Originally Posted By ecdc <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/akmuckraker/internal-emails-suggest-p_b_751356.html" target="_blank">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...356.html</a> I can say without hyperbole that I would rather have Paris Hilton as my President. At least she knows rich people who might know other people who can run the country. The drama and childishness would be the same. And Paris has no galactically stupid husband or greedy spawn to invade the White House. I know a lot of progressives say they hope she'll run because it's a slam dunk for Obama. To which I say your optimism is inspiring and naive.
Originally Posted By Mr X And scary. We elected Reagan twice, Bush twice. Intelligence is no barrier...if she gets the nomination she has as good a chance as anyone else depending on world events at the time. Yikes.
Originally Posted By ecdc I think what constantly astounds me about Sarah Palin is how every single thing she says or does is a reminder that she is the perfect embodiment of everything that is wrong with America. It is positively uncanny. The pettiness, the vindictiveness, the materialism, the incuriosity, the entitlement issues, the pride-in-ignorance, the reduction of complex issues, the certainty. Astounding.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt Hmmm.... I don't know.... my intuition tells me that she ultimately won't run, and if she does she'll crash and burn in the primaries. I really can't see Sarah passing muster with the big guns in the GOP and holding up to the scrutiny of the media machine that ruined her bid to bid to be VPOTUS. I don't want to seem naive, but I have hard time believing that she's has much influence and popularity beyond the right wing base.
Originally Posted By Longhorn12 >passing muster with the big guns in the GOP and holding up to the scrutiny of the media machine< Have you seen what's going on? She will pass because the big guns are now the old guns and no longer run the party.
Originally Posted By gadzuux As of now, Palin is my best guess for GOP nominee in 2012, with Huckabee a close second. The resentment against McCain's nomination in `08 still rankles the GOP base - they never liked him. But they like her. Her ignorance is a badge of honor to these folks. And they're not going to be pushed into another candidate they don't like or trust - a "responsible" choice like Romney. Call me naive if you like, but I'm reasonably confident that Obama can best all likely republican contenders. Other less likely possibilities are Gingrich - he's crazy enough for the teabaggers but too much baggage for everybody else, Jeb Bush (too soon), Lindsay Graham (too gay), and Ron Paul (republican in name only). The one that concerns me is David Patraeus - he's the dark horse in all of this. But my money's on Palin, with Huckabee coming in a close second - you need the crazies to get the nomination in today's GOP, and those are the two most likely to appeal to the wingnuts.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "Have you seen what's going on? She will pass because the big guns are now the old guns and no longer run the party." Sure, I'm paying attention. Enough to know that the GOP is in complete disarray and that Palin does not have complete support from her party. This is especially true if you look beyond the Tea Party "base". I think we liberals are being slightly melodramatic with the "sky is falling" bit regarding her possible GOP nomination in 2012. I'm no psychic, but it's pretty clear to me that once she's out from under her protectors and fed to the lions in the media her followers will have to come to terms with the reality that she is not presidential material. "But my money's on Palin, with Huckabee coming in a close second - you need the crazies to get the nomination in today's GOP, and those are the two most likely to appeal to the wingnuts." You could certainly be right Gadzuux, but a lot can happen in two years. Just look at what transpired in the two years leading up to Obama's win in 2008.
Originally Posted By ChurroMonster The fact that she quit her governor job before completing one term provides a ton of ammo for her primary opponents. I just can't see her getting the nomination despite her massive teabagger following. I'm actually hoping some of the teabaggers get elected next month because it would significantly weaken their movement if they have people in power who can't accomplish anything.
Originally Posted By tiggertoo Stupid folksiness is the new intelligent and wise these days. But in Palin's case, the best way to appear intelligent is to surround yourself with people more ignorant than you. Why do you think she has surrounded herself with dolts like O'Donnell and Sharron Angle, and so many other Tea Party folks? But what's the worth in being the least idiot among idiots? Yet alas, we live in a nation where a moron's vote is equal to an astute connoisseur of public policy. Not that I'm attacking populist democracy. Rather,I'm attacking those who attempt to mis-educate the credulous *cough Fox Knews (sic)cough*. God bless America! Or should that be God save America?
Originally Posted By Mr X ***Stupid folksiness is the new intelligent and wise these days*** It's not that new. Reagan got a lot of milage out of stupid folksiness. You betcha.
Originally Posted By tiggertoo True enough, but at least he surrounded himself with moderately intelligent people (Baker, Haig, even Bush I). Today, every one of these would probably be shunned as elitists and RINOs.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt ^^^ No kidding. Bush 2 seems like an Einstein in comparison to Palin and the Republican Tea Party candidates.
Originally Posted By Mr X Do you mean Bush 1? Although sad to say, Bush 2 DOES come off that way these days. Amazing how far the bar has dropped in the past 30 years, isn't it? I mean, we've had some crappy Presidents and various other national politicians over the decades, everyone knows that, but there certainly seemed to be a certain level of intellectual heft that most voters required in order to give someone serious consideration back in the day (or maybe I just missed something, I'm not really old enough to remember MUCH before Reagan as I was 9 when he first took office so I can hardly say I speak from experience), but still...it seemed that he personified the "dumbed down" candidate that managed to appeal none-the-less more on charm and charisma than political smarts. Fast forward 20 years and we get Bush Jr. Now it's thirty years and being an ignoramus ALMOST seems like a prerequisite for any political job, at least on the right. Even their smart guys (and yes that do have them!) seem to be dumbing down their comments, afraid to come off even for a SECOND as "intellectual". +sigh+
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Very sad. Although Nixon was a crook, he was very much a statesman, unlike any of the Reps to follow. It makes me wish there were right wingers like Nixon in contention.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "Do you mean Bush 1?" No. Christine O'Donnell is a case in point.
Originally Posted By Princessjenn5795 In the last couple of straw polls at conservative functions, Sarah has placed pretty low. I don't think she could win the primaries if even the rabid righties won't support her. They love her, no question, but I think the whole quitting as governor thing really hurt any chance she had of running for national office.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt When was the last time Sarah Palin did an unscripted interview?
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder It occurs to me that the GOP party hasn't learned a damn thing from the 2008 presidential elections. I have to think that there were a lot of people like me who were on the fence, but had the decision made for them when McCain succumbed and picked Palin for his VP running mate. Obama hasn't done much of anything up to now to make me want to vote for him again, but I'll do it in a heartbeat once more if Palin is on the national ticket.
