Power Up For 2012

The National Journal surveys the strengths and weaknessses of the Republican field and delivers their first Power Ranking of 2012.

Sadly, the first sentence of their first ranking leaves me shaking my head and reaching for another cup of coffee:

The A-List Tier
1. MITT ROMNEY

The GOP has a history of nominating the person who has stood in line, and after finishing second behind John McCain in 2008, Romney is now that person.

Huh? I have a dim memory of Mike Huckabee trailing around the country in a two man race that, like Huckabee himself, had an outcome that was ordained.

And I am not alone in my delusion - CNN thinks Romney dropped out in early February while the NY Times tells me that Huckabee dropped out in early March.

Not to go negative, but my confidece in the National Journal analysis is not enhanced by this sort of thing.

Tim Pawlenty, John Thune and Haley Barbour round out the A Team.  Mike Huckabee, Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich and Mike Pence are placed in the "Fox News Tier", which makes me wonder if this report has been compiled by guys who meld ignorance and bias.

Comments

[boris]

I want Sarah to run. She needs to be front and center during the primaries to define the issues instead of the MSM.

Beyond that I am okay if she does not win a fair primary ... either because there is somebody better or even because the MSM can't help themselves and expend all their ammo on her.

Pretty sure we don't have to worry about the MSM or dimorats helping her win the primary to screw the GOP in the general.

[narciso]

So let me get this straight, the Air Force want's to be tooling around with a thirty year old fighter, which was in turn derived
from a backward engineered Mig 25, yes that makes a whole lot of sense

[Neo]

"It was like it was about death," the staffer said. "It was bizarre." The staffer did say the portions about the benefits and résumé writing were instructive.

[Frau Sowienoch]

Arghhhhh!
"A Republican holds a slight lead over Rep. Jim Costa of Fresno; Rep. Jerry McNerney of Pleasanton is ahead of his GOP challenger. Experts say the Democrats will probably eke out victories. ...
In the Central Valley, Republican cherry farmer Andy Vidak held a 27-vote lead over Rep. Jim Costa (D-Fresno) on Tuesday, but tens of thousands of ballots remain to be counted to determine whether the political neophyte will harvest the seat from the three-term incumbent."
Costa is the orchard killer!

[Rick Ballard]

"if things get bad enough."

How about things not getting much worse but not getting any better? GDP "growth" in the .75 - 1.75% range and unemployment hanging above 9% for the next two years is my current 'best guess' based upon the debt overhang which will have to be reduced before spending can come back.

House leadership will have to come up with a series of bills which would be helpful, if passed and signed, in order to avoid a 'do nothing' campaign such as Truman ran in '48. If they stick to devolutionary stuff, returning power and revenue to the states they will do OK.

[narciso]

Honestly, has the water ban affected the brain, in the area

[Jane (sit on the couch or save your country)]

But WTF is the right doing savaging its own?

NOt to keep bringing up my pending vacation, but on the last post-election cruise in 2008, no one even mentioned Sarah's name for 3 days. The Buckley crowd is just not into her, and I have no idea why.

When someone (I forget how, Caro will know) finally mentioned her, it brought down the house. So the audience was very into her even if the speakers were not.

[Rob Crawford]

The Buckley crowd is just not into her, and I have no idea why.

NOCD -- "Not Our Class, Dear".

Wrong schools, wrong part of the country, wrong interests, wrong accent, wrong husband, wrong children, wrong, wrong, wrong.

[matt]

Obama's Energy Conspiracy. LUN

[narciso]

The Buckley crowd forgets that grandpere was a oil prospector in Venezuela, and Mexico, where he was kicked out of by the REvolutionary Govt for being too Plainview
for their tastes.

[Porchlight]

Totally agree with all of your 12:24, Rob Crawford.

[Frau Sowienoch]

Yes, narciso.

Fey the Joy Behar continues to profit:
"Does Tina Fey look just a bit like Sarah Palin? You betcha. Are both women sassy brunettes who love droppin’ their vowels just for laughs? Oh, fer sure. ... tonight Tina won something.”

That “something” was the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, an honor that’s been bestowed upon such comedy greats as Richard Pryor, Billy Crystal and Bill Cosby. And Fey, who attended the ceremony with her husband and parents, paid tribute to the former Alaska governor in her acceptance speech. "I would be a liar and an idiot if I didn't thank Sarah Palin for helping get me here tonight," said the Emmy-winning star of “30 Rock” and “SNL.” "My partial resemblance and her crazy voice are the two luckiest things that have ever happened to me."
I'm not wasting a LUN and it's to the LA Times. Pfui!

[Frau Sowienoch]

Hear, hear Rob.

[Stuart Wilson]

Hi, I'm interested in the syndication of your blog, but didn't see contact information. You can contact me at swilson@newstex.com or check out our website at www.newstex.com

[Frau Sowienoch]

matt, Thanks for your link. As far as energy, part of me want to scream
We.Are.So.Screwed.

[laura]

Jane, I think it was John O'Sullivan who mentioned her first and spoke quite well of her. I guess having served with Thatcher, the grocer's daughter, he saw something the others didn't.
I remember Sandy Daze kept taking them to task one by one for their dissing of Palin

[Extraneus]

I wouldn't click on that if anyone's thinking of doing it.

[Jane (sit on the couch or save your country)]

NOCD -- "Not Our Class, Dear".

You may be right, but boy that causes me pain.

[Jane (sit on the couch or save your country)]

Jane, I think it was John O'Sullivan who mentioned her first and spoke quite well of her

Yup, that was it.

[Rob Crawford]

Porch, I'm just so sick of watching us destroy someone for being imperfect, while the actively destructive reap the rewards.

Folks, the US Constitution was written so that the imperfect -- but well-meaning -- could govern themselves. We've slacked off and let the corrupt run the government for decades, but neither we nor the government are beyond saving. But if we wait for angels and paladins to save us, it will all be gone long before they appear. Perfection is impossible in this world, and waiting for it is a fool's game.

Short of corruption and criminal actions, we should be EXTREMELY tolerant of the foibles and flaws of those on our side. The other side openly tolerates criminality; we can still have a higher standard than them and have candidates who used a work computer for personal use, or who have said some oddball things over the years.

We shouldn't run drooling morons, but our opponents have gotten away with Biden, and Waters, and Kerry, and Gore, and, yes, Obama, so we can run those with strictly average intelligence and education and still come out ahead of our opponents' standards.

And if we honestly, truly, 100% to the core of our being believe that people should be left to govern their own lives, then we shouldn't insist that everyone we run be a walking encyclopedia of political minutiae. We should hope for people who say "why the hell is this done this way?" instead of "oh, this is because of House rule X and Supreme Court ruling Y".

[Pofarmer]

"NOCD -- "Not Our Class, Dear".

You may be right, but boy that causes me pain."

Fits, though.

[Rob Crawford]

You may be right, but boy that causes me pain.

If it makes you feel any better, I'm sure her gender is a huge problem for them, too. Especially with all the "deserving" old hands like Graham and Romney around.

[Jane (sit on the couch or save your country)]

I think there is something else, which I am not sure I can describe but I've noticed lately. I've been watching all the George Bush interviews. Every time I see george Bush, the only thing I can think of is how much integrity he has. Yet there was an entire half a country who thought he was Hitler. The same group thought Obama was the Messiah, and I have never ever been able to see the attraction. And the same with Sarah, some of us are drawn to her as the most incredible representative of our values, and the rest just don't see it.

Some of that is prejudice, but some is something else. Maybe it is snobbery. I don't know.

[Pagar]

"So let me get this straight, the Air Force want's to be tooling around "

My guess is the the Air Force has a better handle on what works for them than US Congresspersons. I do not have any more input then that.

[centralcal]

Since this is the who might be running someday thread, we can cross off Lou Dobbs who was once speculated to run for office. He has signed up with Fox Business Channel.

About NRO - they (and many other media people like them) had better be careful themselves. Tea Party people - have had it with Washington insiders whether holding office or holding court.

NRO is also (ever more annoyingly) begging for money again - which seems to be pretty much year around over there. Are THEY living withing their means? Are they losing subscribers due to their opinions? Maybe instead of looking outward, they ought to start looking inward.

[Jack is Back!]

Am I missing something but have you noticed that since Tuesday there have been few sightings of Cleo, Bubu, et.al. Now that is a reason for gloating!

[Clarice]

Breaking News: Obama Debt Panel Recommends Cut in Social Security Payments, Eyes End to Mortgage Deduction

At foxnews.com********

As for bright and not bright. I'd PAY to see Sarah play poker with John Kerry and Joe Biden--or Obama for tht matter.

[rse]

Matt-

The primary purpose of the new national science standards and a principal purpose of pushing nonfiction under the LA and activities in math is to make US K-12 classrooms all about pushing the political and economic agenda on green energy and the environment. So kids will think of their obligations as stewards.

What country tries to limit its students, especially its brightest, to "just enough" knowledge to be concerned?

Porch-

If you will tell us next time hubby is at Smith's I will try to get a turnout.

[Specter]

Anyone think that the face Michelle is making at the guy might be because he tried to shake her hand....LOL

[Rob Crawford]

Every time I see george Bush, the only thing I can think of is how much integrity he has. Yet there was an entire half a country who thought he was Hitler.

No one ever seriously thought he was a Hitler. If they had, they would never have said it publicly.

That rhetoric was half projection, half tantrum.

The majority of the objection to Palin is pure snobbery: If she's competent despite not having an Ivy League education, then what did they get from all those years and debt? If she can get so much attention -- to the point that she can push the president out of the news -- without kissing all the right butts, why are they living with chapped lips?

The rest is fear of being cut out of the gravy train.

[Rob Crawford]

So kids will think of their obligations as stewards.

We should keep in mind the fate of the Steward of Gondor.

[Porchlight]

NRO is also (ever more annoyingly) begging for money again - which seems to be pretty much year around over there.

Yeah, what is up with that? Since when do magazines behave like charitable organizations and have fund drives? If they can't survive on advertisements and subscriptions - I know it's tough for old media these days - maybe that is the consumer voting with their pocketbook.

I guess I shouldn't complain since I get all their content for free. But I do plunk down cash for the smaller publications I really like (Claremont Review, New Criterion).

[Appalled]

Rob Crawford:

Getting attention is a skill, but if it were the sole skill one needed to advance, we would be saluting President Paris Hilton.

[Captain Hate]

NOCD -- "Not Our Class, Dear

Fwiw, I've always considered the Buckley crowd to be barely concealed snobs.

[narciso]

Now that's just stupid, now let's take the favorite fellow on the wedding cake, Romney
was tricked into Masscare which was made immeasurably worse by the Courts and Deval Patrick, who apparently can't be removed out of there, even with a jackhammer.

The paucity of candidates last time around, and the antiMcCain animus was so strong, that a good chunk of the commentariat including folk I respect like Otto REich made to his campa, but then he quit, almost
at the first turn, if we're keeping the marathon analogy

[boris]

"we would be saluting President Paris Hilton ..."

I thought the 2008 campaign comparison of Obama to Paris Hilton was a good one so in a way we are ...

[narciso]

Now this is the other Flounder slap, in the LUN

[Danube of Thought]

"some of us are drawn to her as the most incredible representative of our values, and the rest just don't see it."

I see her as a fine representative of my values. In my lifetime no one (other than my father) ever represented my values better thannWm. F. Buckley, Jr. But I sure would not have wanted WFB to be the GOP nominee for president.

[DebinNC]

And the same with Sarah, some of us are drawn to her as the most incredible representative of our values, and the rest just don't see it.

I'm among those who "don't see it". I wouldn't think of demeaning others who "do see it" though. One thing I definitely don't get is JOM Palinistas who see how polarizing Sarah Palin is here at JOM, but dismiss or denigrate those who believe the same polarizing Palin effect would manifest itself among a not-insignificant number of center-right/independent voters in the 2012 election.

[Captain Hate]

Whoever said that the apex of Bammy's career was when he was Preznit-Elect got it exactly correct, as subsequent events have illustrated: All the glory and no responsibility. Famous for being famous.

[Clarice]

I'd rather discuss Republican strategy on the Hill right now. I think it's two early to divine the Rep nominee.

[narciso]

I'm still trying to see what is polarizing about her in fact, not perceptions that's how we got Carter, Clinton, and Obama. How they chased George W out of town on a rail, how
they disdained McCain's service for this apparatchik

[Rob Crawford]

The "polarization" around Palin strikes me as something similar to the results of this year's primaries. The pro-Palin people aren't going to stomp away in a huff if she's not the nominee -- yet I can't shake the feeling that those warning of her "polarizing nature" WILL if she is.

[narciso]

Agreed, they are putting Upton for E & C, how about the guy who got it right on the major
issues, Joe Barton, the petroleum engineer
and oil company consultant

[Captain Hate]

I'm among those who "don't see it".

Really? You don't see the impact she has on crowds? You don't have to believe in it or agree with it to see it; I thought people that swooned over JFK were full of it, but I recognized that they swooned because he had a certain X factor. Same with Reagan even though I believed more in him and of course voted for him. Same with Bammy but his was almost completely a MFM construct based on his 2004 donk convention speech.

[Rob Crawford]

CH -- she's too blunt. You know, like Christie, who's all bullying and stuff by calling out people for corruption.

[centralcal]

I agree, Clarice - it is too early. We need to see what happens on the Hill and how badly Obama continues to govern.

[jimmyk]

One thing I definitely don't get is JOM Palinistas who see how polarizing Sarah Palin is here at JOM

Do the anti-Palin people here (Deb, DoT, et al) feel that she would make a bad president (or at least worse than other candidates), or just that she would lose the election? Those are two very different issues. If it's only the latter, I'm not sure why we need to be so negative about her right now. That makes it kind of self-fulfilling. I have my doubts about her electability, but it's mainly due to the ridiculous treatment she's had at the hands of the media. Right now I'd rather defend her and give her the chance to overcome that, and not hand the MSM that victory. If she can't, we'll know it soon enough.

[narciso]

Ok, I see the term limit on chairmanships, but who knows more about the subject

[Endtimes Near]

"Every time I see george Bush, the only thing I can think of is how much integrity he has."

Yes. In spite of his fundamental lack of curiosity, he always hits the core of his
disinterest with great verve. He seems youthful, as though the pressures of the WH had little or no effect on him. Already
Obama looks older. He should take lessons from the former Prez on how to keep the happy-go-lucky persona from going dry, because of too much empathy. Obama needs to study Bush's psychology of lukewarm awareness and apathy.

[Captain Hate]

Apologies to Deb if I misinterpreted what she claimed not to see; I was strictly addressing SP's intangible appeal to people who are receptive to that. When she joined McCain's ticket it was like somebody cranked a dimmer switch from the darkest setting to maximum wattage; too bad the dim bulbs in his campaign prevailed.

[boris]

"dismiss or denigrate those who believe the same polarizing Palin effect would manifest itself among a not-insignificant number of center-right/independent voters"

A possible inference there is unless one admits Sarah is too polarizing and should stay home then one is dismissing or denigrating those who do.

Perhaps center-right/independent moderates could better spend their efforts convincing fellow center-right/independent moderates that Sarah is actually not that bad.

[Rob Crawford]

Stuff it up your bung, 'cleo.

[matt]

I think we can do better than Palin, frankly, in some key ways. I like her. She's been tremendous, but the fact is that even within the party, she's a polarizing factor. Unless the political dynamic changed radically, we are still going to get what we see, and that isn't going to change votes.

I like Petraeus, as I have said in the past. He's a natural born leader with a PhD in International Studies from Princeton who successfully prosecuted a war while being stabbed in the back; knows the political side well enough to be above it as war leaders tend to do; and will make the hard decisions that will be incumbent upon the next president.We'll see if he runs, but time is very short.

[Captain Hate]

his fundamental lack of curiosity

Somewhere there's a chicken with very sore private parts

[Rob Crawford]

matt -- Why is Palin polarizing?

It's because she's polarizing, right?

And Petraeus? Ain't gonna run, and has no domestic policy record in any case. For all we know, he's another Schwarzenegger, or maybe another "compassionate conservative".

[narciso]

Even McClatchy is noting that the timelines of Afghanistan are bunk, so I figure that Petraeus will be there a while longer.

There was no 'Recovery Summer', the BP spill seems have been as fleeting as the Ixtoc spill, the war was not lost, in 2007, Inflation is on the way 'how high (add the Kim line)

[JM Hanes]

Rob:

"Ya know, I don't care anymore."

Funny, but you don't sound like a guy who doesn't care any more.

I was hardly equating Pelosi and Palin at a personal level. I was suggesting a second look at the idea that the left is only dumping on Palin because they fear her. Do they think the idea of a Palin presidency is scary as hell? You betcha, but that's the very reason so many of them are are promoting her as the avatar of the new right. They think they can easily make that case, and that she will end up hurting Repbulicans, not Democrats, in 2012. No matter how sour on Obama the MSM may be, they are not going to be bangng any helpful drums, because they she's unqualified too.

I'm not suggesting that Palin shouldn't run, and I'm also not suggesting that Republicans should field another John McCain. I thought he was a huge mistake the first time around. Like so many before him, he loved the taste of power that simply running for the White House gave him in 2000, and his presidential ambitions overwhelmed any vestige of political principles he might once have had. I despised him, but I don't think he lost because he was an aging centrist. I think he lost because he was an incoherent opportunist, and it showed.

All of which is to say, I believe the right needs to examine their own narratives as scrupulously as they do the prevailing memes on the left.

I love Palin for a gazillion reasons, but regardless of how I might feel about her presidential potential, I also don't see how ripping into anybody who doesn't agree that she's a Reagan in the rough helps get her or anyone else elected. I didn't like watching Senate Republicans undercutting Joe Miller any better. It sent me right over to Jim DeMint's donation page, which is maybe worth a momentary pause for thought.

[bgates]

I like Petraeus, as I have said in the past.

I'm not sure if I agree with his positions on immigration, climate change, tax rates, judicial nominees, health care reform, China, education, monetary policy, or social security.

What are they?

[Janet the tea-vangelist!]

Amen to Rob Crawford's 12:24 post!!!

[boris]

"ripping into anybody who doesn't agree ..."

How did civil discourse on the pro-palin side become "ripping into anybody who doesn't agree" ?

"even within the party, she's a polarizing factor"

To the extent that is true it prevents her from winning the nomination. Palin Problem Solved.

[DebinNC]

There's much I admire about most of the potentials, including Palin. She's not in my top 3, but I'd vote for her. I don't believe though that conservatives who doubt she can beat Obama or hope for another nominee for reasons that are important to them are irrational, jealous, elitist, blind, prejudiced snobs as described here. I really don't understand that kind of response.

[Rick Ballard]

The co-chairs of the debt commission are igniting a fire. I don't see any details but I sure look forward to seeing them. The publicity blurb indicates somewhat more than I had hoped for.

[jimmyk]

To amplify on my previous comment about not worrying about electability now: I think the process works best if everyone supports the candidate who he or she thinks would make the best president. Period. If instead we start basing our vote on "electability" (which means basing our vote on who we think others are going to vote for), that game leads to bad outcomes like Dole, McCain, or, if I may say, George HW Bush. Back in '88 I supported DuPont despite his low chances, but Repubs all decided that GHWB was the most "electable." I don't think it was the best choice.

[Rob Crawford]

I love Palin for a gazillion reasons, but regardless of how I might feel about her presidential potential, I also don't see how ripping into anybody who doesn't agree that she's a Reagan in the rough helps get her or anyone else elected.

How does ripping into her with whatever lie the left (and/or the Republican elite) has concocted help get her or anyone else get elected?

Not saying you're doing that -- I'm just pointing out that a hell of a lot of supposed conservative Republicans do exactly that.

Perhaps we'd be better served by demanding the White House answer for destroying the US oil industry in the Gulf than in demanding to know whether Palin has actually seen the price of groceries increase or not?

(And it's not just Palin. I alluded earlier to Ace at AoSHQ throwing a hissy fit over the possibility that Chris Christie is going to appear "bullying" for calling attention to a bureaucrat who's violating the law in regards to compensation caps. WTF? We're not allowed to name the guilty?)

[Clarice]

*too* early, of course..

We have a long, tough slog ahead of us. Discussing potential candidates is a fools' game for people like the bright lights at the national Journal who don't want to
bother with heavy lifting.

It's more important to figure out the principles around which you plan to act and the strategies for getting there. The minute you get sidetracked on discussions of candidates, you splinter, not unite.

When you have your goals and battle plans in order, you can worry about which generals command which divisions.

[Rob Crawford]

The co-chairs of the debt commission are igniting a fire. I don't see any details but I sure look forward to seeing them. The publicity blurb indicates somewhat more than I had hoped for.

But didn't you hear? The Tea Partiers weren't actually serious, and will be rioting in the streets if there are any actual spending cuts.

Feh. Excuse me a minute -- there's another RSS feed I have to delete from Google Reader...

[Captain Hate]

O/T Thanks to Janet, I'm *proudly* wearing a Sturbridge Tea Party t-shirt.

[sbw]

Sarah is polarizing because the other side's misrepresentations polarize them.

[bgates]

CH -- she's too blunt. You know, like Christie, who's all bullying and stuff

Quite right.

Romney's too cold and too wealthy to understand the Little Guy, plus RomneyCare is worse than ObamaCare and Mormonism is just weird unless you're Senate Majority Leader.

Haley Barbour is the face of the Old Confederacy which Republicans want to bring back.

Pawlenty? Never heard of him.

Thune's some kind of evangelical theocrat who as far as I can tell has never had a job in the private sector.

Mike Huckabee is Mike Huckabee.

Newt Gingrich is the famous adulterer from the politics of the 90s who shut down the government.

Mike Pence is another crazy evangelical who never held so much as a statewide office.

I suggest we forfeit in 2012.

[Rob Crawford]

I suggest we forfeit in 2012.

I think we should run Bolton/West. Or West/Bolton, I don't care which holds which office. I just want to watch them kick ass.

[It's all about Cash]

At least y'all are consistent in your denialism.

Palin is a gift to the Dems, but they are ambivalent about what the final result will be. They attack her relentlessly without realizing Americans love an underdog. They propel, not dispel her influence when they 'bully' this sweet little lady.

I don't think she will withstand the constant vetting of a 2012 Campaign if she decides to run. Voters like her iconoclasm
but will realize she is not Presidential, just as they saw through O'Donnell.

No worries, though. She is not going to run. She's as likely a candidate as Limbaugh, who only wants to sell more books and double-up on ad rates.

[Appalled]

The real Palin issue at this juncture is that she engenders deep suppport from one group, and frightens off a lot of others. That is a recipe for a primary victory and election defeat. (See McGovern, George or Goldwater, Barry).

[caro]

I'm late in saying "John O’Sullivan." To say his mention of her name brought down the house is mild. Part of the early silence on Sarah probably was due to Mitt and Fred being there in person. It would have been unseemly.

I kind of disagree about the NOCD thing. This May, at least half of cruisers had been to Tea Parties. I felt pretty much like these people (the whole group) were a lot like JOMers. If we took a poll here I am not sure that half have been to a Tea Party. Yet most are supportive of the movement.

I am with Clarice regarding paying attention to what is going on in the house now. And I am actually not for Bachmann for leadership right now. The tea party movement will do better without the high profile she would present.

[jimmyk]

I think we should run Bolton/West. Or West/Bolton

I'd rather see Bolton as Secretary of State. I'd also like to see West, Rubio, Toomey, Christie, etc. spend a few years at their jobs and not be like Obama, immediately starting to campaign for their next jobs.

[Clarice]

I heart bgates..

[Rob Crawford]

I was joking about Bolton/West.

[Rob Crawford]

Actually, now that I think about it, maybe the best Republican nominees for 2012 are Obama/Biden.

Can't be any worse than who's already in office, and maybe we can get the left to toss them out.

[boris]

"deep suppport from one group, and frightens off a lot of others"

Your powers of observation are even more remarkable that I remembered.

[bgates]

I don't care which holds which office.

West/West. Because if you're a stickler about Constitutional requirements, you're a racist.

Actually, looking at the document, I think there's a case to be made that the 12th Amendment removed the requirement that the P & VP be distinct individuals.

The Amendment:
The Electors shall meet in their respective states and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves; they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice-President, and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and of all persons voted for as Vice-President, and of the number of votes for each....

is described by archives.gov as superseding the part of Article II Section i that includes the following:

The Electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote by Ballot for two Persons, of whom one at least shall not be an Inhabitant of the same State with themselves. And they shall make a List of all the Persons voted for, and of the Number of Votes for each....

"two Persons" is conspicuously absent from the amendment, isn't it? West would lose Florida, but that's the only Constitutional problem with a solo run.

Allen West: Better than Obama and Biden put together!

[Appalled]

boris:

I am struck how often the blindingly obvious insights get disregrded by those on the board. (And the Palin discussion seems be a case in point.) Somebody around here needs to wise you guys up the the applicable Conventional Wisdom.

I mean, have you noticed the sky is blue, even in red states? I bet you haven't reflected on THAT lately.

[Specter]

I agree Clarice...way too early. If the newly elected House majority doesn't start to reign in spending and BIG government, then people will continue to be disillusioned. Then some unknown can come along and shout "CHANGE" over and over again and get elected!

That said, back to the speculation: What about Jindal?

[Threadkiller]

Clarice and Specter are right.

But having said that, Jindal may not be "natural born."

[bgates]

have you noticed the sky is blue, even in red states?

Weird, huh? And to think just nine days ago, everybody running the country from Jon Stewart all the way down to Barack Obama was telling us it should have fallen by now.

[MarkO]

I want to watch the auditions.

[Appalled]

Threadkiller:

Are you saying Jindal's Mom had a C-section?

[JM Hanes]

caro:

I definitely disagree with the NOCD thing. The folks at NRO don't seem to realize that they are actually part of the establishment, but I think they offer up considered, good faith opinions.

I also agree on Bachmann, although I'd go a step further there too. I don't doubt her conservative bona fides, but I've always thought she was a lose cannon. Folks derided the eminently risible Chris Matthews for his remarks about her on election night, but I'm afraid she looked like a glazed over automaton to me too. When she announced the formation of a Tea Party caucus, it struck me as a blatant attempt to co-opt and capitalize on the brand -- an impression that her very public play for top slot on the House Conference does nothing to abate.

[Threadkiller]

--"Are you saying Jindal's Mom had a C-section?"--

LOL.

I am now saying Rob Crawford will kill me if I start this again.

[Clarice]

" And to think just nine days ago, everybody running the country from Jon Stewart all the way down to Barack Obama was telling us it should have fallen by now."
ROFLMAO

[Rob Crawford]

The folks at NRO don't seem to realize that they are actually part of the establishment, but I think they offer up considered, good faith opinions.

Is it Ramesh over there that can't seem to leave a Palin rumor alone?

There are WAY too many Frums and Frum-wannabes at NRO.

[glasater]

Here's the Slimes link and article on debt commission.

[Wicakte]

This is slightly OT, but related, I believe.

I've not seen more than passing mention of it, but it seems to me that this past election demonstrated a significant reduction in the power of the MSM. I'm NOT suggesting that they are paper tigers yet, BUT they failed abysmally at demonizing the Tea Party movement, and their attempts to blame the failure to capture the Senate on the Tea Parties and/or Palin appear to be fairly ineffective.

In the past the MSM, and the "establishment" would have quickly promulgated the conventional wisdom as to what the "message" of the election had been, and it would have stuck. This time there's some serious debate about what the "message" of the election was, and the establishment seems to be recognizing that the Tea Parties can't be ignored.

I've making the point to one of our Senators that the Republicans will not get another chance. The thing that I found interesting is that his local staff have volunteered the information that they've gotten that message from a LOT of constituents, and that the Senator is well aware of it.

[Jane]

Yes. In spite of his fundamental lack of curiosity

YOu just can't help yourself can you?

[Janet the tea-vangelist!]

I love Michele Bachmann. She spoke at the first Tea Parties I went to...even the smaller one. She has been hounded just like Palin, & she doesn't care. That is the strength of some of the Christian conservatives...they are used to being mocked. They are work horses & they don't care what the MFM think of their beliefs.

How do you answer the question, "Are you hypnotized?". What kind of stupid question is that for a supposed NEWS anchor to ask? A loose cannon???...I'd say she did great ignoring the buffoon & just talking to the audience.

[Jane]

Pssst BGates - Mitch Daniels. Pass it on.

[bgates]

Mitch Daniels

Forehead's too big. Drug user. Puppet of Big Pharma. Estimated the cost of the Iraq war at $50 billion.

[JM Hanes]

Lousy question, Janet, but a lousy response too, IMO.

[Captain Hate]

've not seen more than passing mention of it, but it seems to me that this past election demonstrated a significant reduction in the power of the MSM. I'm NOT suggesting that they are paper tigers yet, BUT they failed abysmally at demonizing the Tea Party movement, and their attempts to blame the failure to capture the Senate on the Tea Parties and/or Palin appear to be fairly ineffective.

Good points; we've got them on the run but they won't give up their perch without a fight, like the country clubbing Repukes that we also have to root out.

[Wuzzagrunt]

"...a whole lot of liberal pols welcome the idea of turning Palin into the face of the Republican party."

Didn't Jimmy Carter and his team wish for a match up against Ronald Reagan?

Of the 4 candidates in the '08 election, Sarah was far and away the best pick for POTUS. Obama and Biden were (and still are) shockingly inept and ignorant. It was all I could do to force myself to cast a ballot for McCain. Being at the top of that field is a low bar to clear.

I think voters will be a bit more cautious about voting for an attractive, charismatic candidate with a thin resume. I love Sarah, but I hope she doesn't run. Better her than Mitt or Huck, though.

[centralcal]

Wicakte: Yes, the MFM is less powerful than they used to be, but they are still not weak enough to suit me.

I would like to see much more pressure put on them - particularly from our side of the aisle.

I was intrigued by how Gov. Perry of Texas refused to meet with the Editorial Boards of the propaganda rags and worked hard to make sure that he DID NOT get any of their endorsements, because he didn't NEED them and thought they might acutally hurt his re-election bid.

More on our side need to carefully evaluate each and every media connection they make.