Biggest "Rising Star" flops

[Phony Moderate]

Which politicians, who were once hyped up as RISING STARS, flopped the most? I'm not counting the likes of John Edwards here, who at least made it onto a national ticket and had a couple of respectable runs for the presidency.


Harold Ford Jr. (D-TN) - Seen as a Southern Obama and tipped as a possible future president. This died out after he narrowly lost to Bob Corker for the Senate in 2006. He made a comeback around 2009...for a truly bizarre and brief primary challenge to Kirsten Gillibrand.

Bobby Jindal (R-LA) - The phrase "next Ronald Reagan" was regularly used in relation to him during the late noughties...then he was chosen to give the SOTU response in 2009. Lasted two terms as governor but became increasingly unpopular. Had a pretty pathetic run for the 2016 GOP nomination that no one noticed.

John Thune (R-SD) - Not so much a flop as a major miscall on the part of the media. They were inevitably going to hype up a telegenic guy who defeated the Democratic senate leader, but it's always been pretty clear that he's content as a legislator.

Tim Pawlenty (R-MN) - This charisma-free guy was the GOP governor of a blue state and so hos hyping up was inevitable. Nearly got picked by McCain as his running mate and had a brief run for the presidency that ended at Ames.

What others?

[TheSaint250]

1. Jerry Brown
2. Richard Tisei
3. Scott Brown
4. Paul Ryan

[Kamala]

Marilinda Garcia

[Mr. Smith]

The Romneys

[Lechasseur]

Marco Rubio, Bobby Jindal

[Kingpoleon]

Almost certainly Thomas Dewey.

[MT Treasurer]

Kelly Ayotte, Marco Rubio, Jon Ossoff, Jason Kander

[Maxwell]

On the Democratic side, Patrick Murphy is a huge contender. People thought the guy was a perfect choice for Senate in 2016 on account of an impressive win in a strongly republican year in a decently republican district, but as a General Election candidate was just a massive flop.

For Republicans, it's hard to beat George Allen, who probably would've run for President in 2008, only to be unraveled by "macaca".

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Kelly Ayotte, Marco Rubio, Jon Ossoff, Jason Kander

disagree re: Kander. He only lost because Clinton was utterly blown out in Missouri.

[Mr. Smith]

On the Democratic side, Patrick Murphy is a huge contender. People thought the guy was a perfect choice for Senate in 2016 on account of an impressive win in a strongly republican year in a decently republican district, but as a General Election candidate was just a massive flop.

For Republicans, it's hard to beat George Allen, who probably would've run for President in 2008, only to be unraveled by "macaca".

Murphy would've pulled it off if Marco hadn't returned.

Speaking of returning people who shouldn't, Evan Bayh.

[publicunofficial]

Hillary Clinton

[Blair]

For british pols

1.) Sajid Javid:Everyone thought because he was Asian, and someone who was moved up the conservative party quickly by Osborne, that he would be leader one day. Then everyone realized he was pretty wooden, was a die hard thatcherite and that he didn't really have much talent. Supported Remain in the referedum, despite favouring leave secretly. Pissed off both sides, and was suppose to get sacked from the Cabinet (and most likely will due to Grenfell)

2.) Andy Burnham: Perhaps I'm being harsh as he's now the Mayor of Greater Manchester, and ran a very good campaign but in terms of being Labour leader I remember in 2014/2015 when everyone (including me) thought he was the Messiah. Northern, relatively normal, very passionate speaker, moved to the left of the party. He was by far the favourite in 2015; had the support of Unite, Ken Livingstone, Neil Kinnock, Rachel Reeves etc but then Corbyn came and he completely collapsed. Tried to then run as Corbyn's shadow for the last month, took a job in the Shadow Cabinet, refused to resign during the coup and then went to Manchester. There's a good chance he'll be an ageing minister in the next Labour Government.

3.) David Lammy: Called the Britains first black PM about a 100 times, and was always talked as being a future leader, but then messed up his appearance at the dispatch box, and everyone realized he was bit annoying.

4.) Dan Jarvis: Former paras officer, young family, looks like he's from central casting, and was begged to stand in 2015 (when he could have won). Has been talked up a lot in the last year or so as a challenger to Corbyn, but then wrote an awful New Statesmen piece and gave a pretty lackluster speech (it's amazing how quickly people can die in British Politics)

[they don't love you like i love you]

No mention of Chris Christie? Or Sarah Palin?

[Phony Moderate]

For british pols

1.) Sajid Javid:Everyone thought because he was Asian, and someone who was moved up the conservative party quickly by Osborne, that he would be leader one day. Then everyone realized he was pretty wooden, was a die hard thatcherite and that he didn't really have much talent. Supported Remain in the referedum, despite favouring leave secretly. Pissed off both sides, and was suppose to get sacked from the Cabinet (and most likely will due to Grenfell)

2.) Andy Burnham: Perhaps I'm being harsh as he's now the Mayor of Greater Manchester, and ran a very good campaign but in terms of being Labour leader I remember in 2014/2015 when everyone (including me) thought he was the Messiah. Northern, relatively normal, very passionate speaker, moved to the left of the party. He was by far the favourite in 2015; had the support of Unite, Ken Livingstone, Neil Kinnock, Rachel Reeves etc but then Corbyn came and he completely collapsed. Tried to then run as Corbyn's shadow for the last month, took a job in the Shadow Cabinet, refused to resign during the coup and then went to Manchester. There's a good chance he'll be an ageing minister in the next Labour Government.

3.) David Lammy: Called the Britains first black PM about a 100 times, and was always talked as being a future leader, but then messed up his appearance at the dispatch box, and everyone realized he was bit annoying.

4.) Dan Jarvis: Former paras officer, young family, looks like he's from central casting, and was begged to stand in 2015 (when he could have won). Has been talked up a lot in the last year or so as a challenger to Corbyn, but then wrote an awful New Statesmen piece and gave a pretty lackluster speech (it's amazing how quickly people can die in British Politics)

Michael Portillo - Was tipped as a challenger to John Major in 1995 but failed to stand. Then he lost in seat in 1997, thus ending his hopes of succeeding Major. Returned to Parliament in 1999 and entered the contest to replace William Hague following the 2001 general elections...but failed to make the run-off, losing to IDS (!) and Ken Clarke. These days he's content with making TV programmes about trains and giving his views on late-night political discussion shows.

David Owen - Telegenic, tipped as a future Labour leader...until he decided to form the SDP as part of the Gang of Four. Despite a brief lead in the opinion polls during the early 80s, they (in Alliance with the Liberals) managed to win less than 30 seats in the 1983 election. Owen subsequently took over from Roy Jenkins as SDP leader, and had a de-facto co-leadership with David Steel that was endlessly mocked by the likes of Spitting Image. The Alliance declined in the 1987 election and the soon came apart, with Owen briefly leading a continuity SDP before retiring from Parliament in 1992.

[Beet]

On the Democratic side, Patrick Murphy is a huge contender. People thought the guy was a perfect choice for Senate in 2016 on account of an impressive win in a strongly republican year in a decently republican district, but as a General Election candidate was just a massive flop.

Not me. I tried to warn he was a max Romney donor who owed his career to his family wealth, who switched parties only due to opportunism but no one wanted to listen. Instead they wanted Debbie Wasserman Schultz at the DNC instead of running for Senate.

[they don't love you like i love you]

On the Democratic side, Patrick Murphy is a huge contender. People thought the guy was a perfect choice for Senate in 2016 on account of an impressive win in a strongly republican year in a decently republican district, but as a General Election candidate was just a massive flop.

Not me. I tried to warn he was a max Romney donor who owed his career to his family wealth, who switched parties only due to opportunism but no one wanted to listen. Instead they wanted Debbie Wasserman Schultz at the DNC instead of running for Senate.

How about she does neither? She's a terrible candidate and based on her DNC competence would run a disastrous statewide campaign as well.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Jindal, Crist.

[Beet]

On the Democratic side, Patrick Murphy is a huge contender. People thought the guy was a perfect choice for Senate in 2016 on account of an impressive win in a strongly republican year in a decently republican district, but as a General Election candidate was just a massive flop.

Not me. I tried to warn he was a max Romney donor who owed his career to his family wealth, who switched parties only due to opportunism but no one wanted to listen. Instead they wanted Debbie Wasserman Schultz at the DNC instead of running for Senate.

How about she does neither? She's a terrible candidate and based on her DNC competence would run a disastrous statewide campaign as well.

Even if that were true, she would have done far less damage as a Senate candidate than as head of the DNC during the primaries.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

For british pols

1.) Sajid Javid:Everyone thought because he was Asian, and someone who was moved up the conservative party quickly by Osborne, that he would be leader one day. Then everyone realized he was pretty wooden, was a die hard thatcherite and that he didn't really have much talent. Supported Remain in the referedum, despite favouring leave secretly. Pissed off both sides, and was suppose to get sacked from the Cabinet (and most likely will due to Grenfell)

2.) Andy Burnham: Perhaps I'm being harsh as he's now the Mayor of Greater Manchester, and ran a very good campaign but in terms of being Labour leader I remember in 2014/2015 when everyone (including me) thought he was the Messiah. Northern, relatively normal, very passionate speaker, moved to the left of the party. He was by far the favourite in 2015; had the support of Unite, Ken Livingstone, Neil Kinnock, Rachel Reeves etc but then Corbyn came and he completely collapsed. Tried to then run as Corbyn's shadow for the last month, took a job in the Shadow Cabinet, refused to resign during the coup and then went to Manchester. There's a good chance he'll be an ageing minister in the next Labour Government.

3.) David Lammy: Called the Britains first black PM about a 100 times, and was always talked as being a future leader, but then messed up his appearance at the dispatch box, and everyone realized he was bit annoying.

4.) Dan Jarvis: Former paras officer, young family, looks like he's from central casting, and was begged to stand in 2015 (when he could have won). Has been talked up a lot in the last year or so as a challenger to Corbyn, but then wrote an awful New Statesmen piece and gave a pretty lackluster speech (it's amazing how quickly people can die in British Politics)

Michael Portillo - Was tipped as a challenger to John Major in 1995 but failed to stand. Then he lost in seat in 1997, thus ending his hopes of succeeding Major. Returned to Parliament in 1999 and entered the contest to replace William Hague following the 2001 general elections...but failed to make the run-off, losing to IDS (!) and Ken Clarke. These days he's content with making TV programmes about trains and giving his views on late-night political discussion shows.

David Owen - Telegenic, tipped as a future Labour leader...until he decided to form the SDP as part of the Gang of Four. Despite a brief lead in the opinion polls during the early 80s, they (in Alliance with the Liberals) managed to win less than 30 seats in the 1983 election. Owen subsequently took over from Roy Jenkins as SDP leader, and had a de-facto co-leadership with David Steel that was endlessly mocked by the likes of Spitting Image. The Alliance declined in the 1987 election and the soon came apart, with Owen briefly leading a continuity SDP before retiring from Parliament in 1992.

This might be fun:

Ruth Kelly: Raced through the ranks of cabinet extremely quickly (becoming the youngest ever female cabinet minister, and many tipped her as a future holder of a Great Office), but after being promoted to Education Secretary was quickly overwhelmed by her enemies within the PLP (Brownites targeted her as a Blairite), her connections with Opus Dei plus her socially conservative beliefs and various scandals in the Education dept. Had major burnout and jumped before she was pushed.

Various careers cut short by the Great Expenses Scandal of 2009: Kitty Ussher, David Laws, Alan Duncan, Hazel Blears.

[100% pro-life no matter what]

Chris Christie is the obvious answer considering there is probably a 50/50 chance (at least) that he would have been elected president in 2012 had he run (compared to where he is now).  Also, Bobby Jindal and Jon Ossoff are good choices here too.

[HisGrace]

1. Jerry Brown
2. Richard Tisei
3. Scott Brown
4. Paul Ryan

Brown and Ryan both have objectively had pretty great careers, though. Neither of them became president but they've had better careers than 99.9% of people in politics. Ryan's Speaker of the House, which is an achievement in and of itself even if he's not a particularly good one. He's probably never going to be president, but I don't think he wants to be so who cares?

Brown sucked as a presidential candidate, but he keeps getting Governor of California so its not like he's an utter failure.

I'm surprised no one has said Anthony Weiner, yet.

[HisGrace]

Chris Christie is the obvious answer considering there is probably a 50/50 chance (at least) that he would have been elected president in 2012 had he run (compared to where he is now).  Also, Bobby Jindal and Jon Ossoff are good choices here too.

Ehh, he'd have done about the same as Romney.

[Kingpoleon]

1. Jerry Brown
2. Richard Tisei
3. Scott Brown
4. Paul Ryan

Tisei isn't exactly a flop... The moment Ambitious Seth runs for higher office, that seat is his.

[President Johnson]

Lil' Marco?

[Mr. Reactionary]

The next Ronald Reagan, Fred Thompson.