paul's definition), nor a Synagogue outside the precincts of the authority of the more "moderate" rabbinates or, in any case, a "Modern Orthodox Institution" ~ e.g. KJ where he's been seen and where he's delivered lectures.

In short, his views of proper religious behavior are stodgy.

I think he's missing something here that's very important ~ even if he doesn't approve of Sarah's church somebody cares enough to try to burn it down and possibly kill her ~ and all on account of her religious affiliations.

It's almost like they used to do to Jewish people.

If the Kraut has something to add to the debate I'd suggest he start offering his services to Sarah instead of the back of his hand.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

Krauthammer can’t walk

Neither can I, mostly. Want to make something about it?

[so_real]

Whereas I respect Krauthammer, he's way off base with this one. The crowds at Palin events speak for themselves. Poll the Repubs and ask "Did you vote for McCain/Palin or Palin/McWhatsHisName?" Poll the Democs and ask "Who are the most offensive Repubs?" The answers are poignant. Krauthammer's got this one wrong at a time when the Repubs can't afford to be wrong.

[jla]

Krauthammer probably never had a callous on his hands. His world is carpeted as hard wood floors would annoy him and make him unsteady. He knows not, despite being a psychologist, the emotion bent of real America. This is why he doesn’t understand the popularity of Sarah Palin. Tell me, how can Krauthammer and Thomas Sowell be at polar opposites in regard to Palin? One of them doesn’t know shite from Shinola.

[Clara Lou]

Can you see that emotions are running high here? All of a sudden Krauthammer isn’t a conservative because he sees a weakness in Palin! (Some folk might want to recall that only Jesus Christ was perfect.)
Personally, I hope Palin does what she needs to in order to become the best possible candidate. She’s got time to do it and she’s certainly intelligent enough. But at this point in time, I tend to agree with Krauthammer: She’s not in prime condition for the presidential campaign trail.

[itsahoot]

If I were her, I would wait for 2016. The Republican Party is too soft to nominate a conservative in 2012 anyway.

Yes they are too soft, but Palin transcends party, or else our Republic is forever gone.

I am glad most of my life is behind me, but God will question us about or willingness to abandon all that He gave us, just so we could be full of Hope & Change. Will we have an answer?