Politico: GOP's New Mission -- Stop Palin

[xavier110]

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1010/44449.html

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[Oswald Acted Alone, You Kook]

I want to stop Palin too, but I don't know anyone besides Romney that could.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Middle-aged, inoffensive, calm, mid-western Man.

That's my biggest fear...

[Mr. Morden]

Middle-aged, inoffensive, calm, mid-western Man.

That's my biggest fear...

That's weird.  Mine is killer asteroids.

[Psychic Octopus]

I'm pretty sure that the establishment will - actually, most of it already has - rally around Mitt Romney. There will be a few defectors that support Pawlenty, or other candidates, but Romney will definitely be the "establishment" candidate. Palin will have to rely on Tea Party support and people who owe her favors.

Middle-aged, inoffensive, calm, mid-western Man.

That's my biggest fear...

Mitch Daniels, luckily for you, probably won't be nominated due to his controversial statements regarding a national sales tax and a social truce and what not. Not that I think he automatically would be a good candidate, since he may turn off conservatives in exchange for independents.

Unless you are talking about Pawlenty, who is also a mid-western man.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Middle-aged, inoffensive, calm, mid-western Man.

That's my biggest fear...

That's weird.  Mine is killer asteroids.

Well there's nothing you can do about them

[Mr. Morden]

I'm pretty sure that the establishment will - actually, most of it already has - rally around Mitt Romney. There will be a few defectors that support Pawlenty, or other candidates, but Romney will definitely be the "establishment" candidate.

I think that's far from certain.  Most of the establishment hasn't rallied behind anyone yet, and probably won't for a while.  The establishment is pretty flexible, and will get behind whichever of the "acceptable" candidates is leading at any given time.  If Romney maintains a lead over the next year+, then the party establishment will stick with him.  If his campaign implodes and/or he's overtaken by Pawlenty or Thune or whoever, the establishment will waste no time in moving over to them.

[tmthforu94]

Middle-aged, inoffensive, calm, mid-western Man.

That's my biggest fear...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Thune

[Psychic Octopus]

I'm pretty sure that the establishment will - actually, most of it already has - rally around Mitt Romney. There will be a few defectors that support Pawlenty, or other candidates, but Romney will definitely be the "establishment" candidate.

I think that's far from certain.  Most of the establishment hasn't rallied behind anyone yet, and probably won't for a while.  The establishment is pretty flexible, and will get behind whichever of the "acceptable" candidates is leading at any given time.  If Romney maintains a lead over the next year+, then the party establishment will stick with him.  If his campaign implodes and/or he's overtaken by Pawlenty or Thune or whoever, the establishment will waste no time in moving over to them.

Well, I suppose that if his campaign implodes, then yes, but he's clearly positioning himself for the role. The other two don't have the name recognition yet, and Pawlenty's efforts at creating a nationwide brand for himself so far appear to be a failure. I think Romney is the most likely choice for the establishment.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Middle-aged, inoffensive, calm, mid-western Man.

That's my biggest fear...

Masks are still on sale.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Middle-aged, inoffensive, calm, mid-western Man.

That's my biggest fear...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Thune

He's an interesting case, I think he's too much of a social conservative to get the Rep establishment backing... we all know it's about lip service and their GOTV efforts, however, someone who talks about 'family values' but without pointing to specifics will be most popular. 

[Mint]

People should worry about Paul Ryan more. Young, handsome, able to re-tool decades old ideas from CATO to sound 'bold' and 'innovative' (and with austerity picking up steam that will be more relevant), from a normally Democratic state in the Rustbelt... I'd watch out for him. However he's just a congressman and TARP is already politically toxic, so that's two strikes against him.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

People should worry about Paul Ryan more. Young, handsome, able to re-tool decades old ideas from CATO to sound 'bold' and 'innovative' (and with austerity picking up steam that will be more relevant), from a normally Democratic state in the Rustbelt... I'd watch out for him. However he's just a congressman and TARP is already politically toxic, so that's two strikes against him.

I remember reading about him... pretty solid economic credentials... but his actual policies are very flighty, high-level and often quite impossible, like dismantling medicare, and good luck trying to argue the dissolution of the Children's Health Insurance Program.

[TomC]

I think this is exactly the fight Sarah Palin's gearing up for. Is Romney really conservative enough to win the GOP nomination?

And if experience were THE deciding issue in elections, we'd have either Clinton or McCain as Pres right now. And we probably never would have had W. If Rove doesn't like Palin, she must be doing something right.

[Vepres]

I honestly think Gary Johnson could do very well. Palin has the rural white, religious vote, so who's left? Fiscally conservative, socially moderate/liberal Republicans (in other words, libertarians). NH + NV, and he's a frontrunner.

[??????????]

Run Rubio Run!

[Swing low, sweet chariot. Comin' for to carry me home.]

Middle-aged, inoffensive, calm, mid-western Man.

That's my biggest fear...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Thune

or Mike Pence

[TomC]

I honestly think Gary Johnson could do very well. Palin has the rural white, religious vote, so who's left? Fiscally conservative, socially moderate/liberal Republicans (in other words, libertarians). NH + NV, and he's a frontrunner.

I wish you were right, but honestly think you are way oversimplifying the make up of the GOP. If Ron Paul Love-o-lution couldn't break 20 delegates, Gary Johnson ain't getting the nomination.

[King]

Rubio would be a good candidate, but they would again lose a critical point with him.  One thing they can use to attack Obama is saying he was unprepared for the Presidency.  Rubio would have even less experience than Obama did 4 years ago.

[Bull Moose Base]

1. Unnamed sources.  I'm skeptical.
2. It's not like Palin's going to win NH.  Worst case scenario, they could rally around that winner (probably Romney)
3. The only establishment support that matters are huge donors.  Romney's presentation to them took digs at Pawlenty, Barbour and Gingrich- apparently who he views as the big threats to compete for the same donors.   As Hillary demonstrated, wealthy donors are not the end all, be all.
4. As far as endorsements. Establishment support may hurt as much as it helps.

5.  Palin's biggest pitfall isn't the GOP establishment working to stop her.  It's the Tea Party leaders doing so and pushing a Christie-like alt instead.

[Mr. Morden]

Palin's response to the "chain smoking porn producers":

http://dailycaller.com/2010/11/01/sarah-palin-pounds-liberal-media-outlets-like-politico-for-using-anonymous-sources-to-attack-her/

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Well, at least she's not taking this personally. 

[countryglc]

I really don't understand the absolute fear that I sense about Sarah Palin. I believe she would be a very formidable candidate.  I think the charisma she has just scares people.

[J. J.]

I see Palin as more like the Senate Majority Leader, in a few years.

[Bull Moose Base]

Palin's response to the "chain smoking porn producers":

http://dailycaller.com/2010/11/01/sarah-palin-pounds-liberal-media-outlets-like-politico-for-using-anonymous-sources-to-attack-her/

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Well, at least she's not taking this personally. 

I think taking things personally is useful to her.  There were also a barrage of responses from potential 2012 rivals denying this and praising her.  That's the thing.  If she drags out her decision, no one will dare criticize her lest she gets pissed and endorses a rival.  I mean, if it gets down to just her and Romney or whatever, obviously that's a different story.

[Vepres]

I honestly think Gary Johnson could do very well. Palin has the rural white, religious vote, so who's left? Fiscally conservative, socially moderate/liberal Republicans (in other words, libertarians). NH + NV, and he's a frontrunner.

I wish you were right, but honestly think you are way oversimplifying the make up of the GOP. If Ron Paul Love-o-lution couldn't break 20 delegates, Gary Johnson ain't getting the nomination.

Paul had many problems that Johnson won't.

1. Paul's campaign organization was terrible, they didn't really make good use of all their money.

2. Paul is not very good looking, nor a charismatic guy. He can come off as even a bit crazy at times.

3. Johnson may benefit in the southwest due to the favorite son effect. He'll probably take Hispanic Republicans as well.

Still, I do let my hope get the better of me.