Wake Up, GOP: It’s Time to Put the Varsity on the Field
At the approach of an election that’s likely America’s most important since 1864, many Republicans are acting as if they’re content to conduct tryouts for the jayvee. One wonders: where is the sense of urgency, the recognition of the acute need to get the best possible candidates into this defining presidential race?
The comparison with 1864 is not overwrought. Then, victory in the Civil War, and hence the fate of the Union, hung in the balance. This time around, the fate of ObamaCare and, with it, the fate of limited government — not to mention fiscal solvency — hangs in the balance. Congressman Paul Ryan put it beautifully here.
No one in decades — perhaps a century — has done more (however inadvertently) to promote the citizenry’s interest in America’s founding than the overreaching Obama, who subscribes to its ideals less than any president since Woodrow Wilson (and probably ever). As a result of his efforts, we now face the very real prospect of a reengaged citizenry leading America toward the higher horizon of liberty — or of an enervating consolidation of money and power in Washington the likes of which this country has never seen.
Thanks to Obama, advocates of limited government and liberty now have more hope than in ’08 — and than we would have had, with all due respect, under a President John McCain. But we are now playing without a net. One electoral win — just one win — and ObamaCare and the Progressive agenda could be here to stay.
But President Obama is clearly beatable. A recent Gallup poll showed that Americans don’t give him a 50 percent approval rating on any of the eight issues on which they were asked to rate him. A recent CNN poll showed that far more voters definitely plan to vote against him than for him.
Look at the recent reelection patterns. Jimmy Carter lost convincingly to Ronald Reagan. Reagan beat Walter Mondale in a rout. George H. W. Bush lost pretty convincingly to Bill Clinton (likely because Bush’s profligate spending motivated Ross Perot to run). Clinton beat Bob Dole convincingly. And George W. Bush beat John Kerry narrowly.
Notice any common trends? Of the past five presidents, three sought reelection against weak opponents, and each won. Two sought reelection against strong opponents and lost. In four of the five races, the determining variable seems to have been the quality of the opposition. Only Reagan, who won 49 states versus the hapless Mondale, would almost certainly have beaten a strong challenger.
This time around, candidates who inspire similar levels of enthusiasm as Dole or Kerry (or McCain or Dukakis) won’t beat Obama. But a strong candidate would. It is essential that the best candidates enter the race.
The class act of the Republican congressional delegation (House and Senate alike) is clearly the bold, articulate, personable Congressman Ryan. The most well-liked and respected Republican governor is Chris Christie. Both are dynamite in one-on-one confrontations. Both would shred Obama in a debate. Christie doesn’t look the part, but as Noemie Emery has noted, there are advantages even to that. Ryan, a true believer in the founding ideals, is presidential timber. The question is whether either man will seize the opportunity at the perfect, needful time to reclaim those ideals — or whether they’ll only step forward once we’ve already passed the tipping point.
Too many Republicans fail to grasp the urgency of the moment. In addition to Ryan and Christie, Mike Pence, a telegenic, presidential-looking conservative, who would also appeal to both Tea Partiers and more establishment types, should reverse his decision and opt back into the race. Any Republican who thinks he or she might be the best, most electable, candidate should run.
Two words, and I’m serious.
Megyn Kelly.
It may as well be Donald Duck.
The GOP is doomed no matter which clown they select from their pool.
Since none of them is willing to face straight up the Kenyan/Indonesian fraud, installed in the WH by the Bilderbergers, for what he really is, the GOP stands to lose.
Ol’ America is now dead, and no single (and weak) person can revive her; there aren’t any George Washingtons around any more. Only a miracle will pull what’s left of America from the abyss she has been dumped into by the moronic majority that voted on 11/04/08. The cancer of the 1960s finally did her in.
or Lady Gaga – she has been as influencial as any of them idiots, if more so since there’s a total breakdown of the social fabric and a political as well as ideological fractionalism reminiscent of pre-revolutionary (US/French/Russian) times.
I share your opinion even though I would prefer not to. For just about 50 years I have witnessed the destruction of the USA from within, while neighbors, friends, colleagues at work etc. accused me of negativism. Still the destruction was visible as far back as the sixties. Who could watch the young people in those days and not be concerned for the future? Today it is even worse.
Rally around the mama grizzly now, ’cause with the man who occupies the white still around, there may be no election in 20112. If he can deem federal laws unconstitutional without challenge as he did just this week, how do you stop him? With marshmallows? Khadafi reminds us that the answer is no?
He said, “Put the varsity on the field”; not “Put the girls JV assistant trainee crochet and table tennis tryout on the field”.
We really don’t need a dimwit alaskan housewife with a dysfunctional family and a zest for marijuana as the most powerful person in the world; your apparent need to be dominated notwithstanding.
Sarah’s WH Press Secretary.
Unfortunately, it’s not only about who is the best candidate, it’s also about the possible candidate to really want to step in. And I really don’t see anybody doing too much of an Opposition to this government yet (except for Sarah Palin), so what candidates are you speaking about?
You nailed it X.
Palin has been in the insurgency from day one. We need someone with fire in the belly. She will connect with working America.
We think this coming presidential election will be hell on earth. It will be ugly, underhanded, fraud rampant, nasty press… rallies will be overrun by union thugs and Obama will just say…”I don’t know anything about that”..every dead person will have a couple of votes.
It is up to us and no one else to stop this type thing. I’m not talking about being a mcCain and rolling over…
As the voting public we need to take a stand where and when we can.
We need someone with Palin’s “guts” and love of country, but not Palin.
Sarah Palin, gotta love her. However, if she runs against Obama we can kiss the presidency good bye.
Obama will wilt in any debate with Palin. She won’t be playing the game. That’s why they are hell bent on convincing us she’s unelectable.
How about Jan Brewer the gov of Arizona? I like her although I don’t know too much about her yet. Nobody ever mentions her, why is that? In general I prefer governors over members of congress, but I do like Paul Ryan as well as the big guy Christie. Are they clean and strong enough to withstand what will be thrown at them by the media, the far left websites, George Soros et al? Whoever is the nominee better clean out the “closets” now, no illegal alien help, no mistresses, no affairs with males or females, nothing that could be interpreted as racist. We know that the democrats are ruthless, cheaters, liars, criminally minded and worse, and I mean that in toto, I make no exceptions.
Mitch Daniels. He just needs a crash course in telegenics. Maybe ol’ Blago can tutor him.
Mitch Daniels or Mike Pence from Indiana; Governor Haley Barbour from Mississippi. Please, God, don’t let the GOP put up Newt Gingrich!
Newt Gingrich is far and away the best qualified candidate for nomination to the Presidency! He has media savvy, nearly two dozen years of experience in and out of office and is the best read politician in the country!! Though he has some ‘baggage’ what with two former marriages he has no record as womanizer/rapist(!) like fmr. ‘President’ Clinton…
Romney would be ideal if not for his record on health care ‘reform’ in Massachusetts, Pence had stature and gravitas but was else unknown.. Apart from Newt there is Jindal, but his legacy is thin! Barbour seems a bit old – and wounded already on fake(?) charges of racism..
That leaves Christie or – even – Wisconsin governor Walker!! After victory in Madison soon, would Scott Walker run?
You forgot that Newt Gingrich also has the scruples of a Democrat aka none.
And when the MSM asks Newt about his personal life and family values how will he respond?
“So how many interns are you going to boink while you’re in the WH? And the ex on whom you served divorce papers while she was still in therapy for cancer, is she still in remission?”
Get real.
well, he could always compare his record to bill clintons
We could notnotnot do worse than Obama, be it Newt, mickey mouse anyone!!
But that’s not the question. The question is, which GOP candidate could whip Obama’s butt in 2012? And it’s certainly not Gingrich. That would be another McCain fiasco.
PUUULEAZE, no Gingrich, no Romney, no country club Rino, check pants Republicans. Let not the left wing pick the candidates for the Rep party, remember they loved McCain and others before him. Newt, even without baggage is still a rino, Romney is weak and the media destroyed him for his mormonism. In the pas I’ve done several write-in candidates in presidential elections and I am prepared to do the same again, unless we get a true conservative, one who articulates his/her positions and presents concrete plans for solving the country’s most pressing problems, both in print and in debates. As for the latter, if the chosen commentators at any debates are again from the left wing media, we already know how it will go. So we need to be vigilant over that too.
Newt can take the couch Pelosi and he sat on and take a flying leep off a tall cliff. He can take Rove, Romney, Huckabee and the rest of those so called Republicans who only give lip service to conservatism with him.
I do like Newt and Romney, but you are right. They both seem to “flinch” in the headlights.
There are some banner carriers out there though. Jindahl, Pawlenty, Christy, now Walker. I believe that all of these leaders will stand for conservative/ libertarian values regardless of media scorn.
Jindal has been creating an insider network in all 50 states very quietly. He has $12 million in funds mostly from under $200 or less contributions.
As long as he doesn’t use a teleprompter (he can deliver quite a speech off the cuff on almost any issue, I’ve seen it)
Gingrich and Christie as running mates, no matter their background baggage, could easily and quickly kick the a– of Obama without breaking a sweat. Their biggest detractors wouldn’t be the Democrats but would be the old-guard Republicans who fear anyone with outstanding creativity and intelligence.
Newt would be a disaster. He’s waffled on us too many times, on too many critical issues.
Gingrich can’t stick to the same woman or the same religion. Last time out he rolled over instantly when his Globalist Masters called.
Romney is a mormon nut, who believes that God is a flesh and bones man who lives on a planet called kolob, and spends his time having sex with thousands of wives.
Huckabee is a baptist nut, who thinks he will go to heaven no matter what sins he commits, just because he “asked the Lord to come into my heart”.
All the candidates lack integrity, at least to the extent that they are not committed to the notion that their eternal welfare is dependent on their obedience to God.
How about Dr. Alan Keyes?
I couldn’t agree more. Having said that, I doubt if it will happen. It ain’t the drivers; it’s the car. Radical change is needed in the Republican party at both national and state levels.
Specifically, a tighter otrganizational model. Better communication. A unifying philosphy (oh, dream on) upon which principled stands can be taken.
Gotta go now, the Easter Bunny should be here soon.
“It ain’t the drivers; it’s the car”
And the garage (the country club).
You never hear a Repubic-an talk hard and straight. It’s always mumble-witted CYA on this hand and that hand crap, and they never, but never, answer a false charge or an outright lie, just go on mumbling.
The other side plays Bolshevik hardball, is able to get their useful idiots on the streets from Yemen to Wisconsin.
The back room gang at the White House and the knee-capping thugs in Chicago, LA, Philly, NYC . . . will buy the mouth-breathing undereducated electorate with their billions in “bail out” cash that the ward heelers now use for walk-around money. You think the Re-pubic girlies can possibly field a winner? Get out while you can. It’s over.
“Re-pubic?” Seriously? What are you, twelve years old? Grow the hell up.
cool tks
Examples of Democrat truth tellers, Clinton, Obama, Reid, Pelosi?
Don’t stop there. Scan the last hundred years of history.
Christie’s been magnificent in his attempts to curb spending and in confronting the unions, and as such, he’s been exactly what basket-case New Jersey needs.
But so far, every time he’s opened his mouth on anything which has national and international implications — specifically, for example, on illegal immigration and on the Ground Zero Mosque specifically and Jihadism in general — he’s been an appalling squish.
Palin-West in ’12.
Ditto;Christie is squishy on most all social liberal issues.Which is the very reason america is in the toilet on every other issue.Like donald trump too many lawless fiscal conservatives,who don’t believe character,good judgement,vision,ethics,principals,Rule of law,and the courage of their convictions matter.That i say will only continue swirling america down the sewer.Only palin,pence,demint,michelle bachman,and rand paul.Have been consistant from the beginning,about barack obama.While gingrich,huckabee,romney,daniels,barber,and the rest were praising at his alter.Trump voted for obama.So much for their loyalty,honor, vision,and judgement,regarding character,ethics,principals,and the courage of their convictions.Gingrich,and huckabee has been a lapdog for the clintons,since bill’s second term.What has any of them accomplished for america.since they have been in politics?John kasick,and pete domenechi’Were the authors/creators,of the contract with america.Who has the gop,newtgingrich,mike huckabee,and the rest given all the credit to?Bill clinton.How do they all govern,and legislate.Comprimising 80 percent to benefit democrats,and almost nothing to conservative causes.Because they care less,about winning for the team.And more about hooking up with the cheerleaders,on the other team.
Jimmy Joe, I like reading what you have to say. If you keep your posts short, like this one, I’m able to read them (since you don’t like to use capital letters and spaces). Thanks.
Almost exactly what I say and think. It is good to know that there are others out there who share my general opinion. Frankly, the next presidential election will be my last, unless we get to vote for a straight talking, conservative person who shows integrity and is not afraid to take on the whiners in the party.
x3
i would donate blood to a palin-west ticket.
Mine would be west and pssoibly palin. depends on who else is on.
Rudy/Jindal Which one is on the top of the ticket doesn’t matter much as they would be a good blend that covers all the redeemable wings of the Republican Party as well as geographically balanced.
Experience, energy, brains and proven leadership.
Rudy” As in, Guilianni?
Are you kidding?
Rudy the Drag Queen? Rudy the womanizer? Rudy the candidate tied with Mitt Romney for the position of “Most capable of getting the conservative base to STAY HOME FROM THE POLLS” Giuliani?
What are you smoking? You’d be hard-pressed to pick a worse candidate!
You talking about the dream team Palin-west.
Christie may be though on unions, but on the rest he’s an empty suit.
on the rest he’s an empty suit.
At best, RedMass. At BEST.
West would certainly provide some brown for your conservative window dressing.
Communist Troll Talking Point No. 379-B584S.
TIE sunglasses, you seem to be seeing trolls all around you – is paranoia setting in?
No more than usual.
Christie’s 2A bona fides are, ummm, suspect. He may be clever at taking shots at the easy targets, unions, but he is no friend of small government or the Bill of Rights. He will call out the Federal troops at his first opportunity. And not just to take over the railroads or airport towers. He is a Statist, like so many of his fellow Republican travelers and all of the Dems.
He is a statist. God blessed NJ with him.
Your points are well taken, Mr. Jolis, although my view puts the stakes higher than your wording implies (loved the “appalling,” the “squish,” not so much).
I believe it would be a grave mistake to be so blinded by the enormity of our fiscal crisis that we are willing to overlook what in my view simply must constitute a “diriment impediment” to the nomination of any candidate for the presidency, and that is ambivalence or tolerance toward Islamists. We are at war. The rate of infiltration by this foe into nearly every arm of the federal government, many state governments, and huge numbers of our educational, cultural, and religious institutions is astounding.
As we sit here in momentary safety indulging in this wonderfully thought-provoking debate, ponder that, according to one source, there were no fewer than 36 jihadist training camps active within the geographic United States, and that was in 2008. One could safely assume there are likely to be more now given the current Oval Office enabler-in-chief. Arabic to Spanish to English translating material has been found along our porous border with Mexico. The Director of the Center for Peace and Security at Georgetown University—and if you will, please stop a moment and let that sink in— went out of his way to specify the helpfulness of CAIR to the counterterrorism activities of the United States, nor did he miss the opportunity to suggest in the same piece that it was our own foreign policies that were contributing to the radicalization of home-grown jihadists (Homeland Insecurity, WSJ Online, 12-15-09).
Not only does Governor Christie work to foster cordial relations with Muslims known to have ties to the Muslim Brotherhood or their fronts, unbelievably, Christie has actually given material aid to America’s sworn enemies (their words, and by the boatload; certainly not ours lately!!!) by advancing the Kafkaesque nightmare of Sharia law in America with his appointment of Sohail Mohammed to a judgeship in New Jersey:
http://www.investigativeproject.org/2506/gov-christie-strange-relationship-with-radical
Contrast this position on what I strenuously urge all Americans to consider a make-or-break issue for holding any public office in the land, with these words by LTC Allen West: “When tolerance becomes a one-way street, it leads to cultural suicide, and American cultural values shall never be subjugated to any other as long as I have air in my lungs.”
Ladies and Gentlemen, can we really afford to tolerate anyone in The Peoples’ House who, for all practical purposes, would be functioning as a highly effective collaborator in the utter ruination of America as we know it? It’s awfully hard to worry about the economy when you’re dead.
Agree. One can claim credibility on the security front if he’s weak on control of borders or is too PC to recognize the Islamist threat. As to Gingrich – smart guy, can certainly argue as a historian, but I don’t trust anyone who can pal around with the likes of Al Sharpton. That’s classic pandering.
“Let us value that great good accordingly.”
There is just one, small question I have with this brilliant and passionate plea.
Why are the Republicans: the author of this article Mr. Anderson included ignoring the only prospective candidate that not only meets, but exceeds all of the qualifying criteria set forth herein plus stands as the only person that can easily clean Obama’s clock anytime, using any venue anywhere?
Is there some reason that the team managers and players don’t want girls to play?
Or has the establishment once again already made the American voters presidential candidate choice for them?
Go home Sarah. You don’t have what it takes to be a varsity player.
You’re funny.
About as smart as a bag of hammers, but funny still the same. Don’t ever change, you amusing little gnat.
Was there a point to your (thankfully) brief personal attack? I didn’t detect a differing opinion.
No, no point. He just likes doing that.
Yeah. We wouldn’t want the best person for the job to run against the worst prez in history.
What candidates?
Christie is for muzzies and against 2nd Amendment.
The Rs are not going to win and the Tea Party is not ready = the Anointed One will win.
Ok Jeffrey, how are they enticed to run?
By the way, some of us have real isssues with Gov. Christie. For all his attractive fiscal saneness and ability to speak clearly, there are disturbing stances. He has been less than helpful regarding defeating Obamacare. He has appointed controversial judges, including one who is sympathetic to sharia law. You can not be in favor of sharia and the US Constitution simultaneously. That same standard can probably be applied to the NJ constitutiuon. Christie is solidly pro gun control, another black mark. This guy, upon scrutiny, is actually disturbingly liberal on important isssues. What would he do with Supreme Court appointments, one has to ponder.
Ryan is far more attractive politically to this constitutional conservative, as is Pence. They are more authentic than Christie and have less bagage. How do you draft them? I would be interested in both, but they have to be ready to endure the long battle that is the Presidential campaign. I would be interested in how we get them commited, Mr Anderson?
Many of the other named candidates are flawed and useless starting with Romney who is the Clyde Suckfinger of the GOP. Huckabee doesn’t seem to have a grip on the founders intent that the Federal government have limited power. He is infatuated with Ms Obama’s idea that the feds should control school diets. Barbor is a washington insider who doesn’t appear to understand limited federalism either. Palin may be so controversial that for all her conservative cred she can’t attract enough votes. I could go on, but you can see the problem.
A true conservative would be the bright contrast the country needs to get rid of the 2nd comming of Woodrow Wilson. Those left in the field are uninspiring unless you have drafting ability Mr Anderson.
Unfortunately, perhaps the best qualified candidate of all, Jeb Bush, is weighed down by his brother’s performance the last two years of his last term.
Virtually all of the others have some problem or another as well.
Hopefully, someone will step up, but the Republicans have a bad habit of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
Jeb would be excellent. Add Palin and you would have the best of the bunch.
Their baggage is minimal compared to the rest.
Don’t forget that the oNE has more baggage than ALL the contenders combined.
Not only that, but he apparently refuses to learn or be taught!
Yes, you are correct, but he has the media, the unions, 99% of the blacks, probably a huge percentage of the hispanics, all the voters who don’t comprehend english nor grasp what is happening, George Soros, his money and his far left websites. The influence of these groups is extremely hard to overcome. For the person who mentioned Jeb Bush, get real. Jeb will never overcome what his father and grandfather have wrought. Besides I am against dynasties, they are unamerican.
NO MORE BUSHES!!! Thanks, been nice, hope you like the book royalties, but you ain’t royalty yourselves. No hereditary kingdoms here, Plainsman.
Jeb Bush’s first order of business would be AMNESTY.
No thanks!
Ryan, interesting. Never crossed my mind. Christie, of course, he’s the current darling of fiscal conservatives. But your premise is correct. We need the best NOW and stop this retreading of Huck, Mitt, and God love her, Sarah. None are electable at this point.
Nobody is electable right now but O, he is the only person running. Once we get some people campaigning the electable will become (hopefully) apparent. My crystal ball doesn’t work anymore, so I don’t know who is electable. I support Palin but any demonstrable conservative will get my vote in the general. There goes half the field. De Mint, Walker, West are all good enough for me. I want someone who can stand up to the media crap storm that is coming and still have good humor. So far the only R who has already demonstrated that is Palin. Whomever the R’s nominate is going to get palined. The only question is how they will stand up to it. I believe that the only reasonable metric for future behavior is past behavior. I will never vote for a CC or RINO again, and wouldn’t have voted for McCain had Palin not also been on the ticket.
Roooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooobio!
I agree that we are now in a place where we cannot sit back, cannot sidestep our responsibilities, we can no longer ignore our country’s peril. We must act with courage and urgency, and, as you say, only the finest conservatives should be enlisted. This may mean telling a candidate that he cannot sit this election out. Our country is calling, and the responsibility is bigger than the desires of one man.
That is not to mean that the candidates must announce soon, however. There are at least four reasons why the candidates may want to delay.
1. Democrats can’t govern, and the longer one gives them the national stage the more obvious it becomes. Let the democrats hang themselves. They are doing an admirable job of it, especially when they can’t pin the blame on anybody but themselves. Boehner is playing it low-key so he cannot be used by the Left as Obama’s evil foil.
2. By announcing early you are painting large targets on the backs of the candidates. The Left will try to crucify the leading candidates, and there is no level they will refrain from stooping. Politics is a bloodsport to the Left. You don’t have to be right, you don’t have to have to be principled, you just have to win. Or at least that’s the way the Left will play it, so don’t be surprised when it unfolds this way.
3. Likewise, if the republican race is started too early then there is a greater chance that the republican candidates will destroy one another trying to earn the nomination. The Left will leverage any openings and there is a real chance that the successful candidate will be too bloodied from the primary to finish the race successfully.
4. Obama is strongest when he has a republican foil. Since he is the incumbent, all he has to do is prove equal to his challenger. When Obama has to respond to events he flails like an amateur. But when his opponent is a flesh and blood opponent the odds shift in Obama’s favor. Not only is Obama more comfortable debating a person than an out-of-control oil well, but his attack dogs have a much easier task of personifying and smearing this more accessible target that the Left likes to denigrate. Because this is how the Left prefers to operate: it’s a systemic culture of personal, unproven attacks. The Left cannot win on the merits and so resort to the lowest form of debate. The only reason why they can continue this depravity is because they have bought off half of America. What’s worse, they do it with our money.
So don’t get discouraged that a top-tier conservative hasn’t emerged quite yet, for there may be good reason to hold back. There are several upcoming congressional battles that could severely weaken Obama. If Obama is successfully lured out of the White House and loses the budget battles then a hobbled Obama would make the perfect time to make a national announcement. So far he is playing it safe and trying to not make a mistake by avoiding any unscripted situations. I don’t think this can last. He is reading the mood of the country wrong just like he misread the Wisconsin union standoff. He’s going to lose this budget battle just like he lost the last tax battle. And that will be our opening. He’s holding a weak hand, so he’s decided to hibernate back in the White House and hope the Right makes a mistake, like they usually do, or lose courage, which unfortunately is even more common.
But Obama has a number of weaknesses. He seems to be losing touch with reality. He is out of touch with the average American. And he’s been on the wrong side of too many issues. A skilled debater would leverage these weaknesses, and the only person who I have seen not only hold their ground but come out on top is Christie. Sure, he doesn’t want to run. Sure, he doesn’t have a lot of executive experience. Sure, he’s lacking some of the photogenic qualities required for television. So what. It’s time to step up.
Lou,
Your point #4 should be in bold print. Obama is doing quite well at hanging an albatross a week around his own neck and defining himself for what he isn’t. He and his plans escaped definition in his campaign and now without a foil, his ineffectualness is emphasized. “When your enemies are busy making fools of themselves, it is best not to interfer.” Anyone who comes forward to challenge his machinery now will be caught up in the mud fight of his personality, which he does better. Ryan, who may not be running, has been busy deconstructing the leftist utopian plank one fiscal reality plank at a time.
So you think Pence will eventually be convinced to not sit this one out?
My point is that we should not be pensive. It’s up to *us* to choose the right candidate; just because somebody has said they will not run doesn’t mean they can not or should not be enlisted. There is too much at stake.
I would rather nominate a person who says he would rather not be president than a egoist who thinks the position should be his.
It’s time Americans knew, there is no “conservative” political arm. The republicans will do exactly what the socialist democrats would do, only slower. If you believe anything different you are only fooling your self.
Ruler,
I agree. Here’s to the TEA party continuing to pull the party towards the limited government intention of the founders. That means getting rid of a lot of dead wood. Lugar should be targeted and I would love to see a hardcore conservative take on Snowe. You get the picture.
If we don’t get a further transformation to originalist thinkers in the Senate and the House in 2012 then it ain’t happening. Time for an Article 5 convention to amend the Constitution.
As a matter of fact, we need that right now.
Obama is being bruised by his handling of current events, why not let him continue to try and fend off opponents on multiple fronts. He is a incapable of multi-tasking and slow to respond on any issue, waiting for the handlers to formulate his message. Obama is beating himself right now so why give the MSM a target and Obama a reason to change the subject? The “brand” is being damaged, let’s let this play out a while longer.
Agree that Christie and Ryan are varsity material and hope they can be persuaded to run. I like Mitch Daniels as well and think he’d be the most effective at getting under Obama’s (thin) skin. All three would provide real solutions to many of today’s problems, it would be a debate of grown ups vs. the boy king.
I hope the Repubs will have several female leaders add their voices to the dialogue, there are many independent women still furious at the Dems and the MSM for the treatment of Hillary and Palin in 2008. A strong economic message will also appeal to this group, long taken for granted by the Dems.
Mitch Daniels would make a good “junior senator from Indiana”.
I am one of those independent but conservative women so I wouldn’t vote for Hillary or a rino like McCain. You are kidding yourself if you believe that the democrat women are still furious about Hillary, all of them voted for Obama. A democrat is first and foremost just that,a democrat marching in lock step, even if slapped in the face numerous times.
“Yes, Ryan may be “only” a House member, but he is also the chairman of the powerful House Budget Committee, and where is the action right now? Lincoln, too, had “only” been a congressman. Christie may “only” be a first-term governor, but Obama was a first-term, back-bench senator.”
Yes, Obama was a first-term, back-bench senator, and how did he work out? He may have just destroyed the Democratic party for a generation to come, so why do we want to risk putting in an another inexperienced candidate just because he “might” win? You want somebody who can go nose-to-nose with Obama in a debate AND somebody who has had enough experience in Washington to know how to get things done, or, if you like, how to push an agenda through. I hate to say it, gang, but there’s only one person out there with the experience to do that, and it’s Newt Gingrich.
Stop worrying about the “baggage” issue. You want the toughest S.O.B. to go against Obama and somebody with the intellectual firepower to dismantle Obama in a debate. Gingrich can do that. I’ve seen him in a debate and he is incredible. He has a first-class mind and he pushed through a massive conservative agenda in the 1990s. He is also as tough as they come and would shred any of Obama’s arguments. Is he a RINO on some issues? Maybe, but he’s a lot, and I mean A LOT, better than Obama. And the “experience” issue would be taken off the table right from the start.
Both Christie and Ryan are waiting in the wings for the future, but not now. Sarah Palin is good, but she didn’t even finish one term as Governor. That doesn’t do much for your credibility, does it? Newt is a student of history and would make short work of Obama. Is he perfect? Of course not, but if you want a saint to run for president, get St. Francis of Assisi. Newt could win and he could also pick a fantastic vice presidential candidate, like Bobby Jindal from Louisiana. We MUST be bold in this election and if there is anyone who understands boldness throughout history, it’s Newt.
Have you ever watched Newt on TV? He starts every sentence with “Well”. The man is incapable of making a decision without studying for days on it. And look at his recent ethanol BS! Newt is smart and a student of history but he is not a leader. Remember the ad with Pelosi? Remember Dede Skusyfodder? He needs a committee to decide on what’s right and what’s wrong. As for Sarah Palin she had to resign because of the Alaska state law that prevents the state from paying for civil suits against the Governor. There was a Demorat machine working full time suing her for nonsensical issues that she had to defend against with her own money and time. If your foggy brain will remember she won every single one of the cases brought against her. I am open to anyone who can defeat the Marxist in chief but at least give all who want to compete a chance to show what they have to offer. I would bet on Palin in the ring with big ears any day.
“If your foggy brain will remember she won every single one of the cases brought against her. I am open to anyone who can defeat the Marxist in chief but at least give all who want to compete a chance to show what they have to offer. I would bet on Palin in the ring with big ears any day.”
You know, it’s hard enough winning an election against union led Democrats. But it makes the job that much harder having to listen to the rantings of idiots like you. So I guess you have to make your points by insluting people who are trying to help. Well, if that’s the way you want it, I can dish it out with the best of them, turd head. Obviously, you’ve never listened to anything Gingrich has said or else you may have learned something. He always speaks on Fox News and he’s always direct and to the point. And as for Ethanol, sure, you can be against it as an average citizen. But as a presidential candidate are you going to alienate half the farmers in this country who make money off of it? Especially when one of the first primaries is in Iowa? So use your brain, if you have one. Newt is a calculating politician, but he also know how to win.
As for Palin, sure you can run her, AND LOSE. She just does not have the experience to win. Ronald Reagan already was the governor of the largest state in the union for two successful terms AND he almost beat a sitting president, Gerald Ford, for the Republican nomination for president in 1976 AND he was one of the best conservative thinkers of his day. Palin has given a some speaches and hasn’t even served one term as governor. She is a conservative version of Obama in a dress, AND SHE WILL LOSE. So, if you want that man/boy to be president for four more years, go ahead, make Obama’s day and run Palin. If not and you want a serious candidate, go for Gingrich.
Of course, these are just a few thoughts that have fallen out of my “foggy brain.” Jerk.
Whoa what happened to your civility Libertyship? I listen to Newt, he was my late husband’s favorite for years, I also read his books. Still I nor the other voters in my family would vote for him. Like I said before he is the classic Rino. I never bought into the ethanol boondoggle, all it does is reduce the mileage in my car. This means that I have to buy more gasoline to make up for it; so much for the environmental advantage. In addition it has sent the corn prices sky high for everybody, including the countries that import corn from the US. BTW, it is speeches, not speaches.
Civility needs to be earned. I started this conversation making some logical points and not insulting anyone. Then certain people on this site felt the need to make their point is by insulting others (I even repeated it in my second post). Well, that doesn’t fly with me. I’m not much for this type of “civility” when it allows other people to smack you around. Sorry if it offended you, but people had better get used to the fact that there are a lot of opinions out there and everybody has a right to voice them. If you don’t agree, fine. No problem. But when you start attacking people, then the gloves come off. Our presidential candidates had better start learning that lesson too. John McCain thought he was above it all by NOT responding to attacks from Obama and his minions, especially when it came to “Reverand” Wright and Bill Ayers. And what did it get him? A one-way ticket back to the Senate. Civility has never been a part of politics, not even with the Founding Fathers (who said some pretty nasty things about each other). But when it comes to individuals voicing an opinion around here, if you’re rude, expect to have it thrown right back at you.
You know liberty, you just made my point that you made with your opinion about not pissing off half the farmers by canceling the ethanol boondoggle. Spoken like a true RINO! Don’t do anything unless it is a calculated move that does the least harm and offends the least amount of voters. Maybe we are in need of a leader and not another professional politician. Have you ever read any history? The heroes of our time did not come from experience factories. They were common people that rose to the demand placed on them. Ronald Regan had experience but so did Jimmy Carter. It’s what’s inside that counts and the integrity you have as well as your morals. If you think Newt has risen to the level of hero or leader by his actions in the past decades then you vote for him. I personally have had enough of the crap you are spouting about electability. I had rather run Palin and lose than win with some of the worthless lying RINOs that are tuning up to run. They are nothing but
Demorats lite.
You da Man, Rudy
“I personally have had enough of the crap you are spouting about electability. I had rather run Palin and lose than win with some of the worthless lying RINOs that are tuning up to run.”
Then you will lose. And you will be doing more harm to the country than any Democrat possibly could. By nominating a Palin or a Goldwater type, it may make you feel good, but you will lose. How did all of you like those votes for Goldwater and it only gave us LBJ? Hmmm, now that was a shining success, wasn’t it? Vietnam, the “Great Society” and the welfare state, ah yes, those WERE the days, right? On you talk of “leadership?” Well then Bob Dole should have been the man for you, right? He was very conservative, a good man, a war hero, and a old-time Republican. Oh, and remind me, what happened to him? HE LOST. Sorry chum, I hate to break it to you and a lot of people around here, but you’re NOT the only people voting in the next election. You are STILL going to have to convince a lot of independents to vote Republican and with a person like Palin IT JUST AIN’T HAPPENING, especially in the northern states. Reagan made a case that his presidency would benefit all people, not just people like you. Remember those “Reagan Democrats?” Well if we want to win next year, we’re going to need them again. So don’t just blow them off because you demand “purity.”
So fine. Stick to your “purity” and to your definitions of what a RINO is. I hope you enjoy another four years of Obama.
Well, logic101, how about what I said in my posts, someone like Ronald Reagan? Don’t confuse electibility with popularity. Ronald Reagan was probably the greatest conservative of the 20th century and when he ran for president in 1980 he had an incredible resume. He may NOT have been popular among the elites in both the media and the insiders in Washington, but at least he could go to the voters and show them what he accomplished over the years. He also was the leading spokesman for conservatism at that time, having given numerous speeches on everything from anti-communism to social security. HE had electibility coming out of his ears, although he may not have been popular with the elites or the press.
Palin has none of that. When you sit down and look at it objectively, what has she actually accomplished? She has written two books and has given a lot of speeches. Unfortunately, that’s about what Obama accomplished before he got into office and we all saw what a “stunning” success that was. So why would we want to follow that same political model? Inexperience is inexperience, regardless of what political party you’re in.
Whoever gets the Republican nomination in 2012 had better have one heck of a resume to battle Obama, because if he or she does not, you KNOW the main stream media and the rabid Democrats, not to mention the union thugs, will crucify him or her. Doesn’t matter, you say? Unfortunately, it does, especially with those independents and Reagan Democrats who don’t pay much attention to politics or the news. And after seeing what happens when you elect a president with no experience in anything, like Obama, I think the country is going to want a candidate who has actually done something in their political career.
If you run somebody with an impressive resume, you take ammunition away from the Democrats that they can use against this person. Will they still make personal attacks against the Republican candidate? Sure they will, but you can always answer those. They will NOT, however, be able to constantly attack the candidate on either competence or accomplishments. See the difference?
To everybody on Pajamas Media, I’m only answering these posts because I want all of you to be realistic about who we nominate in 2012. I also think it’s probably the most important issue facing this country right now, because if Obama is re-elected I don’t think there will be much left of this country to govern by 2016. Again, don’t confuse popularity with electibility. Palin is very popular, but when push comes to shove I don’t really know what her base is going to be against the Democratic machine. Sure Palin is popular with the Tea Parties, but so was Sharon Angle in Nevada and we see how well THAT turned out.
We have a lot of very good people out there, like Paul Ryan or Bobby Jindal of Louisiana and many others. But we had better start voting with our heads and not our hearts, or we’re going to lose, again. And this time the country just can’t afford it.
i really love you guys who are pushing newt as the best we can do,really?dont you think that people like myself and others would be hard pressed to support someone who divorced his wife on her deathbed so her could marry some younger woman.or for that matter on policy how bout his pro cap and trade stance before he changed his mind.no newt is not the answer ,sarah is and if you beleive she doesnt stand a chance against the one then i suggest watching her first tear apart a sitting republican govenor in the primary debates in alaska and the do the same thing to a former democrat govenor in the general.
no other candidate has the built in group of grassroot volenters that sarah does and just as a little bit of info a sizable number of us are Recovering blue dog dems who will work to elect this lady,why dont you see if she runs and how she preforms as if her long island performance is any indication the middle WILL come to realize that she is our last best hope to keep this country true to the founders ideal and REGANS optimisum for the future.
I keep hearing the argument about electability…I’d like an example where we passed on a candidate with strong conservative values for an “electable” candidate and actually won. Then look at our 2 most recent Republican presidents who could be classified as “moderates with broad appeal” – Ford and Bush 41. Can anyone point to anything either of them did that would make us want to go down that path again?
“i suggest watching her first tear apart a sitting republican govenor in the primary debates in alaska and the do the same thing to a former democrat govenor in the general.”
Don,
If you or anyone else has working links to these full debates, I wish you’d post them here. Mysteriously (?) all the “accounts have been closed.”
“i suggest watching her first tear apart a sitting republican govenor in the primary debates in alaska and the do the same thing to a former democrat govenor in the general.”
Don, would you have a link to these? They seem to have been taken down except for a very short excerpt from one of them available through Huffpo.
Sure would love to see them!
Thank you, Libertyship. Maybe it would help if folks would keep in mind that insulting people who don’t agree with you, is going to make us LESS likely to support your candidate. Seriously, I’m glad to see that the Palinists have toned things down a little, but they wrecked any chance of getting my springtime vote. Our time and money are valuable, so it’s a great idea to prescreen a few of the likely candidates.
And Newt (and Jeb and Santorum for that matter) have ties to a pervert-worshipping cult. Dunno exactly how strong those ties currently are, but any candidate with any link to the Legion of Christ needs to be avoided. It’s looking more and more like LC never was going to be a valid Catholic order (like Jesuits, Franciscans, Dominicans, etc) but was set up to be a front for rich Mexicans. (Mexicans do not get rich through honest, legal enterprises). I’ve been involved with a group that helps people recover from the Legion of Christ for the past five years; “Rich, well-known Catholic convert in the Atlanta area, made a video about John Paul the ‘Grate’ with Thomas Williams, LC” is one big red flag after another. Just back away.
Newt has an integrity problem. Recall how he accused Palin of unspecified incendiary speech during the blood libel. Newt can go to hell.
he pushed through a massive conservative agenda in the 1990s.
And he’s gotten into bed with the Dems since then.
Newt as a conservative is ancient history.
The first problem here is the evaluation of “best:” Who will get that particular chore? If it’s the GOP’s entrenched power-brokers, we’re more likely than not to get yet another faux Republican. Mitt Romney, a guaranteed McCain-quality loser, comes to mind.
The second problem is “ripeness.” The public has certain predilections about candidates for the Oval Office. The last Congressman elected to the presidency was James Garfield. Since then, one must be a state governor, a United States Senator, or a five-star general to contend successfully for the highest seat of executive power in the world. Also, given a choice between a governor and a Senator, the electorate appears to prefer the former; though we elevated Senators to the presidency in 1920, 1960, and 2008, they have a harder time getting there than governors. Should Chris Christie, Scott Walker, and Sarah Palin be disqualified, whether by brevity of service or by unwillingness to step forward, we would once again be left with a choice of Senators, or faux Republican governors unwilling to stand on any principle.
The third problem is Obama himself. He’s already hard at work firming up his “base” and moving rhetorically to the “center” as defined by the Democrat Party. He still has the Old Media and the “glitterati” on his side. And you can count on his use of every trick of Chicago machine politics, including massive vote fraud and voter intimidation, to retain his position.
No matter whom the GOP puts forward, November 2012 will not be a walk-over.
“The first problem here is the evaluation of “best:” Who will get that particular chore?”
Hello? Every dollar you donate, every minute you contribute, every vote you cast, contributes to the evaluation. And then you post here and find out what the other active, voting conservatives think.
Sure, the GOP should run a strong candidate in 2012. But who is that candidate? There seems not to be ready answer for that question, and with all due respect to Jeffrey Anderson, what is offered here is not an answer.
Ryan and Christie are terrific in their respective roles and personally I like both very much, but both are relative newcomers who do not have experience and knowledge with respect to foreign affairs, military matters and national security. How can the GOP’s best be considered someone without experience and knowledge with respect to foreign affairs, military matters and national security?
Look at the turmoil and dangers in world’s scene today, and the country needs an experienced, knowledgeable hand in the Presidency with respect to foreign affairs, military matters and national security. That’s certainly not Obama; but the GOP needs to be nominating someone who does know what he is doing with respect to Commander in Chief decisions. That is what really being a President is about, not being a community organizer in chief or even a budget chief.
Also, we need to consider who is a strong candidate and who is a weak candidate by measures other than who in the past won or lost. Sometimes who won or lost did indicate strength or weakness in the candidate, but in some years, it was one party’s year no matter who ran. There are factors other than the candidates that can greatly affect an Presidential election. A sitting President presiding over peace and prosperity is hard to beat; and thus Reagan in 1984 and Clinton in 1996 were hard to beat. A financial crisis, an uncertain economic picture, a Government bailout program promoted by a sitting Republican candidate, a war weariness, a biased press propagandizing for Democrats, a 7 to 1 advantage in campaign finance; and you have a formula for certain Democrat victory in 2008, such that a radical socialist demogogue who said that abortion was above his pay grade in a debate could look strong and a war hero, pro-life fiscal conservative knowlegeable and experienced with respect to foreign affairs, military matters and national security could look weak.
You have a point. I believe it might be a good idea to team a strong fiscal conservative like Paul Ryan with a foreign policy expert like John Bolton or – try this one on for size – Liz Cheney for VP.
Imagine, an administration of Paul Ryan and Liz Cheney…
As much as I like Paul Ryan, his inital offer to cut the budget was about $30 billion. The Rats had to be prodded to come up with $60 billion. The Rats voted down the additional $40 billion. This is no courage of convictions. Ok I know its early in the “game”, but with reconciliation with the senate, they should have proposed the whole $500 billion that Rand Paul came up with, so after reconciliation, you still have some real cuts left.
While Chris Christie is a very forceful and direct governor, he is no conservative and he put an Islamist on the court. This is very disturbing.
TPaw once backed global warming legislation. I know he has asked for forgiveness for his former postion, but what kind of deep thinking goes into supporting a hoax?
Romney will never overcome Romneycare.
What you have left in field, are several governors: Palin, McDaniel, and
Barbour. All have great strenghts and this is where we should concentrate our efforts.
The problem with your statement is that they are dealing with fiscal year 11 (half over) so every day it’s delayed you are talking about less time the budget will actually be in place. All the dems have to do to make the gop look bad is stall because every day delayed means there is less “budget” to trim.
Where you see apparent strength and weakness of past candidates, I see blatant ignorance of the electorate where 2012 will prove less of it but, by no means being capable for our own governance.
Then, with the current proof of total incapability of a candidate that shows only one strength and many weaknesses where an actual president must have many http://bit.ly/bR1smN I suggest we fall back to the principles and values taught by our Founding Fathers in recommitting ourselves to their situational genius.
Sarah is simply taking all the attempted passing shots that the dying biased media can provide. Can you suggest a better decoy? Only expect kevlar feathered ducks to hasten the season’e opening. One can only expect it to continue since risk of the sub IQ audience backlash from any attempted reverse psychology propaganda could serve the coup d’etat to a party already in misery with metastasized obamitis with obamectomy rapidly being considered as its only possible cure. But don’t ask Hillary. Not even Rahm’s Cooke County vote wad notorious from the days of JFK is apt to sustain the coming storm.
Just remember to never support any that are not attacked by by msm character assassins since the least of any number of evils is yet only that and exactly what put us in this near catch twenty two situation, second amendment application not withstanding.
Hmmmmm, there’s something to be had here… The best offense is a good defense. Hoist up Palin as the primary GOP contender (aka human shield) clear up to shortly before the primaries – letting her take all the flak, and just before the primaries yank her pillioried carcass out of the firing line for the real GOP candidate, parrying the Dems out of left field (so to speak). Operation: Palin Shield.
This is your first jihadist president, America. Get serious about the fight. I’m from the Middle East – his policies have crushed nearly all the Arab moderate forces in the region. Listening to all those republicans praise him for his handling of Egypt is surreal – never praise him people, it’s campaign time. Take off the kiddie gloves.
From your lips to G.d’s ears. Thank you for the jolt.
Stupid PJ media refuses to post my reply to you YallaLand. So here I go again “from your lips to G.d’s ears”. Thank you for the wake up jolt.
Nobody would argue with you on either of those, Ryan or Christie, but neither have indicated any interest in running. Personally I think Christie is ready now, and could lead us until Ryan picks up some executive experience. But we have to play with the team on the field, and right now neither of those appear to be suiting up.
Who are you kidding? Christie is weak on immigration, Sharia, Obamacare and the 2nd Amendment. He is conservative fiscally, that’s all I see.
So am I to believe that in a contest between Obama and Christie, your issues with Christie on immigration and the others might in fact lead you to choose Obama? who are YOU kidding?
Yes I understand that he falls short in a few areas, but were he to run he’d be a near lock to win, and in my view there is nothing more important this time than removing Obama from office.
Herman Cain falls short in no areas.
I’ve given up on the GOP – not serious about cutting spending, get tangled up in lots of silly social issues, lots of weak candidates – screw it, moved more of my investments overseas and looking at shorting the US market.
I remember Reagan. Hell, I remember Truman! Both of them were unelectable. Neither stood a chance.
Palin is unelectable because Tina Fey said so? Wake up folks. The Wicked Witch of the North ™ scares the living daylights out of the Dems.
We are in deep organic matter here. We need Joan of Arc – not Mr. Peepers.
I totally disagree. Keep the JV out there on the front lines. Palin makes a great bomb thrower from the sidelines. Keep our starting Quarterback (Rubio) in the lockeroom until the two minute mark of the 4th quarter. The media is going to draw out the long knives for whomever we nominate to challenge the Messiah.
Sorry, but national candidates for the Presidency are not kept out until ‘the two minute mark.’ They announce when every one else does and get their campaign going early or suffer the same fate as Fred Thompson did in ’08.
The whole ‘Sarah as a decoy’ thing is utter crap and makes NO sense.
So far, I’ve seen no one on the right who has withstood a media blitz (as well as shots from those ostensibly on our own side) as well as Palin. Every other erstwhile 2012 contender from the right has not show they can stand up and fight the way she has. None of them have the impact on the national debate she has.
I agree, Sarah Palin is the most courageous candidate and it is the feckless Republican establishment power brokers that are afraid to see what it obvious to anyone who looks at the situation honestly. Sarah Palin has the gravitas and cajones to take down anyone of these so called Republican candidates and clean the floor with Barack Hussein Obama. And this is from a sixty something male who most definitely has not seen to many female candidates that I supported. We have to go with quality and this woman is more of a leader than the rest of the field put together. Trust the Republican establishment and you will get a squish like Bob Dole or John McCain which will ensure we are all serfs before we die.
Finally, someone who sees that Sarah Palin is the ONLY candidate with millions of supporters willing to walk on glass for her presidential candidacy. All of you people who haven’t been closely following Sarah Palin’s career, watch out when she declares that she’s running. You haven’t seen such a stampede to help out, since John McCain picked her as runningmate, and the former quiet, crickets-chirping GOP offices were DELUGED with calls and donations.
We Palinistas are waiting in the wings. Those of you that think she’s a lightweight and has no “gravitas” — just read “Sarah Takes on Big Oil” or her newest policy book, “America By Heart”. The lies that have been told about her are slowly being revealed, and the truth about her stellar record of achievement is finally getting out.
As Sarah said to a Tea Party audience once, “This is our movement, this is our moment, this is our Morning in America”. I can’t wait until she makes history — soon and again.
Mom in Wisconsin
Righty,
I like Palin alot on substance. I will bet she and I differ very little on most issues. I think she is authentic and a constitutional conservative.
She polls very high negatives amoung independents. That is a big problem.
I mentioned Pence and Ryan above, but right now niether is racing. Herman Cain is in and I LOVE him. Talk about gravitas.
“She polls very high negatives amoung independents.”
So did Reagan.
And so will every other conservative candidate that shows promise. Just ask John “Maverick” McCain.
He went from being a middle-of-the-road possible running mate of John Kerry in ’03 (remember that idea being batted around by the media?) to George Bush III, simply because he was the GOP candidate against Barry.
We win when we choose candidates based on conservative principles, not on who we think will pull in the vaunted independants. You think Reagan gave the first shit about trying to change the conservative platform to appease the middle?
That’s not how we win.
I concur.
I would NEVER support Newt Gingrich…or any of the other establishment Republicans. They have helped us get to where we are today.
To all that have had negative comments on Sarah Palin–does it occur to you why she has been such a target? Maybe it’s because she is the greatest threat there is to this incredibly corrupt administration. She has put up with a lot of abuse and returns stronger than ever. Don’t doubt her abilities–don’t underestimate her.
-Montana mom.
Nickle, there have been many astute posts on this thread, but you may have the final wisdom. Palin, from her Facebook page, has done more to lead the Pubs than anyone else. She has grown considerably in her foreign policy cred. But above all she has proven her fight. And that is the one essential quality that will make the difference for the election and for the survival of the nation.
Nominating her would certainly be an uphill climb. But why shouldn’t we expect it to be so? Are we to play it safe and put forth a safe establishment type? No. America is showing that it will respond to truth when it is spoken boldly and clearly – witness Christie and Walker.
The only other viable alternatives with requisite character have clearly indicated that they are not running. Unless something changes dramatically, we may have to put Sarah forward, and then fight for her with all that we’ve got. It will be the election to end all elections (and I hope that doesn’t prove to be literally true), but it may be our only chance to save the nation.
What are Christie’s views on illegal immigration and border control? Haven’t heard much about that, have we? I suspect they are rather similar to Juan McCain’s.
You people better wake up with Christie before it’s too late. Yes, he may be a fiscal conservative and popular with some Republicans, he’s got too many negatives. this blog exposes Christie in detail and shows he’s the farthest thing from a conservative: http://conservativenewjersey.com/the-myth-of-christie-conservatism-part-1 READ IT ALL and then get back to me and tell me he should be the nominee.
I loathe David Frum but i will agree that conservatives are the party of affect. They simply make to much out of how a politician speaks rather than pay attention to what they actually say.
While I love Paul Ryan, it’s just not happening. The media would never grant young Ryan the same courtesy it granted young Obama.
The GOP runs another “reach across the aisle” Republican they’re toast and the country is toast as well. McCain was that Republican. They thought that he would be appealing to Independents and Moderates and he lost both to Obama. They only reason he had Christian conservatives was b/c of Palin or else he would have lost bigger.
Please stop the Reagan talk. Reagan was a great man and president. There will never be another Ronald Reagan. Stop looking to the past and let’s look to the future.
JML
Obviously the GOP still hasn’t received the memo. Look who the GOP selected to replace for “Craigslist Congressman” Lee. Another Dede Scozzafava clone.
I put better odds that there will be a more viable third party than GOP getting their act together.
armies of right to lifers will give palin the nomination.
then some centrist republican will mount a 3rd party candidacy a la 1980.
Ah yes, the John Anderson of 2012.
Jon Huntsman…or maybe “The Donald” !
Ruebacca…just a friendly reminder to you that most of the ethinic minorities of the [majority] democrat party are right-to-life PROPONENTS!
Likewise, pro-life only garners slightly more than 50% voting support today inside the GOP.
One has to be careful and not seduced into thinking that the majority of America’s citizens are consumed by politics and they historically show up and vote the party ticket they are conditioned to by their rearing or whatever.
Only about 6 million folks are rabid political junkies who follow all the [populist] issues and political hype on a daily basis.
No white male will win against BHO-
That’s an interesting observation. I’m surprised it doesn’t come up more often.
It’s a sad thing to have to say, but there is probably more than a little truth in it.
Whoever it is, he or she MUST be able to articulate the conservative approach to governing.
No more pap and platitudes. No more Democrat light. No more condescending to people looking for a free ride.
Either treat the public as adults or get out of the way.
If that approach can’t win, then there is no hope for the country anyway.
Newt is a brilliant man, but he can’t win. He is too old. By ‘old’ I mean that he has been around too long and is seen as part of the establishment. Besides, he has too much baggage and has already been destroyed by the leftist media.
I do like Ryan, but we need to see and hear more from him.
I guess no one here will agree with me, but my hopes are with Sarah.
Me too. And I suspect, I’m one of millions.
Listen, everyone has a right to their own opinion but the one thing that many of you are not considering is the grass root effort that a Palin candidacy will engender. McCain would have been defeated by twenty points if Sarah had not been on the ticket. The MSFM and the left have thrown EVERYTHING that they could DREAM up against her and she has stood her ground. What long knives do they have left? None. It’s no wonder that the middle has a bad opinion of her but they will get to see her in action against the Marxist in chief. My God, what does it take to prove your worth or loyalty? She has been the only person to defy and blast Obama’s bad decisions or the lack there of. She makes her view known BEFORE it has been kicked around the internet or media and a consensus arrived at. And she is usually dead on with her assessment. Stop with “She can’t be elected” crap and give her a chance.
I keep hearing this “unelectable” rhetoric to the point where I almost believe it, but I find myself wishing that we really could have someone like her as our president.
I don’t know if it’s possible.
I can tell you this much. If Sarah runs I will vote for her. I will contribute to her campaign financially. I will spend my time and resources to go out and volunteer for her.
I have a feeling I’m not alone.
You are definitely not alone. If Sarah Palin announces I will work tirelessly to help get her elected in every way I can.
They fear her because she IS the most electable candidate.
She has been vetted to the hilt — no stone left unturned; She has been tested — the attempts to destroy her have all failed; And she is genuine — the complete opposite of The Once in every possible way.
“their victory will be their undoing”???
Gridlock hurts everyone. There is nothing left to expose about the Left. They ARE anti-freedom, anti-private property, anti-individual, anti-personal responsibility, pro-entitlement, and all the rest. Those who value traditional America must wake up, and we ARE. 2008 was only the first wave of an incoming tide. 2012 MUST NOT be lost!
We cannot afford to just “hope” that such a hero will arive in the nick. We must each look inside ourselves and FIND that hero. Waiting for someone else to solve the problem, IS the problem, or at least part of it. It seems like we stopped requiring our president to be the best of us about the same time that we stopped requiring the best of ourselves. Political discourse is the least of our patriotic duties.
Serve this great country by each day doing the very best that you can with every task you put your hand to. Don’t call mediocre, good. Don’t call grey, white. There is an objective reality. There is such a thing as truth. Anyone who cannot agree on this much will happily sell you their brand of lie.
One thing we don’t need is either a retread from the last presidential election or someone “squishy” on the Constitution. And we need a slam-dunk. It is amazing to me to see what American citizens are willing to tolerate from this president. Simply stunning. He is incompetent, ignorant, a Far Lefty and possibly has Muslim leanings (according to his own words). We need someone who is smart, articulate, has obvious leadership abilities and also, last, but not least, the very real talent for making people (voters) LIKE him.
Ryan has a bright future. A real conservative. Christie, not so much. But who is the mainstream conservative that the Dems fear? The Arctic Fox. Who has the guts to take on the rabid media orcs? The Thrilla from Wasilla. Who has a record of scoring damaging punches on the Fraud in Chief? Yeah, Sarah Palin beats them all by a mile. And there is plenty of time. Obama is a paper tiger. He gave it his best shot and he has been a disaster. The Beltway GOP and their cozy club will not pick the next president. It’s the people’s choice this time.
“The Arctic Fox”, “The Thrilla from Wasilla”. LOL I concur, Gary Olgletree.
Troops hear me out here.We need leadership no 1. No bs. The varsity must be well knowledged.Newt can be part of the cabinet of Huckabee and West. There is no way we loose with this combo.
“the cabinet of Huckabee”
Haha…that was a good one.
Let’s leave Huckabee off, and just go with West. Allen West is new in the Senate, and has said he needs to learn how Washington works, so he would feel he could become President. He is unafraid, conservative, and BRILLIANT. He has many of the same qualities as the Arctic Fox. They are both True Patriots. And, when they win, let’s hope they can persuade Thomas Sowell to fill a key role in their Administration. If you have never read any of Thomas Sowell’s writings, you have missed a genuine treat. I think these three could clean up Washington, and the Left would GET left. They would wonder where the YELLOW went!
Ryan and Christie are out there on the political field demonstrating great leadership every day right now–so refreshing and confidence inspiring compared to the professional candidates who have been doing nothing but comment from the sidelines for years.
Of course we need a great candidate. Question: is there precedent in US history of running a team? I mean of saying upfront who your Secdef, Secstate, Treasury sec, Interior sec, and so on will be.
If you haven’t listened to Mitch Daniels or looked at his credentials you should. Worked effectively under Reagan as political director, Bush’s budget director and two terms as highly effective Indiana governor.
Nonsense that he is boring or not presidential. He has everything it takes if he will run. Biggest obstacle is his family mostly doesn’t want him to run. He can run circles around anyone in a debate and knows in the ins and outs of government both state wise and nationally.
Christie is fiscally sound, but very left on a lot of issues. Gotta love his style.
Ryan’s time is not here yet and he has shown no inclination whatsoever to run.
Palin, God Bless her she’s great, I’m sorry cannot win, wish she could, she can’t.
The rest Romney, Gingrich (smartest man in the room), Huckabee, Barbour, Jindahl cannot beat Obama IMHO.
Pawlenty is a very very dark horse and Pence is out.
Just sayin look hard at Daniels.
This would be a good year to be a “boring” adult, but I still think Daniels is only the second-best Hoosier candidate.
I thought that he sounded solid on Fox last night.
Credentials? Now I like the guy so far as I know from his public persona. However, please don’t try to sell his credentials as presidential to fix the problems of America today.
All he’s done for IN to garner the misconception of a fical hawk is to sell a toll road to a foreign entity, and consistantly take federal handouts to achieve bragging rights for a surplus that at best CANNOT be sustained beyond the FY 2012 budget based on an annual economic growth rate of just under 6%. NO State is doing anything more than around 3% growth rate and most still under water. There simply is no economic indicators that suggest the nation will rise up out of this stagflation and painful jobless recovery anytime in the near future….including Indiana!
Reference IN State Treasury Department and legislative accounting and analysis reports supported by independent government appointed analysts reports. Its all public information and certainly more factual than all the populist rhetoric out there.
Sarah has terrific political instincts. She will announce at the optimal moment. Be patient. The establishment RINO’s will not be able to stem the tidal wave of support for Sarah at the convention. Then onto turning Obama into toast.
Any candidate for the GOP in 2012 MUST be able to deconstruct with simple words the ideological structure of the discourse of Obama.
And must be able to call Obama to answer about all his moves and policies that have made America weaker.
Who is needed is a person that will without emotion state the facts at every level of question. Present a logical counter to any dismissal of these facts.
This person needs to stand firm with a real plan to solve some not all of the problems. Finally, tell the American people the reality of our situation.
Tea party, Rep. or Dem that does this will crush obama.
Does America have someone like this?
Not so far….
Yes, but it appears he decided to run for governor of Indiana instead of president in 2012.
In my view, former ambassador John Bolton would be far and away the best candidate.
I was thinking John Bolton also; but I think he’s aiming for Secretary of State…and he’d be great.
John Bolton for sure…..can’t think of anybody else that would be as good as that guy on the international scene.
Bolton-Palin or visa-versa if you prefer.
These are points well made. But most quality conservative candidates respect their constituents, their authority and their elected responsibilities. That would give them a certain amount of character, as contrasted to a regime of slime. There are few quality citizens who are interested in putting themselves or their families through the kangaroo court that would no doubt emerge during Obama’s counter-campaign. He has stolen money from taxpayers to pad his campaign coffers; he’s got cadres of “brown shirts” throughout the country with connections to SEIU, unions, and local lib machines.
There are few who are willing to be smeared and dissected by such a group of illegitimate “officials”. Sarah Palin has the moxie, smarts, and instincts to take on this manchild. I doubt that there is ANYTHING else to be discovered in her life that is TRUE, thus robbing these mobsters of any October surprise joy. We need someone who will be able to step up to plate and stand toe to toe with this Capone wannabe, including the minions who, when confronted with defeat, just run away, halting any process.
THis will be a battle of backbones.
Also, we need to make sure our candidates are picked by US, not the RINOs or so called independents in early primaries. I am not sure we will have any success in that endeavor
Pence, Ryan and Christie have all said they’re not running. Ryan and Christie have said they are not draftable.
Who needs to wake up?
I don’t think any of the current candidates can win. Sarah Palin isn’t electable. She has too much of a verbal trail since she feels she has to spout off all the time. Governor Christie might be viable but the others are all non-winners. I have been hoping that someone like General Patraeus would run. He can make decisions and has some charisma. I don’t think any candidate can win without that…unfortunately. I don’t think a lot of voters care or really understand our debt problems. Too many just want more gravy train. Although most voters may be literate they are not very smart. Obama was elected without any information about him except his dismal role as senator, both federal and state.
Eeyore. NO ONE’s good enough.
BEFORE anyone’s thrown their hat in the ring.
THAT’S good enough for me to ignore your whining.
The misogynists why cry and whine like titty babies about misandry and the faux “misandry bubble” are the hypocritical twits who won’t vote for Sarah Palin and prefer to keep the good ol’ boys club in perpetuity rather than have a strong, conservative woman for president. Palin is our only hope, some of you pathetic boy children need to get over the fact she has a vagina.
…if she only had a brain, to go along with her vagina.
Seriously, she has a very superficial knowledge and/or understanding of societies, social issues and social policy.
Moreover, she’s dead wrong on drug use, homosexuality and islam (she considers it to be just another religion to be treated as such). That’s how much brain she has.
Did you smirk when you wrote that piece of literary genius? You are one of those people that can be THOUGHT to be stupid but now that you have written something you have removed any doubt!
Is this the “gay Paris” Inspector Clouseau?
Instead of trying to insult him/her, try to make an intelligent argument to show why (s)he is wrong. Sarah Palin’s supporters (and maybe Palin herself) might learn something and obtain feedback from such criticism. Try to be positive, not offensive – it takes you (and her) nowhere.
“Seriously, she has a very superficial knowledge and/or understanding of societies, social issues and social policy.”
Is that versus Moonbats like you that come on here and enlighten all of us with your left-wing genius? That same kind of genius that’s sponsored mass murder the world over ever time you people take dictatorial control.
No, you idiot; I’m a staunch conservative, unlike you who doesn’t know what you stand for, except being infatuated by a no-brain pretty face.
“No, you idiot; I’m a staunch conservative, unlike you who doesn’t know what you stand for, except being infatuated by a no-brain pretty face.”
It’s awesome to have a point proven FOR me. You’re as conservative as The Obagipper. Keep in mind, I’m laughing my ass off at you RIGHT NOW.
As if you knew where your ass is.
And you certainly are a “tool” urtfe, although not of the high tech variety.
Lame and boring bc.
Didn’t there used to be a better class of troll on PJM?
I’ll take “A Lurk of Trolls” for $500, Alex.
@ sunglasses on a cloudy day (!)
Since when criticizing a potential candidate for office in the pages of PJM became “trolling” in your book? This isn’t C4P, if you noticed.
I suggest you take off your sunglasses to see more clearly, old man.
@ bc/Question
Your words would suggest otherwise.
THERE YOU GO…describing Obama to us all over again…
What Newt Gingrich said today:
http://www.newsmax.com/Headline/Gingrich-Obama-Constitutional-Crisis/2011/02/25/id/387455
using a “President Palin” example, was far more intelligent and politically astute (on many fronts) than any comment or statement Sarah Palin has made thus far.
There’s no doubt as to who’s the “brains” in the field of GOP potential Presidential Nominees.
yo bc…..you’re a real condescending ahole….you know that?
Much less than most in here, and that includes you.
I agree. Anyone who associates with characters such as R. Mansur and T. Bruce has no place anywhere near the White House.
Look what Obama’s associations said about him, and where we find ourselves now.
Barry,
Please stop and think: what is your goal? Is it just to insult conservatives who have reservations about voting for Sarah Palin? Or, do you want to convince conservative people to vote for Sarah Palin in the spring of 2012?
You’re not doing a very good job if it’s the latter. Most of us are likely to vote for a Republican candidate in November, almost all of us will vote for a conservative Republican candidate in November. Several of us will buy bumper stickers, signs, donate to the candidacy. But Palinistas like you are making it more and more likely that my primary vote will go elsewhere.
It is imperative that Obama be defeated in 2012. He must not be allowed to appoint another justice to the Supreme Court. That said, I am less than excited about those currently in the running for the Republican nomination for POTUS.
Since the end of a presidency is usually the end of a politician’s career, Ryan is probably not interested in running for President yet. There is a lot more he wants to do in government, and we need him there longer, rather than shorter, term.
Right now, there is no one truly exciting in the Republican field, hopefully that will change.
I keep seeing Christi’s name…
What, exactly, has he accomplished?
He’s not afraid to talk back, okay He’s fired a few people but,…seriously
what has he done?…not gonna do…that’s obama …but accomplished so far that has really made a difference
He has some great one liners
Being impatient to have what we want to think is a good candidate, could get us in more hot water.
Carefully..he is working, has a lot of good one liners, is likable, fired a few people…and ?
Too bad there wasn’t a few like you in the MSM back in 2007-08 asking questions about Obama.
He didn’t have the experience Christi had BEFORE taking office as Gov. of New Jersey.
I’m not disputing your point of whether Cristi is ready to become POTUS but you might want to visit utube and take in a few of the videos of Christi – he has more than one-liners. Too bad the MSM only shows those ‘one-liners’ in their coverage of Christi. And you might try changing the channel on occasion – you might see more than what the MSM wishes for you to see.
okay…but what has he accomplished as governor
I keep seeing Christie’s name…misspelled. Pence’s too.
Too many of you seem to have forgotten what happened Nov 2nd 2010 – Obama and the Dems got ‘shellacked’. If the economy continues to decline – as seems likely – and gas and food prices continue to rise Obama will get ‘shellacked’ right out of office – along with more than a few of his yes-men buddies in Congress. The Republicans will have to work hard if they wish to to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
In my mind this is a repeat of 2006-08 and the events that swept Obama into office – except the shoe is on the other foot.
I for one agree with what you are seeing for the problems Obama will have around his neck in 2012. Other than his most loyal folowers, if he won’t be able to run on his record, unemployment, his integrity, tranparency, his leadership (See Egypt, Libya as an example), more and more of the downsides of Obamacare will be more public, the overbearing regulatory atmosphere, his lack of class (see his treatment of supreme court justices), lack of respect for the courts ( See Florida Obamacare decision and Lousiana finding of comtempt) the list can be much longer. Obama will have to defend his record in an atmosphere of the country better understanding his far left beliefs and the country being more center right.
I wish the GOP here in Colorado wasn’t such a disgrace. It’d be nice to see a homegrown candidate for a change. Oh well.
We need some one who can give a decent speech. That’s how Obama won, and it’s how he can be beat. He’s not great without a teleprompter and when he’s tired so a decent speaker can tear him to shreds.
Do they allow a teleprompter at a debate and if so show would you program it unless the questions were all canned by the moderator or the administration to begin with?
Obama is just a reader and not a leader. We can not take anymore of his incompetence, the country has gone downhill as well as the rest of the world!
Again: Mitch Daniels. Check out his most recent speech:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/watercooler/2011/feb/12/video-mitch-daniels-cpac-speech/
We The People don’t need one or two. We need hundreds maybe thousands dedicated to the founding concepts of the USA. From school boards, to legislatures, to congress, we need people who will stand fast against the socialist horde. To save the states a TRICK proof majority is required! The the Dems can run out without an impact. NJ needs Christie, his work has just begun!! WI needs Scott, for the same reason. Any Governor you mention is hip deep in a battle to save their state. Additionally, the fifth column RINO’s have got to go, or be reformed. Romney-care = Obama-care. I kind of like Huckabee, but some of the things he says are just too Obamaesque. I hope I’ve been reasonably clear
Don’t give up you wusses, We have several people qualified, and a woman could be just what is needed !!
The ONLY person that has been out there fighting every day is Palin..
She has taken more attacks than any one ever has, and nothing has stuck to her. The leftist threw every stinking thing they could dream up.
The msm and leftist have invented all kinds of cr*p about her and her family .
Too many of you have let the MSM lead you where they want. Oh Palin is un electable is what they say..as do the GOP good ol boys club,, well imagine that..
She is the only one with the balls to do what is right for Americans and not what is right for the Democrats or Republicans, and the establishment type know it. They know she is Not one of them…
You will let yourself be talked into a Newt or Mitt , just up the leftist alley and Teleprompter Jesus will knock em down like bowling pins. Old school Repub will not win the day this time.
In case you haven’t figured it out the under 30 voter will not vote for a Repub establishment figure. It is time to move on.
Newt is a smart man but that would be like serving up a puff ball to the left…There is so much there, They wouldn’t know where to start in on the guy… His coattails stretch WAY to far back…..
The leftist are experts at brainwashing … Are you gonna let them do it to you as well?
Damn the torpedoes, Full speed ahead… New blood will win the day…
Palin with a
Cain
Ryan
West
Cristi (not perfect but has mojo)
It is time to go on the offensive.
Palin likes BHO; why? because they share many traits. Her being a Libertarian, and BHO being a leftist radical, they share a social agenda (with the possible exception being the abortion issue – which Palin has “nuanced” anyway). Thus, Palin will never personally attack BHO.
Yes, they disagree on fiscal and monetary issues, on the surface, because Palin doesn’t really grasp their instricacies, and neither does the affirmative action moron in the Oval Office. So, they have that in common too.
In any case, my view is that Palin won’t run, because she’s smart enough to know that she isn’t smart enough for the job. She simply isn’t presidential timber and neither is BHO.
If “our last chance is Palin” as some commenting here suggest, God help us all.
I think Sarah Palin is excellent at what she’s doing. I really enjoy watching her make lib-heads explode (unfortunately, I then have to confess “schadenfreude” at confession). I understand why she resigned as governor, but her good excuse does not give her the executive experience she would have had. But “reality TV show” isn’t something I want to find on a presidential resume.
She’s good in making money, selling books and reality shows being a star celebrity. But she employs politics to make money (I don’t blame her for that, only those suckers who buy into it).
Reality shows is one thing, the Presidency of the US and islam are different ball games.
…that you’re right: Saturday, Feb 26 @ 4:52PM Eastern Time:
http://www.intrade.com/jsp/intrade/contractSearch/
the odds of Palin running dropped sharply five points to below 50% at 48.1 and sinking. Her contract to win the GOP nomination is now at below 10 (at 9, down 2 and dropping as we speak) well below Romney’s (at 24), Daniels’ (at 11) and T-Pau’s (also at 11).
Did you know something, or was it something you said?
america’s heroes arrive when the situation is most desparate
unfortunately, i dont think we have reached that point yet
i think the libs have one last dishonest, spineless, corrupt, and morally putrid shenanigan left in them to eek out in 2012; their victory, however will be their undoing–there will be lots of gridlock and the left will continue to be exposed (on an hourly basis) as the inherent anti-freedom, anti-private property; anti-individual, etc. the result of which will be an american hero that is right on the tip-of-our tongues but we just cant seem to spit it out yet
Reading many of these comments discloses the sad state of Republicans candidates today. Why is this party doomed?
We know that Obama was elected for reasons that have less to do with him and quite a lot to do with Bush and something to do with McCain. People voted against Bush in 2008. And, just as emotion played a part in the dem rout last year, it will play a part next year’s election, too. Emotion, when it finds its way into an election is very powerful—the enthusiasm of people at many of Obama’s campaign events was proof of that. But the emotional tide has gone the other way and very firmly against Democrats. Of course, it will be helpful to have the best Republican. But Obama scares a lot of people. And people don’t like being scared by their president. These people view Obama as an affront to everything they believe in and these people are the majority.
Ruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuubio!
Well it was a good thought when he was running. Haven’t seen him open his mouth since. Has he chickened out?
Unserious article is unserious. When I think “the varsity” I think of statesmen, not opportunistic and green newcomers like Ryan and Christie. America has already made a mistake in choosing a president who has barely been on the scene; let’s not make another one. Mitt Romney or Mike Huckabee are serious choices. Ryan, Christie, or Sarah Palin are not.
Unless we can find an articulate conservative who can not only energize the base but also appeal to independents and blue dog democrats we will be doomed to failure.John McCain,the worst Republican campaigner since Bob Dole,won the nomination because conservatives failed to coalesce behind one champion.If Mike Pence had opted to run he could have quickly united the base,and avoided a protracted and divisive nomination battle.Chris Christie’s moderate stance on social issues will never afford him the same chance of uniting the base,and Paul Ryan is not being given the respect he deserves.One gets the feeling Ryan would run if conservatives came asking,but he hasn’t reached the level of star power for that to happen.Ryan needs to man up and take one for the team-his country-and lead the fight to reclaim it!
The students of history and the military know the best weapon against a tank is a tank, against a submarine is a submarine.
The best candidate against the OJT prez will be The Donald.
I don’t understand your comparison of Ryan with Lincoln. Are you saying Ryan too has the potential to be one of the worst presidents in American history?
THERE IS NO VARSITY
These pansies don’t even know what a sweat bead is.
Their sweat is so rare, it’s not even listed on the periodic table of the elements.
Can we get even a nano-micron of common sense?
I happen to think the current Governor of Virginia Bob McDonnell would make a great candidate-military, legislative, executive, law enforcement and business experience. He also has strong credentials as a fiscal and social conservative. I think he should be urged to run as the current field looks like another 4 years of Obama.
As for me, I like Governor Daniels because he has the best overall resume and longest social & fiscally conservative record… though it seems he can do no right by the Right…
So, it seems that McDonnell would make a great choice as well… the main problem we have with most of our candidates is that they were just elected last November… or they are serving in the House which hasn’t been done in well over a century…
Among these candidates McDonnell beats them out since he has a great resume as you listed some of his creds and conservative creds and he was elected in 2009 which gives him several of months edge on the other contenders…
This is based on the assumption that we moving past the Romney, Huckabee, Gingrich, Paplin crew… of those Palin is the best but she would guarentee an immediate, large, and hostile opposition… rhetoric will be Bush level hot for the next several years and I dont think America can handle that
PALIN/WEST 2012
Cuda & the Colonel!
THAT is your VARSITY TEAM!!!
Go back to speechwriting. You haven’t a clue what you’re talking about. This is your “varsity”? Paul Ryan reminds me of a JA Honor Student who gets tied up to the flagpole in the quad and pansted Freshman week. He wouldn’t know a Leftist from an armadillo. Christie quite possibly would shatter the iron grip Republicans otherwise have on the South. In any case, he isn’t running. Not only would he betray his entire political bona fide by running before his first term was finished, but prove himself a liar for denying just this week he was running. Do you even pay attention?
It’s Palin, baby. She’s your “varsity.” Deal with it.
Sadly, I have yet to see any varsity level players, but a couple may emerge. I see Chris Christie was mentioned. He is a tiger, and seems to be doing right for the people of New Jersey. However, from some glimpses of a few of his positions, on some issues, I question whether he is is a true conservative! Be careful what you wish for.
EXCELLENT AND AGREE 100% !!!!
This is the most critical election in our history. Christie entered the budget arguments and agreed to speak at AEI because he saw the CRISIS. Ryan sees the fiscal CRISIS and he is working day and night.
And we don’t even know half of it. Every day reveals new catastrophes. Today the Pigford 3,4 with Hispanic farmers. Yesterday declaring a law passed by the U.S. Congress unconstitutional.
I am NOT getting the feeling that the Republican Senators and the “club” of Republican Congressmen are really showing that much courage. COURAGE is what is needed! COURAGE!!!
I believe the only guy that can beat the O. is West. Herman Cain, I don’t think so..he is too much the preacher type. Palin is the embodiment of what is needed, but I don’t think so. It will take an (I suppose this is politically incorrect) africian american conservative to take out Obama…
First thing to remember: A Presidential re-election bid is a referendum on that President.
Second: Demographics from the last census has changed the Electoral College, which changes the map to a large degree.
Third: The front Varsity Squad is not deep for the Republicans.
Fourth: A ‘reach across the aisle’ Republican is no longer a winner as a half-loaf of bigger government is still bigger government. The basis for politics has changed due to Obama and the circumstances that followed his election. We have just seen the Democratic Deadbolt Strategy and that can be expected to go National post-2012.
Fifth: A President cannot spend what is not given him to spend, nor run government agencies that are abolished by Congress either directly or through non-funding.
Who to run in 2012?
Good Senatorial candidates for all Senate seats coming up in 2012 and run someone as a real challenger in each and every House district in each and every State. Take these and then the Presidential choice matters less and becomes clearer: whoever runs must run a hard, long ground game across all States and Districts. That requires youth and organizational skills, plus the willingness to grind out opponents on the ground. The individual must be serious and not try to ‘outcompete’ Obama but demonstrate the capability to actually LEAD and stand up for good candidates. That person must also be in good stead with the various Tea Party organizations to accomplish this as they are liquidating the Old Guard of the Republican Party.
Find the person to energize ALL the races and, win or lose for the Presidency, you will win the House and Senate and can push for dismantling of the federal beast. Chainsaws are to be taken to this creature, not toenail clippers. If you mean freedom and liberty from government, then that is what must be supported.
Money with mouth.
You may not like the person who can do this, but if they can bring together the Tea Party, JV Bench and ease the Old Guard out, then politics, across the board in each and every State will be going in a different direction. This is a fight from the bottom-up, not the top-down. Win the bottom and then you can dictate to the top, no matter WHO is in that position.
COMPETITION will be necessary to beat the ‘boy’. Because, what you’re seeing in Wisconsin is going to break out all across America. He’s already supporting these people, and the support will get stronger.
Why not Bobby Jindal? He’s younger than Obama and far more accomplished than any other candidate mentioned. He’s handled the Katrina rebuilding, the Gulf oil spill cleanup, and throughout the economic downtown Louisiana is one of only two states that have been job creators. If you read his book, you’d know that he’s had to deal with Obama and wasn’t impressed. The Gulf drilling moratorium? It’s personal. Jindal is America’s hope.
I hate to tell you all, good folks, but the Republican nominee in 2012 WILL BE Mitch Daniels. He is a solid governor and, when you consider successful,executive experience, he is easily the best choice. He may not qualify as a “true” conservative, but he is not a RINO either.
I just hope he picks Ryan as his VP…
GD, many of us hope you are right, and we will be (are already) doing our part to make it happen!
How’s about General David Petreus? (I’m not even sure how to spell his name..sorry) He’s probably a Republican, and certainly knows how to get things done. Congress and Hillary insult the guy, but it just flows off him like water off a duck. I have a feeling there’s more to the General than we know. I’ll vote for Petreus/Palin anytime.
We are watching the USA unravel, like pulling on loose thread in a sweater.
The Ideal of the United States is based upon its citizens becoming actively involved in its governance, which has slowly faded over the years. And by actively involved i refer to an age when United States Citizens would throw rotten fruit and veggies at their congressman and senators when they would be found guilty of corruption and graft, or worse.
Today we tolerate complete ignorance of laws, in fact we reward those that break the law with positions of high office including the presidency. This applies to Both Presidents Bush, Clinton, Obama, Nixon, all of whom were corrupt and spread that corruption to the office in levels that apparently go unnoticed.
At its height the Roman empire was not as corrupt as United States government has been these last 50 years. We rewarded those that decimated the Economic system, our Currency, our Banking system, our freedoms and liberties with the ultimate position of power and wealth.
Now people view the wreckage and wonder what went wrong..?
Acta est fabula, Plaudite.
Much has changed since 1864!
There’s no longer a nation with common core social and political values.
The processes of the three branches of government have significantly detrimentally changed.
The Republics Constitution has been signficantly redefined and or constantly ignored.
The nations people and its government(s) are significantly divided and consumed by two opposing social and political ideologies….when major national elections come around and they go to their voting precints.
The nations peoples have become an individualist greedy society, spoiled by their (denied) personal wealth and non demanding life styles.
The nations peoples have become complacent and reliant on government to rule their personal lifes domain.
That said and recognizing the thrust of this article, the GOP has long ago sold out its traditional soul to the devil and remains ruderless today. They are long on rhetoric defining the problems but sorely short on sensible strategic resolve(s) and implementation of change to correct the problems they repeatedly identify. They, like so many of todays American’s, are short on analytical depth and long on superficial analogy and rhetoric.
The GOP hasn’t the brass to declare that the nation remains in an iron clad and escalated ideoligical war, much less address any of the few underlying [core causations] of the critical problems the nation is facing. The nation is closely poised for a States Constitution Convention that could address a couple of amendments that would cure most of the nations problems immediately and systematically going forward, yet, they ignore this fact….and potential resolve.
The GOP/Tea Party alliance is proving to be nothing more than inmature and irresponsible noise making and superficial political jockeying (in congress and among themselves) that sorely lacks anything close to a national majority consensus. Look at the [strategic process] debacle in WI that has garnered a whoppying 61% + opposition. This is proving to be the norm for the GOP of today. They lack the necessary mature, intelligent, and strategic ingredients to do much of anything but shoot themselves in the foot when given an opportunity to lead and effect change with a national dialog that garners significant support.
There are NO GOP candidates to date, that represent the correct insight to the [core causations] of the nations problems, the strategic implementation planning ability and the marketable rhetoric it takes to gain a majority approval to fix the nations problems. A very sad state of affairs for the GOP at a most critical time of opportunity!
And please don’t respond to me with the example of their cutting ‘spending’ in the H.O.R or possibly in the Senate. Spending is NOT the problem! The ‘out of control’ unsustainable discretionary and non discretionary spending are only a symptoms of underlying diseases….causations! You cure the diseases [causations] and the superficial symptoms go away!
If we really want to save what is left of our once great country then the GOP needs to begin promoting Congressman Lt. Col. Alan West….If there is any conservative or republican who isn’t familiar with this man then they should get to know him, ASAP!
Ryan or Christie would both make outstanding running mates for Alan West….At the VERY LEAST, one of those great candidates should consider asking Alan West to join in as their running mate.
It seems as if there is not one single politician left in DC that is willing to put country before career….Alan West is a patriot that has already done just that when he led a command in Iraq….The soldiers under his command were being brutally killed by roadside I.E.Ds….An insurgent with all of the intel details was captured and he refused to cooperate….Lt. Col. West explained to the enemy that he would send no more fellow soldiers home in body bags their families….In the end, West explained to the insurgent that if he did not give up the needed intel that he would blow his head off…The enemy did not believe him until the Lt. Col. drew his sidearm and fired off a round right next to the insurgents ear…The enemy immediately began to sing like a canary and Lt. Col. West and Co. were able to put an end to the IEDs….No more of his men went home in body bags, but it cost Alan West his military career….You see, he put his men before his career because he has HONOR!
There was no honor left in DC until just recently when Alan West was elected as a Congressman…By the way, Congressman West, also just happens to be an African-American, though he detests that hyphenated label and will tell you straight up that he is simply an American!
Way to go, Mr. West….Way to go, sir!
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Governor Sarah Palin stands out in comparison to the names mentioned above. While the RINO’s are AWOL–she has taken point and continues to sock it to Comrade Obama and his minions.
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They don’t come any tougher than the Sarah’Cuda. She is the real Reagan style conservative in this fight. And she will field dress The Messiah like a caribou in the Nov. 2012 election.
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Expect to see people like Col. Allen West, John Bolton, Condi Rice, etc. in our government. Smart classy people to replace the current group of liberals / socialists / statists / marxists / communists.
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Mooseburgers, anyone?
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Rocketman
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I see the most likely nominees as being Palin, Huckabee, Romney or Daniels. Ryan and Christie might be VP candidates, though I would think West or Bolton would make better vote-getters.
Palin is charismatic and quite vulnerable in a general election campaign. That’s my feeling, based on her fairly long statement in the wake of Tucson. That showed a thin skin, politically. Based as well on her quitting the Governor’s job, and based on some personal stuff. The MSM will go at her brutally. Of course it’s wrong, but they will. She does not indicate that she can handle such ‘scrutiny.’
Huckabee and Romney are what they are. The day of the statesman-leader appears to be over, also here in Israel.
Worse than being thin skinned, she’s thin on the head.
As a non-American observing this discussion from Europe, could I make some observations as an ‘outsider’–particularly with regard to Sarah Palin. It seems to me that the main difference between those who view her positively and those who do not is this. Those who are positive have taken the trouble to closely examine her actual record of accomplishment, both in content and process. It is not possible to examine her first 16 months as Alaskan Governor-from January 2007 to the end of the Legislative session in April 2008 and not be impressed. If people ask us to be impressed by the fiscal rectitude of Daniels and Christi, I doubt that either hold a candle to Palin. If people wish for a principled conservative, who can ‘reach across the isle’ then more than any other candidate, it Palin. Why do I assert this? Because it is there in her record. In all her major initiatives AGIA (gas pipeline) ACES (oil taxation), ethics reform, education funding, etc, Gov Palin sought and secured massive support from her democratic opponents, without comprising the core conservative principles. As for attracting independents ans moderates, do people not realize that a plurality of Alaskan voters (43%) are independents, and Palin could not have been elected and retained high favourability ratings without their support! As for her alleged religious ‘fundamentalism’ Alaska scores only 20% in the Gallup ‘God index’. Besides, those who listen carefully realize that Palin’s Christian worldview has been largely formed in recent years by sophisticated thinkers such as CS Lewis an orthodox Anglican, who among other things was an accomplished philosopher and man of letters.
To me looking in from the outside it is staring me in the face that Palin is the only Republican candidate who is both able and capable of starting the kind of praire fire that will sweep the Left from the White House. There is one other large group of people who have the same conviction, that is the entire US and European Left. To me this is so obvious that it simply cannot be disputed. Who else is subjected to such a torrent of venom and abuse? When she is elected on Nov 4 2012, here is one non_American who will fall on his knees and weep with joy.
Thank you, observer from the other side of the “pond”. Thank you for seeing what we Palin supporters have seen for 2 1/2 years — a stellar record of executive experience with 1)Ethics reform in Alaskan government, 2)ACES, and 3)AGIA. Only Sarah Palin has these three major accomplishments in her short time as Governor, and it was only cut short because Lefties were attempting to ruin her financially. The Lefties in Alaska saw that her light was shining here in the “Lower 48″, and they lied about her, mocked her, and made her look like an empty-headed beauty queen. Unfortunately, for their mindless flock who doesn’t do any research on their own, it worked.
But fortunately, there are enough Conservatives and Independents out there with minds of their own, who can do the research as we supporters have done. These are the minds that Sarah Palin can reach, and who will see that this woman is the ONLY candidate who can unite fiscal, social, and national security conservatives AND bring in Libertarians and Independents as well.
Our country cannot afford to wait another election. Sarah Palin’s time is NOW. Her accomplishments are in the record. Those of you that doubt her talents, I implore you to do your homework.
Mom in Wisconsin
I’m sorry, RMM, but I have listened to her many times. At the beginning I was a supporter and even contributed money to her PAC and her legal d efense fund. But no longer do I support her. She lost me with her libertarian positions on homosexuality, on marihuana, and most importantly (as it has been pointed out by previous commenters) islam (which isn’t a “religion” as Christianity and Judaism are.)
Every time I listen to her she sounds shallow to me, not well informed and incapable of analyzing issues in depth. As I mentioned in a previous post, Pence and DeMint (and even Bachmann) are preferable to her and either Pence or DeMint are electable.
I suggest you delve a bit deeper into her 300+ Facebook posts, which are rife with policy detail. Also, her latest book, “America By Heart” details her views on most policies.
Sarah Palin still believes that marraige is a union between a man and a woman, but does not discriminate against homosexuals, as she once had a good friend who was a lesbian. Jesus exhorted us to “love our neighbor (others)as ourselves”. As for Islam, I think choosing Allen West for a running mate would cure that problem. Sarah Palin is the right choice at the right time. I hope that once she gets the nomination (and she will, IMHO), that you will get behind her.
I know you will be disappointed, but she isn’t running:
http://www.intrade.com/jsp/intrade/contractSearch/
and she shouldn’t.
Sarah Palin is running. Intrade doesn’t know her or her mind. I’m not saying I do, but what other explanation would you have for her hiring a Chief of Staff 2 weeks ago? To manage her huge entourage? (Which, if you would like to know amounts to about 3 people at most) To sort and reply to the many speaking invitations she gets? I think she has Rebecca Mansour for that. There is no other explanation.
How ’bout this…When she announces that she’s running, you can come on here and admit that you were wrong.
I’ll be happy to do it (I always do, when I’m wrong, I teach my daughters to always admit theirs too), but do you also commit yourself to doing the same?
BTW, ‘intrade’ isn’t one entity, but a bunch of very smart and knowledgeable people placing educated bets.
Here ya go, I am not the only one that believes the majority of you are being duped..
http://www.americanthinker.com/2011/02/sarah_palin_even_conservatives.html
Sarah Palin is the only GOP nominee who has the guts and balls to fight against Obama. The rest are women pretending to be men.
There’re only two serious, intelligent, charismatic, real conservatives in the field: Mike Pence and Jim DeMint. All the rest are not serious and above all, unelectable, given the baggage they carry.
She’s more libertarian, than the caricature offered by the media, despite her personal beliefs, she vetoed the anti-domestic partnership referendum, but it wasn’t considered constitutional according to her state. Demint is
the kind of ‘fire and brimstone figure, who would ban single woman from being teacher, so it is said. Having been one of the calmest but clearest
voice on the GZ Mosque controversy, you missed right
It is time to rev up a vast right-wing conspiracy:
All potential Republican candidates should first have a coordinated plan of attack together, NOT separately, and then simultaneously enter the race no matter whether they intend to finish it or not. This includes Palin, Pence, DeMint, Brewer, Daniels, Christie, Walker, Ryan, West, Jindal, Haley, Bolton, Bachmann, etc.
The aim is to be constantly on the offense, never on the defense. They should unceasingly attack Obama and progressives, in a bold, calculated, in-your-face no-holds-barred effort that will keep both the progressives and their media lapdogs completely off guard. It must be coordinated like clockwork… as soon as one group of potential candidates attacks on one front, a second set of candidates should attack on another, and then a third on another, and then back to the first, all of them in step with each other.
The point of all this is that whoever ultimately finishes as the front-runner is secondary to keeping Obama and the evil progressives constantly on the defensive. It is not WHO so much as HOW. And as far as the coordination goes, this cannot be left up to the Republican Party, which historically plays nice when the chips are down and pulls defeat from the jaws of victory.
It’s time for the Tea Party to step up, so STEP UP !!!!!!!
That’s not how Republicans or Conservatives behave; that’s how the radical left/right acts: in co-ordinated, goose-step fashion.
Conservatives are “let a thousand different flowers bloom” as individuals prosper or fail on their own, and not as part of an “orchestrated” show or a team. Presidential politics isn’t a sports contest, no matter how much credence such false analogies can muster, certainly not in America (Europe is an entirely different matter).
Moreover, frangmentation (fractionalism in effect) is GOP’s biggest strengh, albeit at the same time its key weakness.
Your analogies are imperfect, antiquated, and dangerous, which is why Republicans will lose once again if they follow your advice. What you and other right-wing liberals refuse to understand is that this has never been a game, and it is no longer politics, it is war, which the left declared long ago. Conservatives need the equivalent of generals, strategy, and tactics if they are to have a snowball’s chance at taking back our society.
Goose-stepping???… just lovely, and BTW thanks for declaring me a Nazi; you quickly upped the ante on our little conversation with that bon mot, which leads me to wonder if you are actually some kind of leftist troll.
Regardless, unless and until conservatives discard Roberts’ rules of order and begin to fight in this politicized battlefield, they will inevitably be shot down in flames as they look wonderingly out the window and continue to prattle inane nonsense such as yours.
Cool down, Na-polio Buona Partee; war? politicized battlefield? shot down in flames? Get real.
Let me break it to you, granpa: your fear of losing the country materialized on 11/04/08. Ol’ America is gone for ever, in case you hadn’t noticed. And it wasn’t the kenyan/indonesian fraud in the WH (he’s just a symptom). It was atheism, islam, homosexuality, drugs, and a sick culture.
You’re calling me a “leftist troll”? Read my post #79 and carefully, if at all possible.
I did, so now read mine even more carefully…
you’re the one that started flinging Third Reich aspersions, not me.
As I stated before, at best you are a right-wing liberal, at worst some kind of troll.
As for Mr. Beep Beep (whatever that signifies), please be so good as to impart your grand historical perspective re 11/04/08, including a complete analysis. And “granpa”???… you make a lot of interesting assumptions, obviously all of them quite false. BTW, it sounds like you are counseling the rest of us to simply give up in light of all those (already quite obvious) factors you mentioned. If you want to give up, fine, but then please don’t bother to post any more time-wasting comments, since everyone else is actively engaged in finding some way to fight.
@ CS
Well, you obviously don’t know how to read.
Granpa said:
“…but then please don’t bother to post any more time-wasting comments,…”
You can always skip’em.
Good meat and potatoes article on Christie:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/27/magazine/27christie-t.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha210
…he’s the Oliver Hardy of the present day GOP comedy stage, without Hardy’s affability.
He’s a joke that keeps on joking without being funny, a clown that keeps on clowning without being pleasant. Only real wierdos are attracted to this bozo (think Ann Coulter).
Well, fling whatever names you want but he has hit upon a huge issue that is not going to go away and is mining the mother lode. He does not meet some of the litmus tests for half of the extremists here, either, but then, anyone who did would have no shot.
There isn’t any difference between the bozo from Chicagoland and the bozo from Jerseyland; a mob is a mob.
Herman Cain could be the Tom Brady of our team. He’s just the backup quarterback, but put him in there and you’ll see he’s much better than your starter.
How about this? Cain-Bolton
What about D. Duck/M. Mouse?
Intrade has about 50 names under 2012 GOP potential nominees. Don’t you get the strategy they’re serving you all? They want by division to get the kenyan fraud reelected.
I think Christie and Ryan might be able to win. Newt has too much personal baggage. He had and maybe still has the morals of a tom cat and an ego bigger than he is. Romney has yhr Massachusetts health care legislation. A number of the governors who say they might run have no charisma and sort of all blend in together. Palin shoots herself in the foot too often and really has no credentials.
I think Christie could be talked into running. Those waiting for a more conservative candidate should face the problem. Someone too conservative simply could not win. Many of us do not want a Bible thumping president. Religion should return to being a personal matter.
Sure, that would guarantee that all social conservatives stay home Nov 2012. Somehow the libertarians (proxies to the radical left on social issues) don’t get it: religion, or rather lack thereof, is what has gotten us into this mess.
“Many of us do not want a Bible thumping president. Religion should return to being a personal matter.”
That’s the type of usuful idiot islam is waiting for to be president, short of the guy they already have in the Oval Office.
As the field gets inspected, I believe McConnell of Virginia will start to get more attention.