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.
I love it Counterpunch. Terrific. May I download it?
Can’t you deal with one statement I make without a personal attack? I have nothing in common with those people you brought up.
I heard your viewpoint from the lying, yellow dog press in 1980, and again in 2000. For my money, Ronald Reagan and George Bush were good and adequate leaders, even if they didn't measure up to our most cherished conservative ideals.
At least they weren't intentionally trying to destroy the republic, like every Democrat president has.
Now, the press dogs are after Sarah Palin, the scariest conservative in America. And, here again come the quislings of the right, beating down our best hope alongside the rotten left.
Why don't you try making an informed case against Sarah Palin, instead of simply endlessly repeating that "she isn't qualified"?
Please do.
Link it to other forums, email it to friends and family. Whatever.
I don’t make this stuff to not be seen.
I can’t stand McCain. He’s a back stabbing certifiably insane man. Many feel the same way I do about him. Without Palin he would not have gotten most of our votes. In short we voted for Palin, not McCain.
Great! Thank you. :)
You prefer Romney to Palin and you actually seem to like Romney a whole lot, that puts you in the Romney camp because at this point the players are Palin, Huckabee, Romney and not much else, it is early but Romney is trying to shape the field like he did in 2008.
One thing is clear, you are fighting exactly as you would if you were supporting Romney, destroy the one person between him and the nomination at this moment. Your goal is to bring down the conservative front runner.
I not only go face to face daily with the far left.
I have been in several Code Pinko counter rallys and have gone face to face with them.
have countered large Hamas rallys.
Have countered 50,000 Mexicans. And the list goes on.
Speaking of McCain he really needs to retire now. His time has come.
(Actually it came twenty years ago, but who’s counting?) heehee
“I not only go face to face daily with the far left.”
You can’t go very far with them, SoCal, if you argue with them in the same manner you argue with us here.
YES SHE CAN WIN AND SHE WILL!! You negativism against Sarah is just like the media - and you are pulling the same propaganda here over and over and over. You are clueless when it comes to conservatism - you just enjoy being on a conservative site to push your agenda.
That is an odd answer to this post.
“Yeah you are are attacking, Romney has a lot of strong support on this thread.”
Sarah Palin is no Ronald Reagan.
She gets a hard time in the press because she’s an easy target, not because she represents something they are afraid of.
Her campaign amounted to little more than boilerplate platitudes, fed to her by handlers.
Her arena is the PTA, Wasilla, the Alaskan pipeline, not national and international politics. Such things aren’t for everyone. People ought to just leave her be.
You have proven over and over your suport for Obama.
You don’t like Conservative REpublicans.
You don’t want a woman for a president.
We got it the first time.
Presently, Counterpunch has been very respectful through this whole debate. You and SoCal on the other hand have been very insulting, out of all proportion to what is being discussed.
Just a reminder: you catch more flies with honey. :)
LOL! PERFECT!
People probably wouldn’t have voted for McCain without Palin on the ticket.
But they also didn’t vote for McCain with Palin on the ticket in nearly large enough numbers, either.
That’s my only point here.
Since Palin couldn’t push McCain over the finish line, then who do you suggest to push Palin over the finish line?
“Yeah you are are attacking, Romney has a lot of strong support on this thread.”
I didn’t write it. So of course it doesn’t make sense.
;)
I have to post to your like as if to a child.
That is how your thinking runs.
I like John Thune.
http://thune.senate.gov/public/_images/thune-hires.jpg
Look at this man. I can SO see him in the White House.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
