Is It Time for Conservatives, Moderates, Independents and the GOP to Come Together? Especially After Super Tuesday?

Charles Krauthammer says, “The long primary process has ‘Diminished’ the GOP Brand”

In a recent interview:

Megyn Kelly, FOX News: Charles, a lot of Republican voters have been uncomfortable watching this primary contest so far with all the barbs being exchanged between the candidates and in Michigan, as we've seen in some of the earlier states, it got a little ugly in the end. Your take now at this point in the process on whether this extended primary process that was a choice by the GOP is working to the GOP's advantage?

Charles Krauthammer: No. I think it's hurting them terribly. And you're right about the fact that it is a Republican choice. And I think it was a really stupid choice. They decided that in 2008 they had gotten a candidate too early. A weak candidate in McCain and they got slaughtered. So they were going to undo that and have a long, drawn out process. Almost all the contests would be proportional, and let the voters decide over time.
The flaw in the reasoning, and it was pretty obvious, they'd be running against an incumbent president, unlike in 2008. The Democrats would not have any early contests. They wouldn't have any negativity. They wouldn't have all this expenditure in trying to decide who is going to be the nominee.

So they should have had a shorter race, but they designed it for a longer race in a year in which the Democrats have no race at all and therefore have an advantage. Nonetheless, I think the way Obama has performed as president is so disappointing that that will even out, and I think it is now an even contest between Democrats and Republicans as to the general election. But, it shouldn't be. Republicans should be way ahead, given how badly Obama has done and how weak the economy is. But this process has certainly hurt all the Republican candidates, and unfortunately diminished the brand.

The case for Mitt Romney

There are an awful lot of "true conservative" types dumping on Mitt Romney these days... some are saying that he is no better than Obama, and some are even threatening to not vote if Romney is the nominee. I don't get it... I know that Romney isn't perfect, but I don't understand the hatred of him.

Here was Mark Levin in 2008 arguing that Romney was the most conservative choice:

Let’s face it, none of the candidates are perfect. They never are. But McCain is the least perfect of the viable candidates. The only one left standing who can honestly be said to share most of our conservative principles is Mitt Romney. I say this as someone who has not been an active Romney supporter. If conservatives don’t unite behind Romney at this stage, and become vocal in their support for him, then they will get McCain as their Republican nominee and probably a Democrat president. And in either case, we will have a deeply flawed president.

Of course that was before Levin suddenly decided to hate Romney's guts. In 2008 he was calling Romney a conservative... maybe an imperfect conservative, but still a conservative. And now Romney is some sort of ultra-liberal who should be hated like poison?

Well, I don't see any perfect conservatives this time around either. I initially supported Rick Perry, but he just wasn't able to sell himself... so now that Perry is gone, Romney has become my second choice. Who else am I supposed to vote for? Rick Santorum may yet win the nomination, and I will vote for him if he does, but I don't see how he could possibly beat Obama in the general election. (I don't think that Newt Gingrich could beat Obama either, but I don't see him winning the nomination at this point anyway, so the question is probably moot.)

As our nominee, Mitt Romney would keep the focus on Obama's failed policies... Romneycare is a problem for Romney, but not an insurmountable one. I think Romney will do a much better job of exposing Obama as a radical leftist than Santorum ever could, mainly because Santorum is too eager to let himself get lured into lecturing us about things like Satan, sodomy, pornography, contraception, and whether or not Protestants are real Christians.

I've been fairly impressed with Mitt Romney's performance in the debates so far, and I think he would do just fine against Obama... but you don't have to take my word for it, here is Santorum himself endorsing Mitt Romney in 2008:

Posted by Crazy Bald Guy – Cross-Posted to the Watchers Council

Romney is a much more generous, outgoing, personable and relatable in person than he appears in debates or on TV.  He also does not toot his own horn as do both Obama and Gingrich… who love to toot theirs.  In one of the debates Romney said he did not inherit his money, that he is a self-made man and that is true.  What he didn’t tell us is that he did inherit money from his parents and gave it all away in their honor.  He gave much of it to develop the George Romney Management Institute at BYU and the rest to charity.

Romney also took no salary when he was the Governor of Massachusetts.

And because Romney does not sound his own horn and is steady and calm instead of boastful and grandiose a lot of people like to say that he isn’t tough enough and doesn’t show enough feelings. You really need to read this story to see another side of him.

And in the end, ROMNEY’S EDGE IS ELECTABILITY, which seems to be proving out as Romney is gaining momentum in Ohio.  In yet another bizarre twist to this roller coaster 2012 GOP Primary race, Rick Santorum's lead in Ohio has all but evaporated. What once was a double digit lead is now down to 2 points. Mitt Romney is making a late surge for the ever important electoral state of Ohio - but will it be enough to overcome Santorum? Why is Romney surging anyway? Could it be the bizarre interview of Santorum that Glenn played a portion of? See HERE.

When recently asked about a brokered convention Romney said: “That’s just not going to happen!”  However, if it does according to a Fox News online poll: Sarah Palin is the overwhelming choice if there is a brokered convention.  It would be a Game Change that many of us can believe in!

It is time for us to decide… Go with Romney who moderates and independents like and can vote for… or go for the real conservative who will really brings us hope and change and mesmerizes those who listen. If you have ever heard and seen Sarah Palin speak live, especially to a large crowd, and if you really know what she has done and what she stands for… not the Sarah Palin that Katie Couric, Tina Fey and the Progressive left have fed us… you know that she could win, if any true conservative can win!!

Conservative Super Star Sarah Palin: Brought the Red Meat to CPAC and They Loved It… Loved Her!

Video: Full Speech – Sarah Palin at CPAC 2012

Video: Game Change We Can Believe In

But perhaps in honor of the memory of a man who many called the the spiritual leader of the modern conservative, libertarian movement and ‘the’ conservative warrior by others, Andrew Breitbart, we should consider his words as he warned at CPAC:  "Unite or Perish!"  Or we draft the gal that will bring us real change and excites the conservative base… especially with his recent wins.  Why settle for Sarah light?

Strategist and author Dick Morris said, if there ever was a reason to pull together and vote for Romney, unless you are hoping for a brokered convention, it is the Michigan experience of last weekend.  Romney won by a large margin in both Arizona and with a large margin of Republicans and Independents in Michigan.  But 100,000 Democrats voted in Michigan against Romney, on cue from a combination of a robot call put out by the Santorum campaign and a movement organized by Team Obama (of unions and operatives).

Morris says if Democrats, Team Obama, start interfering and trying to change the outcome of the GOP primary to their preference, Rick Santorum, at least in this case, it tells us who they fear to run against most, Mitt Romney. And if the GOP lets this go beyond May or June without a clear chosen candidate, and worse yet all the way until September, after the Republican convention, Obama will win a second term. The GOP will not have enough time to mount a campaign against Obama between September 1st and  November 6th… and Team Obama knows that!

Wake-up, America… eyes on the price, which is defeating Obama. After Super Tuesday, if not before, unless there is a miracle and someone breaks out, if Santorum and Gingrich split the south and Romney takes  the rest or most, it is time to pull together or we will end up out foxing ourselves into losing our country because we played the wrong game for too long.

*Since this was originally written Mitt Romney won in Washington state (today) on Saturday, with Ron Paul predicted to come in at second at this time.  In the post election analysis, Charles Krauthammer said if Santorum and Gingrich have a weak showing on Super Tuesday, the Republican Establishment will start putting pressure on them to step aside, at least one of them, because they are damaging the GOP brand and are harming the outcome of the bigger goal… beating President Obama in the Fall.  Mitt Romney also appears to have had his best debate/forum performance ever on Saturday night from Wilmington, Ohio sponsored by and by and featured on Huckabee.

Mitt had a very personal and relatable moment with small business owner David McArthur from St. Louis, when he talked about his son. Romney was outwardly emotional during his response to a question from McArthur who is the father of a soldier experiencing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and a traumatic brain injury after being wounded in Afghanistan. Governor Romney was obviously very moved by David’s story and clearly grateful for the sacrifice; Romney’s voice broke, crackling with emotion for a moment, as he responded. It was a great chance for people to see Romney’s humanity at a time when many voters say they have been unable to connect with him. Romney also did a great job explaining his economic plan in a simpler fashion yet in greater detail and was even funny during the forum... when Romney forgot to leave the stage for the next candidate, Santorum, to come on and give his final comments. Romney laughed, lightly grabbing Santorum at the shoulders saying, “I’m not leaving!” (All three candidates did well at the Huckabee Forum, focusing on jobs… Ron Paul opted not to continue campaigning in Washington State and not to participate in the forum, but Romney definitely came out on top!)

Breaking: Did Sarah Palin Just Announce She Would Accept the GOP Nomination if Drafted? – Updated

BREAKING: Did Sarah Palin Just Announce She Would Accept The GOP Nomination if Drafted?

Oh man, what a day this has turned out to be. Sarah Palin has been all over Fox News today, including making a surprise appearance on The Five, setting between Bob Beckel and Eric Bolling, who has been teasing her appearance on his Fox Business News show Follow the Money, which brings us to what currently has everyone buzzing.

This is a supposed transcript from the interview she did with Eric, from Time Magazine:

BOLLING: Governor, a lot of people are saying it can’t happen. I don’t necessarily agree with them. If one of the nominees, one of the GOPers, doesn’t get enough delegates, it could go the a brokered convention.

If it does get to that and someone said, Governor, would you be interested, would you be interested?

PALIN: Well, for one, I think that it could get to that. And I — you know, if it had to — if it had to be kind of closed up today, the whole nominating process, then we would be looking at a brokered convention.

I mean nobody is quite there yet. So I think that months from now, if that’s the case, then, you know, all bets are off as to who it will be willing to offer themselves up in the name of service to their country. I would — I would do whatever I could to help.

BOLLING: That’s — that’s fantastic.

Putting this in the context of Sarah’s Fox interviews with Greta, the gang on Fox and Friends, and Martha MacCallum, where she is clearly displeased with how the current candidates are handling themselves, as well as going after President Obama full speed, it seems she has decided she may have to take matters into her own hand!

Of course, this could be nothing more than a huge shot across the bow of all of the campaigns, and the GOP, warning them to get their act together. Or it could be she’s been listening to all of us who wanted her to run from day one.

Of course, I’m quite biased, as I have thought she would make a great president since 2007!

It also seems Sarah may be appearing on Red Eye [with Jedediah Bila] in the wee hours of the morning! [they actually tape the show earlier] Stay up late or set your DVRs! Red Eye airs 3 AM eastern.

All I know is the next few days are going to be a bit crazy!

By Gary P Jackson

Related:

Breitbart to Conservatives Unite or Parish

A Path to a Brokered GOP Convention Emerges…. Bush verses Palin?

Conservative Super Star Sarah Palin: Brought the Red Meat to CPAC and They Loved It… Loved Her!

· Sarah Palin a surprise guest on The Five   -  Wednesday, February 15, 2012 8:31:04 PM · by Southnsoul · 15 replies

The Right Scoop ^ | February 15, 2012

This is just fun. Sarah Palin was a surprise guest on The Five, which apparently was even a surprise to The Five. Watch to the end though to see Palin kick Bob Beckel for a few of the things he’s said about her: Video at the link.

· Palin on brokered convention "do whatever I could to help." -  Wednesday, February 15, 2012 8:38:29 PM · by cdchik123 · 22 replies

time ^

Essential reading: Palin, on Fox Business Network, says a brokered convention could happen and, if it does, she would "do whatever I could to help." Read the transcript below. BOLLING: Governor, a lot of people are saying it can't happen. I don't necessarily agree with them. If one of the nominees, one of the GOPers, doesn't get enough delegates, it could go the a brokered convention. If it does get to that and someone said, Governor, would you be interested, would you be interested? PALIN: Well, for one, I think that it could get to that. And I -- you...

· Sarah Palin, could she be ... -  Wednesday, February 15, 2012 9:39:38 PM · by 2ndDivisionVet

Nolan Chart ^ | February 15, 2012 | Mark Vogel

If Sarah is flirting, I was seduced a long time ago! For everyone who doesn't want Romney, this is huge! It's only in the modern era that Presidential nominations have been locked up before most American voters even tuned in. So this year, for the nation, the Republican Primary is kind of a return to older times, when all Americans counted, not just the few power brokers. The race has been a very rich blue blood from New England ( where he would not carry one state in the general election ) and a group of three, Newt, Rick and...

· Palin’s star may have faded, but her grass-roots influence persists  -  Wednesday, February 15, 2012 8:58:59 PM · by 2ndDivisionVet · 10 replies

The Washington Post ^ | February 14, 2012 | Stephanie McCrummen

It was a Sarah Palin crowd. At a conference of conservative activists last week, there were stacks of Sarah Palin books and Sarah Palin posters. A special screening of a film about Palin was planned. And after skipping the gathering for four years, Palin herself had agreed at last to give the keynote address. Having traveled from Buffalo, Jason Benner was there to see the one who made his heart soar. “Wayne LaPierre,” he said with gusto, referring to the head of the National Rifle Association. He named the rest of his top five speakers — Marco Rubio, Mitt Romney,...

Sarah Palin: ‘I’m Game’ to Run for Future Office & ‘All Bets Are Off’ in Event of Brokered GOP Convention

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin isn’t one for divulging the tactical details of her (potential) future political plans. In fact, the 2008 vice-presidential contender is known for leaving much to the imagination when it comes to future electoral prospects. Last year, she made fans wait quite a while before announcing that she wouldn’t be seeking the 2012 GOP presidential nomination.

On Wednesday, on FOX Business’ “Follow the Money,“ Palin told Eric Bolling she ”would do whatever [she] could to help,” leaving the door open to any and all possibilities should a brokered convention take form later this year.

A Path to a Brokered GOP Convention Emerges…. Bush verses Palin?

Photo:  Real Clear Politics

For many conservative Republicans, the dream outcome of the 2012 primary season is a brokered convention. Disappointed in the four remaining choices, they hope to change horses in August, at the end of the primary stream. drafting their preferred candidate, be it Jeb Bush, Mitch Daniels, Chris Christie, Paul Ryan, or ???

But as sure as Jeb Bush will be proposed, so will Sarah Palin. She is now and always has been the singular Reaganesque super-star voice in the original Tea Party phenomenon; the only one who can bring it to the mainstream. Her absence from the primary race has left a vacuum and no substitute has been found. Every other possible or potential leadership hopeful has risen and receded in this already seemingly long Republican primary season. 

All reports from the CPAC conference, the former Alaska governor received far and away the most spirited and enthusiastic reception at the convention of about 10,000 conservative activists. She drew the audience to its feet more than a dozen times during her keynote address on Saturday. “The cheers for Palin were so loud that they drowned out her remarks again and again,” he writes. “Conference organizers had to set up three overflow rooms to accommodate the throngs of supporters eager to hear her words.”

Sarah Palin bated clean-up at CPAC and hit a home run!  Her appearance reminded CPAC’s attendees how much they missed her. Palin was/is the conservative super-star.  She brought the red meat to CPAC and crowd loved it… as they loved her!  Palin repeatedly said the door was open for a conservative victory, but the door that seemed to be open the widest was the one to her political future as the leader of the conservative movement and as heiress to the Reagan legacy.  Sarah once again proved her conservative relevancy… It was her party on Saturday, and it could be for the foreseeable future. The only questions remains, could that include a place for here on the party ticket in a brokered primary?

Remember… Palin has already been there once for a dress rehearsal.

Photo: McCain Election Album 2008

Many have been adamant that the outcome of a brokered convention is extremely unlikely. For it to occur, there has to be an almost perfect storm of events; the GOP elites can’t just declare shenanigans on the primary season and select a new nominee. Instead, something has to prevent any of the current candidates from clinching a majority of the delegates; if one of them amasses that majority, he will be the nominee on the first ballot at the convention in Tampa. But has anyone else noticed how often they ask Mitt Romney about this possibility?

It is looking more and more like the the GOP fight could eventually degenerate into an ideological battle between the very conservative and somewhat conservative/moderate wings of the party, with Romney on one side and a single alternative on the other. Unless there was a late entrant or Ron Paul caught fire in the caucus states, someone was virtually assured of claiming the requisite number of delegates in that scenario. (However, there are signs that the Romney and Paul camps may have already brokered a deal.)

Something else to remember, the GOP does have super-delegates of a sort, in the form of the 63 RNC members. They aren’t as numerous as they are in the Democratic Party, but they are still there. While many of them have already declared allegiance to one candidate or another, those commitments can evaporate quickly, as Hillary Clinton learned all to well to her sorrow in 2008.

Additionally and perhaps even more importantly, demographic and geographic splits are beginning to surface in the GOP that resemble the splits in the Democratic Party in 2008. That year, Hillary Clinton laid claim to working-class whites and Latino voters, while Barack Obama laid claim to college-educated whites and African-Americans. This divide continued throughout the primary, right up to the last day of voting.

The GOP split is still speculative at this point. But to see the possibility, examine the map of U.S. counties and how they have voted so far. Blue counties backed Romney, red backed Gingrich, green are for Santorum, while white have gone for some other candidate (or not yet voted).

Map:  Real Clear Politics

Romney has done well in New Hampshire and south Florida; the latter is basically the North transplanted to the South. This suggests continued strength in the Northeast. He’s also done well in the Mountain West: Nevada was in his camp, as was a large portion of the Western Slope of Colorado. Note also the handful of counties in southern Colorado that went for Romney; they are heavily Mexican-American, and Romney has run well with Latino voters in the GOP contests thus far.

Next, Gingrich. There is continued resistance to Mitt Romney in the GOP among evangelicals. These voters are concentrated largely, but not exclusively, in the South. And as we see, the former House speaker ran well in South Carolina as well as in northern Florida, and is expected to do well in Georgia. This caused many to conclude that Gingrich was on the verge of emerging as the definitive not-Romney.

But now we have to consider that Santorum has won Iowa and Minnesota in the Midwest, and won Colorado largely on the strength of his showing in eastern Colorado (which is basically the Great Plains). He also won Missouri -- which is culturally more southern than Midwestern -- but Gingrich wasn’t on the ballot there. For now at least, he is the "anti-Romney" in the Midwest. Santorum is getting a bit of boost from the Catholic birth control mandate issue, but some aren’t so sure about his fiscal conservatism.

If this split continues -- Romney in the West and Northeast, Gingrich in the South, and Santorum in the Midwest -- we could easily find ourselves in a scenario where no candidate crosses the 1,144-delegate threshold by the time voting ends. Consider this: Right now, Romney barely has a majority of the delegates. If Gingrich successfully contests the winner-takes-all allocation in the Florida primary (based on the RNC’s rule against such a format before April), no one would have a majority of the delegates as of today.

We will find out how viable this path is in the next few weeks. In the lead-up to Super Tuesday, we’ll probably see Romney win Arizona, Michigan and Maine. Arizona and Maine are in his demographic wheelhouse, while he is a native Michigander and his father was governor of the state (Although in a recent survey 67% of the people living in Michigan were not born or did not live in Michigan when George Romney was Governor). Washington is a coastal state, where Romney’s strength hasn’t been tested, so it is up in the air.

Super Tuesday will likely be tougher for him. Four of the five largest states -- Virginia, Tennessee, Oklahoma and Georgia -- are Southern (or in Oklahoma's case, culturally Southern). Romney will likely win Virginia by default, but he will probably fare poorly in the remaining three. If Gingrich can stay in the race and maintain his strength in the South, he will likely win them.

On the other hand, Romney will probably do well in Massachusetts, Idaho and Vermont. Santorum seems well-positioned to win North Dakota. But let us remember, Santorum is fourth in delegates, behind Ron Paul.

So the viability of a three-way split probably comes down to Ohio, which has a fair number of evangelicals, though not to the degree that Tennessee, Oklahoma and Georgia do. Santorum has some strengths he can draw on in the Buckeye State, as his blue-collar message could play well even among Republicans there. If he wins, it means that we probably do have a deeply divided GOP, with Gingrich taking the anti-Romney vote in the South, and Santorum taking the anti-Romney vote in the Midwest.

The key is that neither Gingrich nor Santorum can begin to do so well that the other drops out. Both must remain effectively regional candidates. If Gingrich’s support collapses in the South, it might leave an opening there for Santorum. We’ve seen some potential evidence of this, as Gingrich’s support in Gallup’s tracking poll is down about seven points since the Florida primary (although it isn’t down in the wake of Santorum’s wins Tuesday night). If that were to occur, we would be back to a two-person race. There is also now word that Gingrich’s financial supporter, Adelson, has pulled out.  Most feel he will stay in the race, but that his star has faded.

Alternatively, Santorum’s support could turn out to be confined to caucus states and/or states where Romney failed to spend money. Remember, Colorado and Minnesota are small state caucuses, virtually ignored by the candidates. Santorum’s win in Minnesota was large enough, however, that it could indicate broader support among the general electorate (as was his showing in eastern Colorado). This might allow Gingrich to step in, or Romney to wrap up the nomination. But Santorum says he has a plan to beat Mitt in Michigan.

But in the event this scenario does unfold through Super Tuesday, we would then begin a long slog. But unlike 2008, where Obama’s states were frontloaded and allowed him to gain an air of inevitability early on, here the states are spread out. The remainder of March contains Northern caucuses in Wyoming and Kansas. There are Southern states: Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. At the same time, areas with heavily Latino population such as Puerto Rico, and states with relatively liberal Republican parties (Illinois) will cast their ballots. The fact that these contests award their delegates proportionately will prevent any candidate from breaking out.

In April, Gingrich would have a great chance in Texas, Maryland and Delaware (increasingly de facto Southern states in the GOP primary electorate), while Romney would receive large delegate hauls in Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York. Santorum would have primaries in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

In the end, we could end up in California in early June with no clear nominee. While that state is nominally winner-take-all for a whopping 172 delegates, in fact it allocates the overwhelming majority of those delegates by Congressional District. Who is voting in a Republican primary in Nancy Pelosi’s or Maxine Waters’ district? I honestly have no idea, but if they’re different from the voters in the Latino central valley districts, and if they’re different than the voters in Orange County, and if they’re different from the voters in the Sierra districts, we really could have a situation where the state doesn’t produce a winner for the GOP.

If this occurs, and Ron Paul wins around 100 delegates along the way, we have a situation where no candidate has more than 900 delegates, and three have more than 400. In that situation, no one would be able to lay claim to the mantle of presumptive nominee. The convention would eventually deadlock, and an outside candidate could emerge.

The Bush family secret agenda has been a subliminal theme for months with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie as the favored proxy and pitchman. But at CPAC it broke through to the surface: Al Cardenas, head of the American Conservative Union, says that Republican turmoil might lead to a brokered convention in which Jeb Bush would emerge as a “possible alternative” party nominee.  (Cardenas is already walking back his comments and his speech is disappearing from the Internet… but the cat is out of the bag.) It made Drudge this past weekend.

This would not be without its difficulties. We’ve seen the problem with sudden, late entrants before. The nominee would have to be able to put together a platform, a fundraising organization, prepare for debates, select a running mate, and hit the campaign trail, all in a manner of weeks.

And the candidate would not be fully vetted. There might be some skeleton in his closet, or his family’s. One wing of the party might not be satisfied. Chris Christie’s name is frequently mentioned, but he believes in climate change and favors civil unions. How will the religious right react when that is in the spotlight? Mitch Daniels may bore Tea Partiers looking for a fighter, and his past as Bush’s budget director is a black mark waiting to be exploited by his opponent. Jeb Bush is a Bush. And so forth. And then there are the the new, independent, states-oriented, freedom-seeking constitutional conservatives… a ticket of the Western states, a Palin/Perry ticket ticket from Alaska and Texas. Now wouldn’t that be interested?

Conservatism is at the shore of a new awakening but is afraid to cross the river. It goes back to Gov. Rick Perry’s Texas primary race. From Quigley’s Pundits Blog of Jan. 21, 2010: “The Austin Statesman reported that former President George H.W. Bush will endorse U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison in the Republican primary for governor in her race against Rick Perry. Dick Cheney, Karl Rove, Margaret Spellings and Karen Hughes [W.’s agent] also support Hutchison … But Sarah Palin supports Rick Perry and will appear with him at a rally on Super Bowl Sunday. Does one Sarah Palin equal a Bush, a Rove, a Spellings and a Hughes? In Texas, I believe it does.”  …Bernie Quigley

Perry won in a landslide. But why would the Bush establishment pull out all the stops to support Hutchison, who was sure to lose? Because they saw a new conservative movement building with Perry and Palin and were determined early on to stamp it out. They still are.
Bush/Christie or Christie/Bush as “establishment” representation is bound to bring muffled chuckles (“Hey Abbott!!!”) and Obama would win in a landslide. But Bush/Christie vs. Sarah Palin/Rick Perry positions coming head to head at the Republican Convention would pit the storied worlds of Dexter and Paulie Walnuts; the most notoriously corrupt, burned-out, busted-up, used-up, dangerous, underwater and broke Eastern states, against the new, independent, states-oriented, freedom-seeking constitutional conservatives like Palin of the Western states, Texas and Alaska. Now that would be interesting.

The path to this outcome is still a very narrow, precarious one. But for the first time, I can see it.  A Jeb Bush/Christy fight against Palin/Perry with maybe even a Romney/Santorum or Romney/Rand Paul option still sitting out there… or a Palin/Santorum option?  Can you see it? I am beginning to!

h/t to Real Clear Politics and The Hill’s Pundit’s Blog

Related Reading:

The Lost Majority: Why the Future of Government Is Up for Grabs - and Who Will Take It

The Road to the White House 2012

Sarah’s Shoes

There is an old saying that says "Don't judge a man until you walk a mile in his moccasins." It seems pretty self explanatory, but just in case one needs help in translation, here is one from wiki.answers.com.

"It's basically another version of the phrase, "Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in his shoes." The basic idea is that one should not judge a man's (or woman's) way of life unless one has been through the same trials and tribulations: in other words, to walk the same path the person has gone."

It has been on my heart, of late, to defend Sarah Palin's decision not to run for the office of President of the United States. After she announced that she would not run, many amongst her supporters literally came unglued. There was weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth, as the hope died of her becoming Madame President in 2012, and coming in as some conquering heroine to save our land. Some who had supported her, turned on her, and began attacking her like jilted lovers, and joined in with those on the left in saying the most vile things about her. Some, like myself, were disappointed, but understood that she had to come to her own decision by weighing what was the most important in HER life, not ours. In pondering her decision, I will have to speculate a bit, but I have come to believe that I have this right.

Many that I have seen turn on her cannot possibly understand why she said no. They do not live her life, and they do not know what it truly means to walk in her shoes. First of all, let me ask some questions of those who have turned on her or are angry with her.

1) Are you married?

2) Do you have children?

3) Do you have a special needs child?

4) Do you have grandchildren?

5) Has your entire family and life been under scrutiny and attack by the world for years?

6) Are you a born-again Christian?

All of those questions are pertinent as to why I think Sarah has decided not to run. Hear me out. If you are a born-again Christian, as Sarah is, and has been since she was very young, you would know that a Christian is always to put GOD first. After that, you are supposed to put your husband or wife, if you are married. Next in the order of things is your children and family, and after that is everything else. Serving your country isn't in the Godly plan of things, although we are all called to be a testimony and a light to all of those around us.

If you understand that to God, our sole purpose is to love Him, everything else makes sense and falls into place. It is why he created us, and gave us free will. He wanted us to CHOOSE to love Him, not be forced to love Him. If you understand that God is more concerned about our Spiritual state, than our earthly existance, and that everything here is to draw us spiritually to Him, then everything here becomes much more clear. Jesus understood the weaknesses and failings of mankind, and addressed their issues, but mainly his teachings were ALL to teach us spiritual lessons, knowing that this life is but a vapor. The scripture teaches 'All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field...The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God stands for ever'. Isaiah 40:6-8 (NKJV)

Some wonder why Sarah would put her family and husband before her country, when they see her role as saving her country. But what they might not understand is that, as a married Christian woman, Sarah must put the wishes of her husband and the protection of her children after God, and before everything else. The Bible often uses the role of marriage between a man and a woman to typify the role between Christ and the Church. It is one of holy alliance and is symbolic of the Church loving, serving and following the Saviour. Again, our spiritual destiny is God's sole purpose in everything. He created us to love Him, and everything that we go through in this life is to draw us to Him.

I know that Todd has always encouraged Sarah to do what she thinks she should be doing. I know that he trusts her judgment, and knows her heart well enough to know that she will do the right thing. But I also know, that his heart is to love and protect her, as any good husband would want to do. How difficult it must be to have seen his precious wife attacked so viciously for such a long time, and not to be able to defend her. Just sit for one minute and recall all of the vile attacks upon this woman, from being called dumb and stupid, to accusing her of being the cause of the Arizona shooting, to having lies told about her not being Trig's mother, or having her accused of sexual relations with certain people. And those are just a tiny fraction of the horrendous attacks made upon her, since she was chosen as the VP candidate. They have relentlessly stalked her (literally) and exposed every detail and email of her life. The attacks have been constant and unrelenting, and continue to this day. No public person I have EVER seen has been savaged like Sarah Palin has. As her husband, I'm sure Todd must have just wanted so badly to defend her, but felt helpless to do so. He probably knew that to defend her would only heap more coals of hatred upon her. So he did what a loving husband would do, and became her soft place to fall, and her rock to lean upon. I think that if Todd asked Sarah not to run, she would listen to him. And I am not saying he DID do that, but just that, to Sarah, his wishes would prevail. Her priorities are in order.

For those of you who do not have children, I can't tell you about the heart of a mother in such a way that you could relate. Until I became a mother myself, I couldn't know what that experience is like. I can't tell you how it feels to have people attack your children, and how you want to take that pain upon yourself, so that they don't have to feel it. I can't tell you how you want to protect them from all pain, both physical and mental. I can't impress upon you how, when someone hurts your child, your first reaction is to rear up and rip their face off. Even as a Christian, the righteous indignation rises up in you when your child or children are attacked. God has made it so that the mother's first instinct is to protect her child. Even mother animals have this instinct. (This is where the term "Mama Grizzlies" came from.) It is how species survive. Again, Sarah has had to endure the continual attacks upon her children. Even the most helpless, little Trig has not been immune to attack. As a mother I know some of what that must feel like, but I cannot, and nor can ANY of you, know what it must be like for Sarah to have the whole world mocking and laughing at, and making disgusting comments about her precious family. They mock their looks. They mock their intelligence. They mock how they live their lives. They mock their mistakes. They make sexual jokes about them. This has been going on now for 3 years, and shows no signs of abating. Just recently, Bristol was verbally assaulted by some slob, when she went out for a night of fun. As a mother, Sarah must feel that it is because of her, that her children are being attacked. Sarah has been very strong throughout and has practiced great restraint, but the times when I saw her rear up were always in defense of her children. If any one of her children asked her not to run, I know that she would listen to them, AND RIGHTLY SO. She knows that it is her job to protect them first. And for those of you who are angry, thinking that it's because one or more of her kids asked her not to run, and she listened to them...get over it. It's her JOB to protect those kids, FIRST.

Sarah also has a grandchild and another on the way. Her heart towards those little ones is much the same as towards her own children. Until you are a grandparent, you cannot possibly know the feelings of protection you have over them.

I didn't mention Sarah's parents previously, but I know how it must distress Sarah to know what her own parents go through, watching their own precious child be attacked. I know she would not want her elderly, loving parents to continue to have to deal with that either.

And then there is Trig. I do not pretend to have any clue what it is like to have a special needs child. I remember from Sarah's book where she told of finding out she was pregnant with a Down's syndrome child, and the internal battle that ensued, and all of the fears and doubts that must have accompanied that startling news. I remember she was alone when she found out, and how she must have struggled. I also remember that she talked with her husband about it, and how Todd was so supportive of her. I don't remember exactly what Todd said to her, but I just know that he pretty much said "we can do this". Many of you remember in her show "Sarah Palin's Alaska" the episode where she went to visit her native relatives, and Trig and Sarah meeting Trig's Down's syndrome cousin. I will NEVER forget the scene where Sarah speaks afterwards and tears up, thinking about what would become of Trig. In that moment, if I could have taken all of her pain, I would have. All of the uncertainty, and even fear bubbled up, and the wondering...what will become of my child? I found myself crying for her too, and prayed that God would give her the wisdom as she needs it to meet his special needs. I also know that I cannot relate at ALL to what she goes through on a daily basis, having a special needs child. I do agree with Sarah though, that these children are here for a purpose, and I believe that that purpose is to teach us love and compassion. I also feel that in their perfect innocence, that Down's children are just a little closer to God than the rest of us. None of us can pretend to know how just this ONE aspect of Sarah's life might have had some influence on her decision.

Since Sarah has announced that she is not running for POTUS, I have seen a visible transformation in her countenance. In the interviews BEFORE announcing, she looks grim. Her eyebrows are knitted together, her lips are tight and she clearly shows strain in her lovely face. In the interviews of her POST announcement, she looks transformed. She looks relieved, and light and happy again, and has the appearance of one with a great weight lifted off of her shoulders. She is literally glowing. I believe that this is because she knows she has made the right decision before God and her family. I believe that she knows that she has her priorities in perfect order. She also knows that she can still be effective in helping her country, but just in a different way.

We haven't walked a mile in Sarah's shoes. We haven't even walked down the block in her shoes. So how dare any of us deem to think we know what she should be doing? I understand people still trying to pressure her to run, but I want it to STOP. I don't want to be a part of any "earthquake" or movement to try to convince her to go against what she feels to be her role, and feels that she has made the perfect decision before God and her family. To try to convince her otherwise is to say that we know better what she should do with her life than she does. What selfishness and arrogance! If Sarah were a single woman, things might be different, but she's not. She is a virtuous Christian woman, and she knows the perfect order of things. She knows that it is our relationship with God that must always come first, because one day this will all be gone. The grass will fade and wither, and countries will all be gone. The earth will come to cease, but our spirits live on forever. Sarah has her priorities right. She knows that in the end, it is what have you done before God, not man, that matters.

Have you walked a mile in Sarah's shoes? None of us have...no not one. So do not judge.

By Karen at  TPN

Related:

Could There Be a Palin Reconsideration

Could There Still Be a Palin Reconsideration?

I’m hearing this question and rumblings over and over again from many sources:

Could Sarah Palin be getting into the race after all?  Is there still time for her to reconsider or be drafted?

Palin herself has not said anything but some of her supporters in Iowa, and other placers, are. They have made a TV commercial that is going to debut in Iowa tomorrow, four weeks and six days before the Iowa caucuses.

From The Daily Caller:

Supporters of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Gov. Palin have unveiled a television ad they plan to air in Iowa. They hope the ad will compel her to reconsider her decision not to run for president in 2012.

The ad debuts Nov. 30 on KCAU in Sioux City, Ian Lazaran of Conservatives4Palin.com, which raised money to run the spot, told The Daily Caller.

The video does not explicitly ask Palin to reconsider. It simply shows her giving a speech and saying, “We will not solve our economic problems in this country until we confront the crony capitalism of our permanent political class.”

“This is socialism for the very rich and the very poor but it is a brutal form of capitalism for the rest of us,” Palin says. “It’s the collusion of big government, big business. It’s at the heart of President Obama’s economic vision.”

Video:  The Challenge  - To Run in Iowa

Palin: We will not solve our economic problems in this country until we confront the crony capitalism of our permanent political class. This is socialism for the very rich and the very poor but it is a brutal form of capitalism for the rest of us. It's the collusion of big government, big business. It's at the heart of President Obama's economic vision. We need sudden and relentless reform. That will return power to we the people. We need people with a proven record of reform. I served in public office in a state that had a corruption problem. I fought that corrupt system. I took on a corrupt and compromised political class. The challenge is not simply to replace Obama in 2012. The real challenge is who and what we will replace him with.   Uploaded by PalinTV on Nov 22, 2011

The Hill has some more details:

Conservatives4Palin, a volunteer group that is unaffiliated with Palin and SarahPac, said on its website that it hopes to run the ad this week in Sioux City, Iowa.

“What we do next after the television ad goes up is a more difficult question,” the announcement said. “If this ad is able to build some momentum for the Governor, the best way to keep that momentum going may be to commission a national GOP primary poll that includes the Governor as one of the options. We’ll see if it’s possible given our resources. We’re open to other ideas but the greatest challenge may be that time is running short for her to reconsider.”

Hope does spring eternal but the reality of life is, at this late date it would be impossible for Palin to jump into the race. She has already missed the deadline to appear on a number of early state ballots.

The fascination with Palin jumping back into the race, something she has not even hinted at, is a symptom of something else going on in the Republican Party.

Right now, the conservative base remains shattered. It is split among a number of candidates. The problem is we are now on top of the Caucus date and the primaries begin a week later.

Conservatives are going to have to unite behind the most electable conservative. Otherwise, we are going to see Mitt Romney be the nominee and just as we had a choice in 2008 between two liberals, if Mitt Romney is the nominee, the only question will be which of the two liberals wins in 2012.

Video:  Sarah Palin @ The Tea Party of America Rally Indianola, Iowa September 3 2011

Future Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin gives the keynote speech at the Tea Party of America Rally in Indianola, Iowa to a huge crowd in essentially in the middle of nowhere. 1000's upon 1000's got rained on all morning, then just before Sarah Palin took the stage, the rain stopped. Must be Ronald Reagan looking down. Thanks To CSPAN!

Why Sarah Could Win & Long Lost Sarah Palin Emerges From Released Emails Victoriously

Sarah Palin and Steve Jobs

I do not agree with everything Judson says in the article below but he makes some interesting points, so thought this piece was worth sharing.  I believe that Sarah Palin will have a big effect in the upcoming election by her support of congressional, gubernatorial and the presidential GOP candidates, just like she did in the 2012 election.

I do however agree with Judson about the re-grouping and rebuilding after that if she intends to run herself some time in the future.

Ask Marion~

Sarah and Steve…

Yesterday marked the end of two eras, Sarah Palin’s political era and Steve Job’s life.  Palin launched one of the most interesting sagas in American politics, while Jobs was one of the most innovative minds this country has ever known.

Sarah Palin’s announcement that she was not running for President was headline news for exactly one hour.   Then it was immediately swept away by the news of the passing of Steve Jobs.

Both Jobs and Palin are examples of the American dream.  Their story is uniquely American as both rose from obscurity to prominence and wealth. 

Jobs transformed the computer world with revolutionary products including the IPOD, IPAD and IPHONE.   When Palin was plucked out of relative obscurity to be the Vice Presidential nominee in 2008, she was one of the first sparks of what would become the new conservative movement in America.

Yesterday Jobs died and yesterday Palin’s political career, for now, has pretty much ended.

Palin’s big draw was the threat she would run for President.  She played that out until yesterday.  It was obvious for months, to many; she was never going to run.  Even many of her followers are now disappointed and some very upset with her for deciding against a run and taking so long to make a decision.

Palin will now see the drawing down of what is left of her star power.  There are others in the conservative movement who are becoming bigger draws.  The question is, what happens to Sarah Palin after yesterday’s announcement?

In some ways, her options are limited.  The left has savaged her.   She has made a number of  mistakes, and has been over exposed in the media for the last year or so.  Will we see Sarah Palin’s name on the ballot again?

Probably not soon.

Her negative ratings in Alaska make it unlikely she could win a race there.   Her name has been brought up as a possible replacement for retiring Arizona Senator Jon Kyl.   She does own a home in Arizona and could qualify.  But she has the same problem in Arizona.  Polls show her losing to almost every potential Democrat.

Perhaps Palin could learn something from Jobs’ life.

In 1984, Steve Jobs was fired from Apple Computers.   Jobs later described that as one of the best things that happened to him.  Jobs went on to form a new computer company (NeXt) and bought what became Pixar.

Ultimately Jobs returned to Apple almost twelve years after he left, had the most productive time of his life and placed Apple Computers as the dominate computer company in the world.

Sarah Palin has a similar opportunity.

Much as Richard Nixon walked away for a period of time after he lost the 1960 election, Palin has the same opportunity.  She can regroup, rehabilitate her image among the greater public and then come back again in a few years.

Palin will have some role in this upcoming election.  She will eventually endorse a candidate for President and that will have some value.  She will probably make some endorsements in Senate and Congressional races, which will also have some value.  Her PAC will raise funds but probably not in the amounts it has in the past.

The days of Sarah Palin as the superstar of the conservative movement are gone.  At least for now.  Whether they come back is up to her.

By Judson Phillips on October 6, 2011 at 7:04am in Tea Party Nation Forum

Related:

Tammy Bruce & Jedediah Bila discuss Sarah Palin’s decision

Jedediah Bila joined Tammy Bruce on her NEW MEDIA radio broadcast today to discuss Sarah Palin’s decision not to run. Here is the audio excerpt of their discussion.

CLICK HERE FOR AUDIO

Apple Co-Founder Steve Jobs Dies at Age 56

Sarah Palin Will Not Run for President

Sarah Palin Will Not Run for President

In a statement to the Mark Levin radio show Wednesday evening, former Alaska governor Sarah Palin announced that she would not be running for president in 2012.

“I believe that at this time I can be more effective in a decisive role to help elect other true public servants to office – from the nation’s governors to Congressional seats and the Presidency,” she wrote in a statement to supporters. “Know that by working together we can bring this country back – and as I’ve always said, one doesn’t need a title to help do it.”

Along with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s decision to stay out, Palin’s announcement means the field is really set.

ABC News’ Polson Kanneth reports:

Sarah Palin will not run for president.  She made the announcement in a letter to supporters Wednesday night.

Read Palin’s letter here:

October 5, 2011
Wasilla, Alaska

After much prayer and serious consideration, I have decided that I will not be seeking the 2012 GOP nomination for President of the United States. As always, my family comes first and obviously Todd and I put great consideration into family life before making this decision. When we serve, we devote ourselves to God, family and country. My decision maintains this order.

My decision is based upon a review of what common sense Conservatives and Independents have accomplished, especially over the last year. I believe that at this time I can be more effective in a decisive role to help elect other true public servants to office – from the nation’s governors to Congressional seats and the Presidency. We need to continue to actively and aggressively help those who will stop the “fundamental transformation” of our nation and instead seek the restoration of our greatness, our goodness and our constitutional republic based on the rule of law.

From the bottom of my heart I thank those who have supported me and defended my record throughout the years, and encouraged me to run for President. Know that by working together we can bring this country back – and as I’ve always said, one doesn’t need a title to help do it.

I will continue driving the discussion for freedom and free markets, including in the race for President where our candidates must embrace immediate action toward energy independence through domestic resource developments of conventional energy sources, along with renewables. We must reduce tax burdens and onerous regulations that kill American industry, and our candidates must always push to minimize government to strengthen the economy and allow the private sector to create jobs.

Those will be our priorities so Americans can be confident that a smaller, smarter government that is truly of the people, by the people, and for the people can better serve this most exceptional nation.

In the coming weeks I will help coordinate strategies to assist in replacing the President, re-taking the Senate, and maintaining the House.

Thank you again for all your support. Let’s unite to restore this country!

God bless America.

– Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin Can Square the William F. Buckley and Rush Limbaugh Rules For a Republican Primary

Herman Cain's win in the "Presidency 5" straw poll in Florida on Saturday has reset much of the narrative concerning the 2012 Republican presidential contest. Here are some questions being asked. First, was Cain's victory a reflection of the general dissatisfaction Republicans feel toward purported front-runners Mitt Romney and Rick Perry? Second, could another candidate enter the presidential contest? Third, will the Republican primary contest be a battle between the William F. Buckley rule versus the Rush Limbaugh rule? 

If Republicans are indeed not enthused about Messrs. Perry and Romney, one candidate could be primed to enter the race who can square the Buckley rule of electing the most electable conservative with the Limbaugh rule of electing the most conservative person in the field. 

That candidate is former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. 

Buckley said that Republicans should elect the most electable conservative in the field. Often, Republicans  act as if Buckley said Republicans should elect the most electable "Republican" in the field and conflate "conservative" with "Republican." When that happens, Republicans nominate candidates such as George H.W. Bush in 1992, Bob Dole in 1996, and John McCain in 2008 who go on to lose in the general election. On the other hand, when Republicans just nominate the most conservative person in the race as they did with Christine O'Donnell in the Delaware Senatorial primary in 2010, they sometimes make it harder for the party to win. 

One recent national poll, though, suggests Palin could be a candidate who can fit the Limbaugh rule and the Buckley rule and not render those two rules to be mutually exclusive. 

In a reputable and unbiased McClatchy/Marist poll released last week, Palin trailed President Obama by just five percent, 49% to 44%. These numbers are most striking when just last month, Obama led Palin, 56% to 35%. Palin made up the difference and surged because she has won over independent voters and now leads Obama among those crucial swing voters. 

In August, Obama led among independent voters over Palin, 48% to 42%. Now, Palin leads Obama, 47% to 43%. Further, within her own party, Palin has strengthened her support among Tea Party voters, getting the support of 87% of those who support the Tea Part as opposed to just 70% in August. 

One reason Palin may have won over independent voters in the past month is that she brought up the issue of crony capitalism in multiple speeches and television appearances before Obama was hit with a bevy of crony capitalism scandals ranging from Solyndra to LightSquared. Further, Palin has also reached out to union workers and disaffected Democrats in Facebook notes and speeches with her free market populism that pits her against big government and crony capitalism. This is the strategy Reagan used to build his enduring coalition, which Palin seems to be trying to cobble back together for the 21st century, uniting blue collar voters -- white and minority -- who identify with Main Street over Wall Street and Washington, D.C.

In the same poll, Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney did better than Palin against Obama in a hypothetical general election match-up, keeping in mind that neither the Republican primary nor the general election is decided by a national popular vote. 

Giuliani led Obama, 49% to 42%. Among independents, Giuliani led, 51% to 37%. 

Romney was second best,  trailing Obama, 46% to 44%. Among independents, Romney led Obama, 44% to 40%. 

Perry, on the other hand, trailed Obama, 50% to 41%. Among independent voters, Perry and Obama were tied at 43% apiece. 

According to the same Marist poll, if Giuliani and Palin were to announce their candidacies, Perry would still garner the most support in a national sample of Republicans with 20%, followed by Giuliani with 14%, Palin and Romney with 13% apiece, with another 14% of the sample being undecided. 

Because Palin now beats Obama among swing voters and is almost within the margin of error against Obama (and is the only candidate who is surging against Obama), though, she has to be considered electable as well.

And while Giuliani and Romney do slightly better against Obama than Palin, both Giuliani and Romney are associated with the liberal, northeastern, Rockefeller wing of the Republican party and cannot claim to be more conservative than Palin. The only candidate among the top four who can claim to be more conservative than Giuliani or Romney would be Texas Gov. Rick Perry, but Palin does better against Perry not only against Obama but among  crucial independent voters.

Further, if "conservative" means "Tea Party" for this cycle, no candidate has embraced the principles associated with the Tea Party movement for the past two years than Palin and no candidate has fiercely attacked Obama's policies even when it was not popular to do so than Palin, so she would fit the Limbaugh rule as well. 

So if the hypothetical GOP field came down to Giuliani, Romney, Palin, and Perry, one can make the plausible argument that Palin is not only the most conservative candidate in the field but also the conservative candidate who has the best shot of defeating President Obama and winning over independents, rendering moot a potential battle between the Buckley and Limbaugh rules. 

Palin has said in the past that she would likely decide on a presidential run by the end of September, but most likely has until the end of October to do so. During the first week of October, she is scheduled to speak at a rally in Missouri, at Liberty University, and in South Korea.

The Long Lost Sarah Palin Emerged From Released Emails Victoriously. And Here is Why Sarah Can Win.  Palin is a survivor… Undefeated after all the attacks.

All eyes again will be on Palin. 

by  Tony Lee  -  09/25/2011  -  Human Events

Perry Leads but Romney Gaining in GOP Favorability… Cain’s 9 9 9 Plan… And Hillary and Palin???

The 2012 will be the most important election of our lifetime… maybe of the republic’s lifetime, is the estimation my most who are paying attention.  It is definitely the most fluid thus far and old rules and traditional protocol may no long apply.  Real Clear Politics featured Palin’s recent Hannity interview and video in an article on the 20th , Palin: Mark My Word, It Is Going To Be An Unconventional Election

In the Gallup poll below Perry, Cain and Giuliani are at the top.  In most polls the top 5 candidates are Rick Perry, Mitt Romney, Michelle Bachmann, Sarah Palin and Ron Paul… trading positions.

Perry Leads but Romney Gaining in GOP Favorability  -  by Lydia Saad  -  Originally posted on September 13, 2011

PRINCETON, NJ -- Rick Perry and Herman Cain continue to generate the most intensely positive favorable ratings from Republicans familiar with them in Gallup Daily tracking conducted over the past two weeks -- prior to Monday night's CNN/Tea Party Republican presidential debate in Florida. Perry's Positive Intensity Score of 24 is holding near the upper boundary of his scores since he entered the race, similar to the 25 recorded in the prior two weeks. Cain's 22, however, is on the low end of his recent scores, and down five percentage points since late August.

See all election 2012 data >

Mitt Romney is the only announced candidate whose Positive Intensity Score has improved significantly in recent weeks. His current 16 is up from 11 in late August and is his highest rating since mid-July, thus narrowing the gap with Perry. Rudy Giuliani, who has yet to decide if he will run, still edges out Romney with an 18.

Sarah Palin and Michele Bachmann have seen significant declines in their Positive Intensity Scores since late August. Palin, who has also not decided whether to run, is down six points, from 16 to 10, and Bachmann is down three points, from 13 to 10. Both women are now at new lows for the year, with Bachmann's score cut in half since early August.

Newt Gingrich's score remains slightly better than the low single digits he registered for most of the summer, but shows no signs of recovering to the mid-teens, where he was when he entered the race earlier this year. Ron Paul's 7 score is consistent with his readings since early June.

Gallup computes Positive Intensity Scores by subtracting the percentage of Republicans with highly unfavorable views of each candidate from the percentage with highly favorable views, based on those who say they have heard of the candidate. The results are reported on the basis of continuous two-week rolling averages. The Aug. 29-Sept. 11 field period for the latest results includes four days of interviewing after the Sept. 7 Republican presidential debate held at the Ronald Reagan Library.

Palin and Giuliani Remain the Biggest Names

Despite missing out on the media attention brought by participation in candidate debates like those recently held in Tampa and Simi Valley, Palin and Giuliani remain the most well-known of the 10 possible Republican presidential candidates Gallup tracks. Ninety-seven percent of Republicans nationwide say they are familiar with Palin and 89% with Giuliani.

With roughly 84% to 86% name recognition among Republicans, Gingrich, Romney, and Bachmann all now approach the high recognition Giuliani enjoys, while Paul is not far behind with 81%. Perry still lags on this measure, recognized by 75%, but that is after an early August surge in recognition from his initial 55% reading. Perry is well ahead of Rick Santorum (54%), Herman Cain (48%), and Jon Huntsman (46%).

Galup is one of the better polls, but we all know you can alter results by just changing a word or two in a couple questions.  The McClatchy Poll Results: Poll: Obama expected to lose but still tops any Republican one-on-one  There are several polls, including the Fox News Poll that show that if the election were today, Romney would/could beat Obama.

Bottom Line

With just under five months remaining before Republican primary voters start casting ballots for the 2012 Republican nomination, Perry continues to generate more positive intensity from Republicans who know him than any other announced or potential candidate Gallup tracks. This is particularly notable because Perry has managed to maintain a strong Positive Intensity Score as his recognition among Republicans has expanded from 55% in July to 75% today. Romney, however, remains better known, and has recently seen his sagging Positive Intensity Score rebound, although he still lags significantly behind Perry on this measure.

The news is not as good for Bachmann, who has lost much of the passionate support she generated as recently as early August. Positive intensity for Palin among national Republicans has also slipped to a new low for the year.

Republicans' views of Paul, Gingrich, Santorum, and Huntsman all seem to be in a holding pattern at levels seemingly keeping these men out of serious contention for the nomination. Huntsman does particularly poorly in Republicans' eyes, and is the only candidate tracked whose Positive Intensity Score is a net negative, meaning that more Republicans who know him have a strongly unfavorable opinion than have a strongly favorable opinion.

Cain continues to be an anomaly, scoring high in positive intensity among those who know him, yet unable to push his recognition above the 50% level, and scoring low in trial-heat ballot measures.

With three more debates between now and mid-October, all of the candidates will have an opportunity to change their images among Republicans. They all certainly tried to advance their positions in the recent debates, and the extent to which they were successful should be evident in Gallup's Sept. 5-18 positive intensity update.

Track every angle of the presidential race on Gallup.com's Election 2012 page.

Survey Methods

Results are based on telephone interviews conducted as part of Gallup Daily tracking Aug. 29-Sept. 11, 2011, with random samples of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Questions asking about the 10 potential candidates measured in this research were rotated among randomly selected samples of Republicans each night; over the 14-day period (with no interviewing on Labor Day, Sep. 5), each candidate was rated by a minimum of 1,400 Republicans and Republican-leaning independents.

For the overall ratings of each potential candidate among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, including recognition scores, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error is ±3 percentage points. For the Positive Intensity Score for each candidate, the maximum margin of sampling error varies depending on the size of the group recognizing the candidate.

Interviews are conducted with respondents on landline telephones and cellular phones, with interviews conducted in Spanish for respondents who are primarily Spanish-speaking. Each sample includes a minimum quota of 400 cell phone respondents and 600 landline respondents per 1,000 national adults, with additional minimum quotas among landline respondents by region. Landline telephone numbers are chosen at random among listed telephone numbers. Cell phone numbers are selected using random-digit-dial methods. Landline respondents are chosen at random within each household on the basis of which member had the most recent birthday.

Samples are weighted by gender, age, race, Hispanic ethnicity, education, region, adults in the household, and phone status (cell phone only/landline only/both, cell phone mostly, and having an unlisted landline number). Demographic weighting targets are based on the March 2010 Current Population Survey figures for the aged 18 and older non-institutionalized population living in U.S. telephone households. All reported margins of sampling error include the computed design effects for weighting and sample design.

In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.

Source: www.gallup.com.

Herman Cain's 9 9 9 plan  -  Lori Ann Smith

I haven't really decided who I'm voting for in the primaries. I know, I'm from Texas, so it's supposed to be either Rick Perry or Ron Paul, right? Well, I'm afraid of all the Ron Paul Zombies, even though I agree with about 80% of what Ron Paul says. I don't think I like his international ideas. I'm not sure how I feel about Rick Perry yet. I think the only way I'd vote for either of these is if they won the Republican nomination. Anyone is better than Obama, but I said that 3 years ago. Even if Rick Perry turns out to be a RINO, he can't do more damage than Obama has done in the past couple or more years.

I am really leaning toward Herman Cain. Yes, I know, I'm a white, conservative Republican, I'm supposed to be racist. And I'm not like a liberal who is voting for the black man to make myself feel good or prove I'm not a racist. If Herman Cain won as President, we'd really have our first Black President. Obama is half black. We'd also have a patriot instead of a Marxist.

But, anyway, I just heard Herman Cain discuss his 9 9 9 plan, and I like it. I wanted to tell you why. First, here's the plan: From his article found at http://hermancaincommentary.blogspot.com/2011/08/mr-president-youre-fired-but-if-you.html
__________________
A 9% business flat tax. Gross income less all investments, all purchases from other businesses, and all dividends paid to shareholders.
A 9% individual income flat tax. Gross income less charitable deductions.
A 9% national sales tax. This significantly expands the tax base, which helps everyone.
This plan has the following advantages:
It is fair, revenue-neutral, transparent and efficient.
It puts zero tax on capital gains and repatriated profits.
It replaces the payroll tax.
It will aid capital availability for small businesses.
It saves taxpayers $430 billion in annual compliance costs.
It eliminates the uncertainty holding this economy down.
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The individual income tax would lower everyone who currently pays taxes (not counting the 47% who get all their taxes back or more). It may harm those who get more back, because the only deduction would be charitable contributions. That means you don't get paid by the government just because you have 8 kids. You don't get any earned income credit because you chose to work part of the year, but not enough to actually have to file. It will eliminate the attitude of "Oh, I can get by with a part time job, because I can sit on my butt the other half and get earned income credit to make it up. You put out money, and get to take it off your taxes. We're currently in the 15% tax bracket, 25% if you would happen to count his retirement check. So, that's about $5000 now. The retirement check doesn't all count right now, but it does lower how much we get back because we have to live on it. I think the difference was something like %1700, because I forgot to add it at first. At 9% it would be between $3000 and $4800 if they counted the whole retirement check. I believe it would closer to $3500-4000.

The corporate tax is also a flat tax. Small business owners will still be basically taxed twice if they own their own business, but they'll know how much and you get deductions (even for share holders).

He doesn't say it, but the flat national sales tax on new items would catch the illegal aliens, the foreign investors, any legal visitor who buys things here. Unless that's what he meant about expanding the tax base. That's a pay as you go. If you don't want to pay the tax, buy used. I go to thrift stores a lot. There are some really nice ones. And if you consider that a charitable contribution or keep it one), the "rich" will donate more of their clothes in order to get that deduction. I got a pair of beaded capri's that still had the original tag on it ($120) for something like $5. But if he rich don't want to buy used, they have to buy new and pay 9% national sales tax. That theoretically should satisfy the liberals who don't want the rich to have nice things, or to pay more because they have more. If they aren't willing to pay the sales tax, they too are able to shop at thrift stores. It will also eliminate those like Buffett who are trying to get out of millions in taxes, while at the same time saying people just like them should pay more. You want to pay more? Either don't give charitable donation, or don't claim them. You don't have to claim deductions.

I know this sounded like a commercial for Herman Cain, but like I said, I haven't really made up my mind yet. There are points I agree with from all the candidates, it's just that this is the first simple plan I've seen.

What I think they should all agree on, is that whoever wins the nomination (and they all agree to stay in until all primaries are done), appoints all the other nominees into the cabinet. We could use people like all those running (except Huntsman, I don't believe at all he's conservative). I'm sure they could find some small cabinet appointment for him, though.

LoriAnn at  America’s Voice Corps

Palin and Bachmann are at poll lows in most polls right now (the media rallied and circled the wagons to attack Bachman over the Gardasil issue… even though she was right on the ‘bigger issue’) but both could and probably will come back! This upcoming debate is an important one and time is growing near for the holdouts to decide!!  Palin gave an excellent interview on the Fox this week (see above) and her poll numbers are rising again without being an officially declared candidate.  The Movie about Palin, Undefeated, is airing on cable TV this month.  She made the point that this election year will be different than any other and that there will be people coming in and out until the very end… perhaps even on the Democratic side.  And most believe that a primary battle on the left would be a good thing overall!

Poll Grounds Obama Losing Ground to Republicans  -  Palin within 5 points of Obama without being in the race

BTW… President Obama is now referencing Sarah Palin’s “Hopey Changey” Rhetoric and liberal commentator and civil rights activist Mike Myers referenced Palin in a positive way on the Hannity show last night.

 

--> Video: Call For Hillary Clinton To Run Against Obama For 2012 Presidential Nomination  -  A Frightening thought…  <--

From Obama to Hillary. From the frying pan into the fire. Only difference between Hillary and Obama is that Hillary is not a puppet to the globalists. She IS a globalist.

Hillary is just as connected to George Soros as is Obama… she is just more equal in status.  Plus Hillary is smarter than Obama!

If you haven’t, read: The Shadow Party

Ask Marion~