Posted on 07/02/2009 9:30:03 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Sounds far-fetched and, to some, totally implausible. But the Republicans are losing potential candidates at a pace that is downright alarming if you believe in a healthy two-party system. The demise of John Ensign’s political career a few weeks ago and the surreal downfall of Mark Sanford last week is enough to send chills through the even the most optimistic Republican strategist. We know that of the 2008 crop, only Mitt Romney seems likely to stay on as a contender. The old stalwarts like Newt Gingrich may get a lot of press, but it is unlikely they can mount a real challenge to Obama in 2012. Yet, the presidential election of 2012 will be more than a simple coronation of Barack Obama if the economy stalls and there is no progress in two important areas: national security and healthcare.
Ballooning deficits and a sluggish economy could alter the mood of America by the time the 2010 mid-terms come up, giving hope to the GOP for the next presidential primary season. This is why Sarah Palin is maintaining a persistent media presence, whether it is debating David Letterman or being the biggest Republican draw on the lecture circuit. She clearly has her eyes set on the presidency.
The latest edition of Vanity Fair brings this possibility forward, though not in a favourable light. Journalist Todd Purdhom paints a picture of a woman with a narcissistic personality, who’s short on knowledge, disinterested in policy discussion, and not ready for primetime. In the end, the story says more about John McCain’s competence and character than it does about Palin, simply because he flubbed his most important decision as a presidential candidate. That said, Palin brought much needed energy to an otherwise lackluster campaign and, to this day, she energizes the base as no other candidate can. Could it be possible she may someday be a candidate for the presidency?
My experience tells me that no one should be written off in a hypothetical context. Barack Obama is proof positive of this. I still maintain that, without Bush, there is no Obama nomination. Palin is a street smart politician who has benefited from being underestimated most of her career. McCain’s disastrous choice may have been fatal to his electoral chances, but it brought Palin to the forefront of national attention. Since then, she has become a celebrity that transcends her party. However, if she is to be taken seriously and considered a viable contender, she needs to change the negative perceptions of her and develop a political profile that appeals to those outside her narrow base.
To do this, she must gradually reduce her exposure and begin to educate herself on the issues. She will not be ready for 2012 by remaining governor of Alaska and playing the celebrity. The GOP has too proud a tradition to have a re-run of the 2008 vice-presidential candidate. Also, the base Palin relies on for support no longer holds the sway it once did. Social conservatism is losing steam as a political movement thanks to the dubious habits of people like Gingrich, Ensign and Sanford, and the election of an African-American president as well as the increased attention paid to gay rights issues shows that Americans have begun to cast their old divisions aside. The future for the GOP lies with fiscal conservatism and strong national security policy—not with turning back the clock. Palin must embrace the values that created the Republican party in the first place—a belief in the individual, a belief in a limited role for the state, and a commitment to equality. The party of Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Eisenhower, and (the pragmatic version of) Reagan is the path to a Republican resurgence. Palin is nowhere on that radar. She is all about celebrity status and controversy.
In the lead-up to July 4, Americans usually reflect on their great democracy. Overall, it is healthy and has shown resilience through the decades. But the Republicans have to become a viable alternative for this democracy to remain vibrant. So is Palin a real possibility for 2012 or 2016? Will she someday be a formal candidate for the presidency? Most definitely. But can she ever win? Based on what we have observed so far, I would say definitely not, though politics has been known to produce some strange developments.
Counterpunch, you’re sticking to your main point, I congratulate you. :)
Out of curiosity, if the Republican Party did nominate Sarah as the Presidential candidate for 2012, would you vote for her?
Charles Krauthammer was having one of his democrat moments.
He use to work for Mondale
Facts are though that wasn't what it was....so it won't be the same...
What proof do you have of this, other than the continual negative press she's received since she was named the VP candidate?
But just because there’s a stinker like Sanford in the party that doesn’t mean that it would have anything to do with Thune. I don’t really see the point of that argument?
Please. Your post made no sense. You started out by saying it wasn't her fault McCain lost, then you proceeded to insist that she didn't help him win. You can't have it both ways.Not helping is not the same thing as hurting.
At the moment, she's our best bet. I'd be perfectly comfortable supporting her for president in 2012. Or do you have an alternative?Why would we be backing anyone for a race that has no declared candidates yet?
Thune isn’t on the radar, at this point your anti Palin effort serves Mitt Romney, if you succeed in beating her down, which you won’t, then Romney moves up.
MittWitt, Jindal and the third party loons are not qualified
some on FR were Sanford loons and months and months back I said he was an unstable person and not qualified.
some learn the hard way.
She has shown great respect for McCain’s service to our country and continues to do so DESPITE the fact he threw her to the presstitute wolves.
Palin has solid character, she loves this country and is willing to defend it and that is why I would support her.
Like I said...not backin'...just sayin'...:o)
Romney checked out even before Huckabee in the primary. Talk about not having the stomach to go the distance. Romney is a dead duck in the water.
RINO Romney and his RomneyCare
here’s an exam;le of how much RomneyCares...
Gov. Mitt Romney meets a medical marijuana patient—Oct. 6
Gee what a bitch she is huh.....?...;o) (sarc/)
Nothing like the joker we have in the WH at the moment....
It is just amazing how so many, even conservatives who should be more distrustful of the MSM, have made up their minds about Sarah Palin because of one or two interviews. Democrats certainly didn't mind the bumble-headedness of That One or Smilin Joe Biden with his 64 perfectly white teeth, yet we're willing to throw over a potentially wonderful candidate because she didn't answer immediately, a couple of questions that she thought were ridiculous, but had to spend some time trying to think up an answer for them. She was thinking more about how neither That One nor Smilin Joe would ever be asked such inane questions.
Getting your talking points from DU
Even some of the Dems had to say, Gov. Palin cleaned Biden’s clock in the debate.
That’s an interview from the 2008 campaign. A moment in time when Sarah Palin had to perform a delicate balancing act between toeing the McCain line, and speaking her own mind.
Read the article carefully. She states emphatically that she does not favor amnesty for illegal aliens.
I’d rather see an opinion from Sarah that was recorded BEFORE she was ever even considered for McCain’s running mate.
I took him awhile to get to his main point, but he did eventually: Sarah needs to dump the pro-lifers.
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