Guest writer John Phillips: For Republicans in 2012, it's Sarah Palin or another big fat L

Palin for Prez?

Somebody asked me the other day who the Republicans should plop atop their presidential ticket next year. And I said, Sarah Palin.

Before you look at your computer the same way you looked at the television when Charlie Sheen enlightened you on the meaning of 'Winning' and 'tiger blood,' hear me out.

I was put under the gun (if you're still allowed to use that phrase) on Sean Hannity's Great American Panel on the Fox News Channel.  Upon further reflection, I think I'm more right today than I was when I spontaneously cheer-leaded for the former Alaska governor on national television.

Here's the theory:

The incumbent President, in virtually all cases, is a heavy favorite for reelection. 

In the last 80 years, only two democratically elected U.S. presidents have been....

...defeated for a second term –- Jimmy Carter in 1980 and George H.W. Bush in 1992.  In both cases, each man faced a strong challenge in the primary,  Sen. Ted Kennedy for Carter and televangelist Pat Robertson for Bush. (Yeh, yeh, I know; 1992 was the other Pat, Pat Buchanan.)

And also both had credible third party challengers in the general election, John Anderson in 1980 and H. Ross Perot in 1992.

  There is no indication that any disaffected Democrat is plotting a run against President Obama in the primary. And we're even less likely to see a credible third party challenger in November next year.

While it's true that New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg keeps mumbling about mounting a third party billionaire's bid, he's not tall enough to ride the ride.

This being the scenario, the Republicans have zero chance of winning the 2012 presidential election themselves.

For the GOP to win, Obama needs to lose.

Gas needs to be at  $6.00 a gallon. Unemployment needs to be over 10% and climbing. Vice President Joe Biden needs to be replaced on the ticket with Snooki. The country needs to be going to hell at 100 mph on very expensive gasoline -- and foreign tires.

If Obama loses, it almost doesn't matter who the Republicans nominate -- they will win.

So, if that's your road map for victory, why not nominate someone who will deliver exactly what you want?

When Starbucks screws up your order and gives you a coupon for a free drink, you don't go for the plain tall, non-fat extra hot latte. You splurge on the venti caramel macchiato with an extra espresso shot.  Hell, you might even make it Irish. 

When you have a free pass, you can splurge. In fact, you're crazy not to.

If Obama blows it, the GOP can splurge.

This is the Republican Party's best shot at sneaking in an actual true blue authentic conservative, who can take on all of Washington's sacred cows and then become the most vilified person in the country.

The man for that job is Sarah Palin.

Would a President Huckabee put his office and popularity on the line to take on the highly unpopular, yet urgently necessary issue of entitlement reform?  Not likely.

  Could you see a President Romney taking the risk of being vilified as a xenophobic racist by demanding an enforcement first approach to illegal immigration?  No way, Jose.

How about a President Mitch Daniels going up to Alaska and drilling for oil like a crazed dentist? Good luck.

Sarah Palin? Check. Check. Check.

Is there a chance she'd get blown out in one of the most lop-sided shellackings in electoral history?

You betcha.

Maybe even a strong chance.

But if your strategy is to settle for a candidate who will lose with dignity, well, then that's the outcome you're sure to get.

-- John Phillips

Strangely enough, a man named John Phillips hosts “The John Phillips Show” on Talk Radio 790 KABC in Los Angeles, which can be heard weeknights from 6 to 10 p.m. Pacific.  Outside Southern California, his show is available live online at KABC.com  Also follow Phillips on Twitter  @JohnnyDontLike

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Photo: Mario Tama / Getty Images; Rebecca Cook / Reuters

Comments

[Carlton West]

Hard-charging hottie Gov. Sarah Palin is easily the most interesting, exciting, and attractive potential candidate out there, from any Party.

[Janeway]

Sarah Palin is a lovely lady and I like and admire her but I do not want her to be President! Palin is "our" Obama - a popular figure that speaks in generalities and is most attractive. I hope Romney does not run as he is the type of person we need for President but I'm sure he will be not entertaining enough and will be rejected for not being perfect. Complex and serious people are generally not perfect. We nominate "feel good" Sarah and will have Obama for another 4 years and we will deserve him. God help this country.

[Zandar the space alien]

Your big business and republicans will keep the economy tanked on purpose. They won't hire a lot. On purpose. They won't loan well. On purpose. The wealthy class of humans don't want Obama succeeding. A brown human cannot be in charge. They will do their best to have the 6$ gas you talk about. Why even destabilize the middle east. They are destroying your currencies, because' that's where the money is'. By forcing you all to chase commodities, they are getting you to 'buy' in to destroying the sum ( your paper money) of your life's savings and labor, the last 40 years of your working lives. They are sucking your property dry. Your currency dry. Don't give up on 40 years of paper money that was your life's work. Fight hard for it. BELIEVE IN IT. Don't let the devaluer's devalue. It's an economic, mathematical trick by your ruling class. It's not the first time. Pharaoh is alive and well. We'll be seeing you all soooon.

[student14]

I agree and that is one way of putting it.

Obama has a a strong chance at reelection and the media is in his back pocket for very easy access. Whoever is nominated will be demonized, smeared, attacked, etc. The man for the job in 2012 is indeed Sarah Palin. The others haven't been able to stand in the kitchen long enough to withstand the heat.

Besides, she's the best person for the job. As a woman, I proudly support her. I hope she runs.

Palin/West 2012

[Mike Cappy]

John you are spot on! I agree there is not a GOP candidate that could create a serious challenge to BHO in 2012. However I believe (and it is my hope) you missed one other possibility and that is another Ross Perot. If some dark horse came off the range and entered the presidential rodeo I think he or she could upset the program and he or she would not have to be that good because the majority of American people had enough of the two political parties and would overwhelmingly favor a different style of horsemanship. What do you think? In the mean time I will try and find an entry that could ride to victory and get back to you.

[Marc Danziger]

John, as your token liberal friend, I ought to be cheering this on.

But I'm not. Because while a Palin candidacy would be one of the most entertaining - ever! - it wouldn;t just be her loss, it would be all the downballot losses in the Congress and states.

And, because I'm a reprobate liberal, I like the idea of forcing the state Democratic parties to wean themselves from the public worker labor teat and actually start representing working people and the poor. That's going to require a strong Republican movement at the local level - which would get washed away like salmon guts on a trawler deck in the campaign you're wishing for.

Want to rethink that one?

[PhilipJames]

As you say, anyone other than Sarah Palin would just be a continuation of the same old, same old corruption, butt kissing, money grubbing bunch that inhabits Washington.
I agree.... she would be fearless and I agree... she would be attacked by both the Democrats and Republicans... because she would go after them both.
Lets deal with a phony reality that is out there by liberal spin mysters that Sarah Palin quit as Governor. That characterization is so wrong.
When Sarah Palin left office, the facts were simple...
She was facing continuing phony ethics complaints (all but one dismissed as bull crap with her agreeing to reimburse the State on one for about $6k for taking her family with her during campaign, she did not have to do that, she did it so the haters would not have any ammunition) that were bankrupting her (legal bills of over $500k on a $125k per yr salary) - the Republican Party having reneged on helping pay her legal bills; the State of Alaska spending millions in salaries and wasted time refuting those phony ethics complaints; Sean Parnell, her Lt. Governor ready to take over and keep advancing her programs (note that he easily got re-elected in Alaska); and her not wanting the Democrat funded haters to win. I hope everyone noticed that just in the last year, Alaska changed the ethics complaints process so that the person who filed one actually had some financial liability if it was a bull crap complaint and that the State would pay for the Governor's legal bills now. Interesting they did that, eh?
She came down to the Lower 48, rallied Conservatives, gave the Tea Party Movement national exposure and support, hit Obama hard with "death panels" and her posts on Facebook and speaking engagements around the US, supported Conservative candidates, raised a lot of money for Republicans, etc..... all things she could not have done if she stayed in Alaska.
The most telling thing she said when she left the Governorship was this...
"politically speaking -- if I die, I die. So be it"
She is the only politician around right now who would do the right thing... and for liberals, keep in mind she had a 80% plus approval in Alaska before the nomination forced Democrats to attack her there... she went after anyone who was screwing with the public, including Republicans, and the Democrats worked really well with her. So, she will work with anyone who is doing the right thing for the taxpayers and voters... and not kiss the rings of the elites, the money boys, the behind the scenes players and the corrupt system in Washington.

[Robert Bradshaw]

Mr. Malcolm:

You do have an interesting outlook on the GOP side on who may be the best choice for the 2012 Presidential run. Categorically you have run down the top three items that most of our current political leaders, from both sides of the isle, have absolutely no courage to tackle. They would rather wait for favorable poll numbers that would support actions "after the fact" of possible national tragedy. Such performance is not leadership -

Based on your scenario, consider this:

1. Yes - leave all entitlements "as is" until the country is bankrupt, then how are you going to support the less fortunate when the checks sent to them bounce.

2. Yes - don't drill for oil on American soil...so what what happens if the middle east uprising becomes so hot that their oil production comes to a halt. Having to park our personal vehicles will be bad enough, but what happens to the commercial fleet that delivers the goods and services that drive our economy? Offer to fill-up a trucker's diesel fuel tanks who may be delivering produce to your local grocery store just to be nice.

3. Yes - leave border security alone...so what happens when half the population of an American city is wiped out from some sinister attack with weapons of mass destruction snuck over a border.

If Sarah Palin has the courage to lead - then maybe your choice will work out after all.

[affableman]

If you like ignorant wackos then yes, she's your gal. If you want a better country, well the Republicans have nothing to offer on that point.

[Gaijinjoy]

Sarah Palin would lose with dignity? Is there some use of sarcasm here that I'm not picking up on?

[NickG]

Yes! President Palin is the only one I trust to triple border security and deport all the illegal Mexicans. Americans are tired of having all their tax dollars go to welfare recepients. Palin's the only one on our side and the only one with the cajones to take the Blood Libel media screeches of raaacism and do what's right for We the People.

[James Felder]

Is this a joke? Sarah Palin is a "true blue authentic conservative"? So, conservatives fight for bridges to nowhere (then openly lie about it later), use their governmental power to pursue personal vendettas (small government anyone?), and quit their post when the going gets tough? Do true blue conservatives avoid tough questions and real interviews because they know they will be exposed as not truly understanding policy implications? Do true blue conservatives talk one game but walk another?

Yea, I guess you're right....they do.
Palin/Bachmann '12.

[Brendan D]

This column is an absolute joke. Barry Goldwater was an authentic conservative who got shellacked with dignity. Sarah Palin is a money-grubbing populist half-term governor who has no leadership skills and even less authenticity as a true-blue conservative. Talk about proving that the GOP isn't about conservatism anymore... What a laughable column, Mr. Phillips. If you honestly believe this, you're not a conservative, because you don't even know what being conservative actually means; you're just another populist Republican. Good luck with that.

[Wick]

It was actually Pat Buchanan who went to New Hampshire and took 37% of the vote in Bush-friendly New England. Buchanan garnered almost one in four primary votes and tainted the Republican Convention with his "culture war" speech.

[donsmith7777]

Half-term, half-wit Sarah Palin's career would be over in half an hour in a jumble of word salad gibberish were she ever to appear on "Meet the Press", "Face the Nation" or "This Week."

Palin also doesn't have enough palms and Sharpies to appear in that press conference she's never had since her 2008 nomination.

She won't have a news conference because she’s afraid someone might ask her to point out Alaska on the map.

[Martin]

This is one of the most irresponsable posts i've ever read. The woman is simply not qualified to be president. I'm not even talking about executive experience (a yoke she shrugged off mid-term when last burdened with it) but more in terms of simple capacity. She is neither intelligent nor capable enough to assume the office of the presidency. If that sounds elitist, fine. I want the president of the united states to be elite. And even if you throw the issue of qualification out the window, there is the matter of her politics. Despite what the lust-struck hoards of pasty, middle-aged republican men have said ad-nauseum, her ideology is not a traditionally conservative one. She's a nativist and a true religious fundamentalist- her values are not America's value. But moreover, the notion that, if the Republicans are unlikely to win the presidency, they should act like a crazed gambler with nothing to lose, is both preposterous and offensive. A major American political party has the obligation to nominate serious candidates- ESPECIALLY for the presidency. The logic you employ here- that faced with unfavorable prospects, the GOP ought to swing for the fences and nominate the most extreme, sensationalistic candidate possible is a recipe for the party obsolescence. Beyond the fact that it assumes the complete absense of a moderate party wing, it also dismisses the concept of "electability" as a purely political trait. Candidates are deemed "electable", yes, by superficial and political factors, but also by a general sense that they're in the strike zone of centrist American values. Otherwise capable men and women have been dismissed as "unelectable" unfairly, to be sure, but when one is tagged with that label, it often is deserved. In Sarah Palin's case, it's because her vision for America is well outside the scope of most Americans'.

[tanstaafl]

Palin is a Trenta, not a Venti.

[jdcofield]

Pat Buchanan challenged Bush for the GOP nomination in 1992, not Robertson.

[Jay]

Yes, Yes, Yes! No more mushy Republicans, please! The pro-government crowd is as scared of her as they were of Reagan. She's not Reagan, but she's good in her own way.

[Rev G. Trask]

And what about the down-ballot candidates? This approach likely means they'll be taking a bath on Election Day, especially in swing districts. Do you honestly think the GOP party bosses are going to go along w/this?

[TimPundit]

Yes.

I agree that the Republicans are darn good at putting themselves ahead of the country. So they'll be wise to nominate a confirmed idiot with barely a GED and penchant for tabloid catfights just in case Obama "loses"? No matter the consequences for the country.

Good one. Thank you for not disappointing me or shattering any image problems your party has.

[LisaB2595]

Well, if Sarah Palin is the nominee I guess I'll have to vote Democrat for the second time in my life.

I lived five years in AK, from 2002 to 2007. I didn't vote for her for governor either. I need a little more ethics and intelligence and less interest in pi$$ing matches in the people I vote for.

[idesign]

Palin 2012/2016

[Darren]

As interesting as John Phillips' theory is, I believe he is mistaken. I do not believe Barack Obama is re-electable. The country is going to hell in a hand basket at 100 mph. He cannot win Ohio again. I'm not even sure he could carry Wisconsin. Lyndon Johnson would have been the third Democrat to lose reelection if he had run. I'd gladly walk barefoot through a blizzard this next time around with a smile on my face to vote for even a moderate Republican even though I couldn't bring myself to vote for John McCain. America is in a malaise and we're broke. Obama goes around the world bowing to foreign dignitaries and making an ass out of himself apologizing for America. No way to a second term.

[Laura]

I agree with everything you said; however, I will add in one more predictions: Pawlenty will be her VP. After she is done with the 4 years of all- out, drag- down fights, he is the perfect personality to carry out her policies after she heads home to Alaska. She will not run for reelection, allowing her to get a full 4 years in, and he should be in a position to give us 8; with a total of 12 in all. As much as she like 'going rogue', she is a team player with her eyes on the bigger picture.
If you are interested in more opinions from a grassroots level in the heartland of America, please feel free to find our page, Pieces of the Puzzle, and 'like', 'share', 'repost', and invite friends. All is appreciated. You can find us here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pieces-of-the-Puzzle/190920557595529?ref=ts

[Michael]

Two things. First, a look at what may be the seminal theory of our time, the Crazification Factor:

"Obama vs. Alan Keyes. Keyes was from out of state, so you can eliminate any established political base; both candidates were black, so you can factor out racism; and Keyes was plainly, obviously, completely crazy. Batshit crazy. Head-trauma crazy. But 27% of the population of Illinois voted for him. They put party identification, personal prejudice, whatever ahead of rational judgement. Hell, even like 5% of Democrats voted for him. That's crazy behaviour. I think you have to assume a 27% Crazification Factor in any population."

Second, this recent Bloomberg poll:

http://media.bloomberg.com/bb/avfile/rNspPKk8OJfA

Sarah Palin, former governor of Alaska:

Very Favorable: 9

Mostly Favorable: 19

Mostly Unfavorable: 22

Very Unfavorable: 38

Not Sure: 12

I'd say "Welcome to Crazytown," Mr. Phillips, but as I see you're guest blogging for Andrew Malcolm, there's no need. You're obviously already comfortable here.

[Cotton Picker]

REELECT PRESIDENT PALIN IN 2016

[bda616]

According to the latest Bloomberg poll, a record 6 of 10 people view Palin unfavorably. So, speaking as a Democrat who occasionally visits this house of horrors of a blog, by all means, please, nominate Sarah Palin and let me know what I can do to help make that happen.

[Max]

To all the comments from obama voters / supporters:

you voted for a lemon, a turkey, a complete buffoon! You bought into the messiah crap, he would change the world, post partician and post racial. HE IS THE EXTREME OPPOSITE!! THE WORLD IS BURNING! GLOBAL RIOTS!!!!

So when you clowns insult Palin THANK YOU. What ever thought, idea or opinion crosses those little niave gullible brains GO WITH THE OPPOSITE.

[Gloria Gibbons]

I am so amazed when I hear people say that Sarah Palin does not have enough experience. And they voted for Obama! Look at history. Look at our own American history record. I agree you need to have more experience than a community organizer, professional politician and a college degree and some time in front of a college class on a subject you are better at making speaches about than practicing, but really.....how do you get experience being President unless you are one. Sarah makes more sense in one paragraph, and has shown more back bone in the last 2+ years since she became "targeted" by the media than the leader we now have. I will pray that Mr. Obama finds the courage to do what is necessary and right for ALL Americans, but I will vote for Sarah Palin should she decide to run.

[Lisa Tyler]

I am all in for Sarah Palin!

[falling]

Palin/West 2012
In American presidential elections, the VP candidate has traditionally been the attack dog and the Pres. candidate plays the statesman. West has not been shy about taking the fight to Obama and as a conservative, black America who served honorably in the military, he would be able to draw in the votes of black American's, especially southerners, who are disillusioned with Obama. West would be comfortable drawing the heat, leaving Palin to showcase her very real executive experience and get the word out about her successes in Alaska. And there were MANY such sucesses...the media will not be able to hide them forever. Now will they be able to spin, lie and cover for Obama's many failures as each day brings more proof that he was simply not prepared to handle the job when he was elected.

[Girl with the bushy armpits]

If Obama is unbeatable in 2012,the US senate is winnable by republicans.The
house will remain republican as well.I worship Sarah Palin,but the media has
done such an effective demonizing job on her that I fear taking the risk of loosing not only
the presidency but also the house and the senate.A strong republican house
and senate would leave no other choice for Obama to get along and go along.
The man is likeable and smart but he is no fighter , his chronic indecision
and confusion would permit the realization of most of the conservative agenda
as well as putting the republicans in the driver's seat for the 2016 pres.race.

[Moderate conservative]

Mr Phillips is quite an entertainer but just an amateur political strategist.How
could he leave out gov. Chris Christie ? Never say never !

[THM]

You are right that the economy needs to be in the toilet and unemployment in the stratosphere to give the Republicans a chance at winning. Like Boehner said, his number 1 priority is defeating the president for re-election. Now doesn't that provide the most cogent explanation for why they are trying to eliminate the contribution of federal, state and local government spending to the continuing economic recovery?

[nexialist]

Sarah Palin has more political courage in her pinkie than the rest of the dwarfs combined. Moreover, fiscal conservatives need to continue with the priority of changing the corrupt culture of the Congress, and Palin will energize that effort.

[hillery]

Palin supports the tea-party platform:

1 Lower the deficit and debt.

2 Job creation--private--not govt.

3 Secure the border before a path to citizenship.

4 Energy independence.

5 National security.

No wonder the lefties hate her. They don't support the same platform.

[Rick Geiger]

I agree, but I am actually more confident that Palin can actually defeat Obama, that it is not that he must lose it. Palin is heads and shoulders above the rest of the crowd who are, basically, merely politicians. Palin is a game changer and that is exactly what the corruptocracy in DC needs to get the US back in track

[loveitorleaveit]

If you voted for Obama, you no credibility to demean Sarah Palin for intelligence, length of time in office, success in leading a government administration or character.

Obama won't release his college transcripts so you don't know just smart he is. Obama was Senator "Present" and served 144 before basically quitting to run for President. Obama has never had any experience running a government before becoming President and we can tell by what a poor manager he is. Obama's character can be summed up as the "abortion president". How proud he must be to support the death of a delivered baby. What a great human being.

Sarah Palin would run circles around Obama just as she did with Biden. The democrats are scared to death of her so they must deflect the issue and attack her personally.

[Jane]

Seriously John, did you honestly have to go and make every liberal thinking mind in Southern California explode this morning. Their poor little brains still can't wrap their heads around the fact that Wisconsin just educated the rest of the 49 states on how to clamp down on the Unions monopoly on extorting taxpayer money in order to prop up the democratic party. With all you mentioned, like rising gas prices, high umployment, etc. the liberals are finding it hard enough to come up with significant arguments to defend the current POTUS....they don't need your logic and reason to push them further toward the edge. They prefer to live safe and sound within their comfort zone of believing the POTUS has every right to sit on the sidelines while the middle east boils, he has every right to support labor unions and protect his democratic base money-making machine, he has every right to vacation, golf, throw parties, etc. while Americans try to figure out how to save their homes as more and more companies let go of employees due to the looming costs of Healthcare Reform. So, please John, no more logic and reason....it's just way too much for our liberals friends to handle during these difficult times.

[Dave]

It's Palin for me and NO one else. She needs to get get West as her VP and together they will defeat the socialists here at home and the plague on humanity (also known as islam) abroad.

[Mac1000]

You miss an important point.
The reason WHY there was a strong third party challenge was because the sitting president, especially in Carter's case, was monumentally unpopular.

Just because no one mounts the 3rd party, doesn't mean Obama isn't monumentally unpopular. He could easily lose without the third party challenger. In fact, I'd venture to say he will only WIN if they can find a third party candidate that will cut into the Republican vote.

Gas prices don't have to go to six dollars. $4 will be plenty thanks. and unemployment...no matter how the numbers get fudged...is a huge, dragging problem. 8 or 9 percent is enough to have an army of resentful voters blaming Obama.
Throw in the Middle East on fire. Two wars we can't afford. The dollar crashing. A stinking trillion here and there in staggering debt. Money vanishing--hobbling the bottomless pit of Union coffers--that will happen once union members are released from their oppressive dues to fund candidates they don't even vote for and it's a perfect storm.

I'm thinkin' this election is NOT going to be FOR a Republican so much as against Obama. Which means almos any Republican has a very good chance of winning against a president who deals with all these problems by voting PRESENT instead of leading, then throwing another party at the White House.

[CrusaderPatriot]

Obama is absolutely the worse President in history and despite the outrageous liberal media bias in his favor, he will be defeated by virtually anyone who runs against him, including Palin.

[voted against carter]

SARAH PALIN / (Fill in the Blank) 2012!!!!!!!!

Something to consider;

Note; this principal ALSO applies to the OLD 
republican establishment
(Bush’s, etc)

You can tell when the LEFT REALLY IS scared
of a Republican by the amount of vitriol their TROLLS spew.

The MORE they SPEW,…

the MORE terrified they are the of the Republican 
being able to beat
their Dumb-O-cRAT candidate.

Sarah Palin is the PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THIS,
as is Michele Bachmann.

Sarah Palin SCARES the we-we out of the
Leftwing-Nut, Libratard, Progressive, Dumb-O-cRAT Party,…

Because,..

Wait for it,…

They KNOW Sarah Palin IS electable,…

AND IF she runs against barry in 2012,…

She WILL CRUSH him with indisputable numbers.

(44 or 48 state, LANDSLIDE. Barry will MAYBE get
IL & MI plus possibly MA, Hawaii, NY, & CA)

So they MUST do EVERYTHING possible to DESTROY her 

AND her supporters BEFORE this becomes too apparent.

Unfortunately for them, it seems the cats out of the bag,…

and it IS too late.

Their attempt to link her to the Tucson AZ shooting
exposed them to everyone for the Liars that they are.

[Michael Carr]

As a non-American observing the US scene from the outside, let me venture my 'take' on the presidential stakes for 2012. Observing the endless side swiping directed at Palin by the GOP establishment and GOP 'insiders' (the Bushes, Roves, Frums, etc) and their media allies (Rubin, Parker, Brooks, Will, etc), together with the unrelenting and venomous onslaught by the American (and European) Left, I can draw only one conclusion. The GOP guys know in their hearts that should she run, she will sweep the nomination and the Left know to their dread that in the general election that she can start a praire fire that will sweep away the Obama presidency. She will go through Washinton like a dose of salts.

I also find it amusing that anyone who takes the trouble to examine her record can regard her as 'unqualified'. She has as fine or finer record as any of the other GOP hopefuls, particularly in economic and fiscal matters. She also has a very fine record of across the isle bipartisanship. And try as I might in studying their past careers, I have so far failed to uncover any record of substantive achievement by either Barrack Obama or Hillary Clinton. They are at best media/marketing contructs. I find their economic and foreign policy ineptitude frightening.

[le pelerin]

Rediculious to run Sarah Palin. That would be called suicide. Even she, I hope, would know that. Let's get some new blood in there.

[SethJ]

LOL at all these pro-Palin comments. She's last in the polls in Iowa, South Carolina and New Hampshire. Those are Republican Polls by the way...

She doesn't even rank on CPAC polls, she's unpopular in her own state and she gets laughed at by other anchors on Fox News.

C'mon people. Get a clue.

[Michael Carr]

With regard to the 'favourable/unfavourable' poll numbers on Palin which often show her unfavorables at 50/60%, this must be understood in the context of over two year unrelenting and vile distortion by a malicious media. Obama often has unfavourables of close to 50% in spite of the same media slobering uncritically over him like lovesick schoolgirls. It is only a matter of time that this will change.

[willegge]

Hey Michael, if you actually think the recent Bloomberg poll in reality means anything or is legitimate in anyway, just over one thousand polled, really? I want to welcome you to crazy town. I don't have to welcome you to crazy town , liberals live there. If Palin runs she will win.

[Celia]

I respect Sarah Palin........but I do not want her as President. I think she did a much better job as Gov. of Alaska than Obama did as Senator in IL. You google the history if you don't know. Both left their elected jobs. I understand why she did, the liberals was robbing her in court. Obama just saw he had a chance to move up, the door was open as it was in college for him to become editor of the school paper. He is no leader. The only things he has done right since moving into the white house are the things Bush implemented when he was in office. "taxes" "gitmo" and anything else Bush did. Obama can follow pretty good. We all learn to follow the leader as kids.
This man has messed up everything he has put his hands on. Look at the stimulus...free cars....and all the other freebies.......IF HE WINS IN 2012...........America should be ashamed.