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Pondering Palin

Submitted by Rensen on Sat, 06/28/2008 - 20:08

K,

So everybody knows I'm a Huckaholic and still hold out hope for the veep nod, but I'm also a pragmatist and can see the odds.. so I've been thinking about who else could satisfy and 'energize' me.

Honestly, it won't be Mitt, there's just too much history there, and Pawlenty puts me to sleep. (He's just an immitation Huckabee anyways.. seriously, he's almost a replica, why do you want an immitation when the original is available. I'd like him, except I feel that he's about 'ME' playing both sides against the middle. He hasn't staked a passionate claim on either socon or fiscon issues. If I want a blue collar populist, I'll stick with Huck)

So who's left? Palin or Jindal.

Lets be real.. most of us want McCain to hold the whitehouse, but we're waiting with bated breath for the ressurection of 'traditional' conservatism a ways down the road. Everybody has their fighter in the ring, and nobody wants the opposition to get on a headstart in that contest..

The pragmatist in me says, we need someone on the ticket that could energize socons and fiscons, appeal to dems and indies, and NOT give anybody a headstart down the road, (if one is interested in a fair fight of ideas later on)

I like Jindal, but I'm selfish.. a win would put him in a very sweet spot to cause too much trouble for my guy down the road.

But I really like Sarah.. it must me the woman in me..lol.. She's demonstrably left her mark on socon and fiscon issues.. and if I'm brutally honest, I don't think the GOP elite is anywhere near willing for a woman to be hier apparent, so she is less likely to be a threat to Mike down the road in the short term. (Is that sexist? I'm just considering the party's track record. How many female GOP elected officials do we even have compared to the dems?.. )

After Huck, and for Mitt's folks, Romney, I think she's our best bet at  a veep that would energize and unite the base and keep everybody in a holding pattern for the next round.

Again, I have not ceded that Mike won't make the grade, or even that Mitt won't, *wince* Just thinking about who could keep us all happy in the event that none of us gets what we want.

Are you guys feeling Palin?

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Comments

I still think she might be a bit light on experience

Submitted by Ironman on Sat, 06/28/2008 - 20:18.

but I'm warming up to the idea that if Mac makes a bolder choice, she might work well.

One thing to remember is rightly or wrongly the GOP right now is associated --and not warmly--with the Deep South and with political insiders. A maverick woman from Alaska attacks those stereotypes.

By the way, why wouldn't a more experienced Palin be a credible presidential candidate? 

Ever feel embarrassed ....

Submitted by Jon Sandor on Sun, 06/29/2008 - 09:06.

rightly or wrongly the GOP right now is associated --and not warmly--with the Deep South

 

... about going along with bigotry? Ever call out your friends and neighbors there in CT for it? What exactly is it with you people and the "Deep South"?

Well, reality may not be fair

Submitted by Ironman on Sun, 06/29/2008 - 10:00.

I think the Democrats prior to Franklin Roosevelt proved rather conclusively one cannot win  national elections relying solely on votes from the South.

By the way, calling voters bigots is usually a good way to make sure the other party wins the election. 

and what to make when voters in a "southern" state reject a candidate primarily becuase he seemed "too southern"

In fact, in Howell's most high-profile loss -- the 2005 Virginia governor's race -- the lack of a charismatic candidate at the center of the campaign was widely cited as a prime reason for the defeat. State Attorney General Jerry Kilgore (R) had a thick southern accent and never appeared terribly comfortable in front of the camera. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2006/02/insider_interview_scott_howell.html

Should we call out folks in Henrico County and Virginia Beach as a bunch of bigots, while we're at it?

 

She would be..

Submitted by Rensen on Sat, 06/28/2008 - 22:02.

At least I think so.. but the GOP hasn't the best track record with advancing minorities politically thus far..

I could live with a president Palin..but I see that taking close to 10 years to come to fruition. My dream ticket this cycle was actually Huckabee/Palin or Huckabee'Watts/Steele.

The GOP REALLY needs to get away from the 'old white man' brand in this millenium

I like Palin, but...

Submitted by Daniel Ruwe on Sat, 06/28/2008 - 21:19.

she's not very experienced. Before she was governor (and she's only been governor for a few years), she was mayor of some tiny city in Alaska. Also, she's just had a son with special needs, so she might be busy. I'd love to see her on the ticket in 2012 though.