2012 seems far off. Too far off to consider picking a challenger to President Obama, especially since he just came into office and many of us are still recovering from what we saw as the longest campaign for President ever.
That may all be true but if you are planning on being the Republican to challenge President Obama in November of 2012 there is no such thing as too early. Of course three years is an eternity in politics. Anything can and will happen. During that time President Obama could do such a bang up job that he will be unbeatable come reelection time. That might discourage some from actually taking the plunge. Then again President Obama may prove to be the second coming of President Jimmy Carter, as I have predicted. If that is the case the field of Republican challengers just might be packed.
It is this sea of wide open options and possibilities that would lead anyone interested in the job of President to keep the campaign trail hot.
If President Obama lives up to his messianic image, you can always stop running but if he is Carter revisited you can bet that GOP presidential hopefuls will be kicking themselves for not having started early.
Of course there are many names circling about. Some are throwing around the name of Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal or Minnesota's Tim Pawlenty. Others are pushing for South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford.
Mike Huckabee is another name some hope to see take the plunge. Then there are quarters singing the deserving praises of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.
There are quite a few more names being bandied about but if one wants to see who is actually planning on running for President you must look at who is doing what right now.
Sarah Palin’s recent trip to New York was primarily for the purpose of lending her support to the activities of an autism charity. But New York is pretty far from Alaska and in my estimation there must be some cases of autism and charities for it that are just a bit closer for Governor Palin to lend her support too. This leads me to believe that the Alaska Governor is at least considering the possibilities in 2012.
Mike Huckabee is taking his time as a non-candidate to get himself some exposure on television with his own hour long program on Fox News. This could be viewed as a way to build himself up before announcing his second attempt for the nomination. If he starts raising money or announcing his intention to run, by law, he would have to give up his television gig.
Then there are those like South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford who in addition to governing his state is making national waves by taking some appealing conservative positions and then taking them to the airwaves. One example was his refusal to accept stimulus dollars for his state because of the strings attached to it. For this, Governor Sanford was profiled on every television news outlet and covered in every periodical, including those that the conservative base of the G.O.P. often refers to.
Those are but a few examples of the actions which observers could take as hints regarding 2012.
Then there is Mitt Romney.
If one were to take a cursory look at the news over the past couple of weeks, they will find numerous headlines about him all across the entirety of the media spectrum.
Here are just a few:
Romney calls On Obama to Speak Out On Iran - Politico.com, Romney: President Putting Country In Jeopardy - CNN, Romney Balks at Government Ownership of GM - Detroit News, Romney Praises GOP's McDonnell and Bolling - Richmond Times Dispatch, Romney Talks Up VA's Importance - Washington Post, Romney Calls Union-Backed Bill "Catastrophic" - CBS news, Romney Stumps for Christie In NJ - AP, Romney: Sotomayor's Statements 'Troubling', Withholds Judgment - CNN, Romney Says U.S. Values Keep It Strong - Deseret News
That’s pretty good for someone who doesn’t currently hold elective office or isn’t a part of the current presidential administration.
On top of that, Mitt is running one of the most active and interactive websites that any political action committee has on the internet. His Free and Strong America Political Action Committee is also raising the bucks and using some ingenious ways to raise those bucks.
He recently asked fellow Americans to define what a free and strong America means to them in an essay of 250 words or less. Winners get an all expense paid trip to Fenway Park where they get to watch a Red Sox game from the Romney family's Skybox seats.
Beyond raising money and staying in the news, Romney is also being quite smart in setting the stage for another run at the Republican Presidential nomination.
So far his P.A.C. has donated money to help many candidates as they prepare to either win an elected office for the first time or win reelection to an office. Many of these Romney endorsed candidates are from states and regions that are important in the delegate count for any potential Republican nominee. These endorsements are for candidates in states like California, Texas, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Virginia and, to boost a regional advantage, New Jersey and Delaware.
Romney has even made himself available for countless appearances with the Republican nominees for Governor in New Jersey and Virginia, the only two states with a gubernatorial election in 2009. This is quite important, especially in New Jersey where even before Chris Christie won the G.O.P. nomination, Romney stepped into a hard fought Republican Primary and endorsed and campaigned for Christie against two other candidates. A move like that comes with a quid pro quo that goes like this…………….”I’ll come out and stump for you now, but two months before Super Tuesday in 2012, I want you to endorse me for President and I will need you to deliver New Jersey’s delegates to me.”
This same arrangement took place in Virginia and that is why you can pretty much assure Mitt Romney 112 delegates already, especially if the Republican nominees of Virginia and New Jersey win this November.
Truth is Romney has cultivated a very tight network of support in states like Virginia and New Jersey and he already has untold committments from many state officials.
There are many hints that one can find in regards to how the 2012 Republican presidential field is shaping up. Before you know it, some lucky wannabees will be logging onto hotwire.com to book “a few days away” in that vacation Mecca known as Iowa. Those clues and more will all play themselves out as America’s favorite quadrennial pastime approaches but in the meantime you need not be Sherlock Holmes to deduce that Mitt Romney is the early bird trying to catch the worm.
In 2008 I originally supported Romney for President until I fell for Fred Thompson’s fake foray into the ring. Once he showed himself to not be serious, I flew right back to the Romney camp with hat in hand begging for forgiveness.
As we look three years ahead I must admit that I am leaning towards Mitt Romney again. And having learned my lesson, I will not be jumping ship. Besides, as more time goes by, Mitt is proving himself more and more worthy of the Republican nomination.
Oh I still adore the sharpness of Sarah Palin and if she proves herself to be the better candidate, the better choice for President, than I will lean to her. That is what primaries are all about and I will not give the keys to the house away to just anyone. I want our potential nominee to work for the nomination and earn it , even Mitt Romney.
In the meantime I think it is important that Republicans adhere to Ronald Reagan's eleventh commandment and not speak undeservingly ill of perspective nominees.
Some Sarah Palin fans are guilty of breaking this commandment already. They are trying to build her up by tearing down other potential Republican contenders down.
This is a mistake.
As an early proponent of Sarah Palin for the Vice Presidential nomination in 2008, I was lobbying for her before her name was known by most Americans. I believe that she was a perfect fit for the time and ticket we had. Of course I believed in her ability to be President as well. And I still do. In fact I believe in her more than I did in the top of the ticket. But during that time, when many were pushing for other individuals to be tapped for the number two spot, I did not campaign for Governor Palin’s selection by tearing all other potential nominees down. I did not rip apart Sanford, Jindal or Pawlenty. I simply spoke the merits of Governor Palin and all that only she could have brought to the ticket at the time
I would advise others to do the same as we begin selecting our next Republican Presidential nominee. We will all be the better for it. And besides, Sarah, Tim, Mike, Bobby and Mark may not be running , not yet anyway, but it looks like Mitt Romney certainly is.
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http://www.freestrongamerica.com/
What do you see in Obama ... I just don't get that either
Please help me out David, out of all the brilliant women that are in the Republican Party, what do you honestly see in her? I just don't get it.
David - I don't agree that she's an "illiterate dumbass"... but I think she does lend credibility to the point that it doesn't matter what you're saying, just as long as you say it loud.
I agree with like 95% of what ron paul does so youre just nuts ...
Austin,Imagine`s just an asshole,I`ve learned not to expect any different from this clown.Him and DK are one in the same.Insane basket cases who`ve snuffed a tad bit too much to be able to think sensibly.
Erock,I agree,he`s a good man,just bad for the Republican Party,I think it`s because of the likes of him and Megan McCain who claim to be Republicans but turn around and vote for the Democratic Party,not to mention Lincoln Chafee,but at least he had the smarts to get out after awhile.Powell supports abortion and gun control;that is completely contracidtory to the views of the Republican Party.I agree abortion should be legalized in circumstances,but ONLY in certain circumstances,Powell,the way he says it,is open for it no exceptions.I agree the Republican Party needs moderates;what it does NOT need is liberals infesting it.We need moderate,but conservative,members.And I would add that I also don`t think people like Rush Limbaugh doesn`t do the GOP any good.
I'm quite sure that she can read. You may not like a person but there is no need to exagerate.
So you agree with him in saying she`s an illiterate dumbass?
I don't enjoy war and I don't enjoy campaigns. I see too much in common with them short of bloodshed and think if they are going to be part of history, there should be space between them to allow us to cool off. There is much to be challanging the Obama administration over right now but it should be for the good of the country, not just to build the groundwork for you next run at office. As it stands now, Mark Sanford is my favorate. He is a real conservative both fiscal and social and his actions demonstrate he means what he says. I'm interested in Gary Johnson's possible run but think he may have the same problem I saw in Chuck Baldwin in that he wants to be Ron Paul instead of himself. I am willing to give Palin a chance in the primaries when they come. She took a big gamble in going with McCain's camp perhaps to get in the national spotlight in a way she could not have otherwise. The woman was a campaign manager for Pat Buchanan and until her being picked by McCain's people seemed more paleocon than neocon. What will she do when running herself? Will her real views come out? How much will 2008 way her down? We will have to wait and see. Romney would be better as a head of a departments as opposed to the actual boss. I like Huckabee very much as a person but I am not convinced that he is really going to try again. And time may show me but right now I just don't get what people see about Bobby Jindal. I mean he is a nice guy and fits with most Republican stuff, but I don't see anything special or new about him.
Peter Schiff should run, i will vote for anyone that literally gets proved right on a global scale
I actually agree with Imagine on this point... I think after seeing Palin in action for a few months, she'd be a great VP to discourage assassination attempts on whoever is President at the time... much as Cheney was to Bush.
How ccan you be for Ron Paul/Sarah Palin. They have totally differing views on just about everything. Plus, Ron Paul is fucking awsome and Sarah Palin is an illiterate dumb ass.
I am sorry but I am disgusted by the horrid attacks upon Powell by people it is sick and disgusting. And I am sorry Jackie but Powell has done more for his country and everyone on this webt site put togather. He is a great man.
David, I'm just looking out for the GOP's best interest. LOL.
oops sorry for the caps didnt even notice that until just now
i JSUT TYPED OUT THIS LONG AS THING AOBUT WHY OBAMA SUCKS AND MY COMPUTER FROZE AND LOST IT GRRR... ANYWAY OBAMA HAS PISSED AWAY MORE MONEY THAN ALL THE PRESIDENTS BEFORE HIM IT IS ESTIMATED A KID BORN TODAY IS AT LEAST $1 MILLION IN DEBT BEFROE STARTING TO EVEN WALK ... THATS DISGUSTIN.... THEY DONT EVEN HAVE A CHANCE! HE HAS NATIONALIZED THE AUTO INDUSTRY AND TOLD IT TO MERGE WITH A FOREIGN COMPANY ... LIKELY SENDING MORE JOBS OIVER SEAS .. ITS OK WE DIDNT NEED THEM HERE "EYE ROLL" THE DUDE APOLOGIZED FOR AMERICA??? WTF??? YOU DONT APOLOGIZE THIS IS YOUR COUNTRY THE ONE YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE PROUD OF! YOURE ONLY PROAD OF YOUR STUPID KENYA/JAKARTA MUSLIM NATIONS ... SPEAKING OF WHICH ODUMBO LEFT THE ISRAELIS ... OUR ONLY MIDDLE EAST ALLIS OUT TO DRY ... NO ISRAELI LIKES HIM NOT ONE! ... OH AND HAS EVERYONE HEARD OF OBAMAS IDEA FOR A CIVILAIN DEFENCE? HE WANTS TO MAKE A CIVILAIN ARMY THATS AS STRONG AS OR STRONGER THAN THE CURRENT MILITARY FUNDED WITH THE SAME AMOUNT OR MORE MONEY ... UM HITLER DID THAT TOO WITH THE SS MEN AND GESTAPO ... AS MY PROFILE PIC SAYS "SAME SHIT DIFFERNET ASSHOLE" REALLY PPL COMEON NOW ... I'VE BEEN MOURNING SINCE THE DAY OBAMA WAS ELECED (WEARING AT LEAST ONE PIECE OF BLACK CLOTHING) OUR NATION DIED WHEN HE TOOK OFFICE ... THIS IS NO LONGER AMERICA HOME OF THE FREE LAND OF THE BRAVE ....... ITS MROE LIKE HOME OF THE INDENSURED TAX SLAVE ADN LAND OF THE INDOCTRINATED
AFJ
Ahh...BK`s always been big on Palin bashing.
Well keep dreaming because it's not going to happen.
How can you judge a presidency when it hasn't been six months yet?
I just want Paul actually but palin is waaay better than obama/biden so yeah it would be a good ticket
And you guys wonder why your got slaughtered last election and how your party is becoming less and less a factor each passing day.
Jackie, I sure hope you are kidding about Paul/Palin be on the same ticket. Paul is too smart to put someone like Palin on his ticket.
Erock,I`m willing to accept criticims of the GOP to a certain extent,I`ve called them out a few times for attacks on Obama I thought were crossing the line,I just don`t support party members who want to take the party to an entirely liberal stance,which is what Colin Powell does.I respect Powell`s service,I just don`t see him as a very good Republican.And Idiot89,get you fucking Goddamn head out of your house you extremist hack.Why don`t you join Chris Matthews and talk about how you get a tingle up your leg everytime you hear the Messiah`s name.
Imagine ...did you sau colin Powell is sane??? What universe do you live on the guy is a GOP traitor no one would elect his flip floppin' behind if they had a brain... I'm for Ron Paul/Sarah Palin 2012
Sarah Palin will be slaughtered by liberals and her running for President may draw even more Republicans away from the party. Both Tim Pawlenty and Bobby Jindal are pretty tradational Republicans. Mark Sanford, Jr. is only known to cut earmarks and reject budgets, this is all we know about him. Mitt Romney is a flip-flopping idiot and Mike Huckabee comes from the same part of the party as Bush did and nobody wants that! The GOP better have some tricks up their sleeves in 2012 otherwise they are dead in the water. (Look for signs of GOP death when they purely start attacking Obama and never defend their own positions).
David is just an angry old white guy.
David your refusal to accept critism of the party is pretty shocking and really closed minded. I think it is a sad day when the party wants to toss a man like Powell over the side this after the same party cheered as he did his duty at the UN all those years ago now even though he called it one of the worst days of his life. Here is a man who puts his nation above everything else and people like you want to toss him. Disgusting.
You're right BKevin you need to get it straight. Powell is a liberal republican because of his stands on social issues and because he supports a myridad of government social programs. He is not a liberal because of his stromg military support and history, he is liberal because of his faith in affirmative action and his stance on abortion. Powell is liberal because he chose to endorse one of the most liberal Democrat Presidential nominees in history. Trying to use buzz words and assuming that being called a liberal is insult, as you did, is not a rationale way to define a person. The fact is Powell is to the left of center on more issues than not.
No,he`s a liberal because all he offers for the GOP is criticism of how horrible it is.If all he can od is be the guy that bashes it at every turn,he should leave.
So let me get this straight. He's a liberal because he's not a neocon?
I agree David.
I`m only willing to accept the term "moderate" for so much,and Colin Powell ain`t no moderate,he`s just a damn downright liberal.
There's no way in hell they nominate either. It would be a Reagan-like victory if that were to happen.
If I were a Republican and I actually wanted to win, I'd make up a primary of Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty, Mark Sanford, Haylee Barber, Colin Powell, and Ron Paul. Just because they are some of the sane ones. But please, by all means, nominate Cheney/Palin.
So, I need to start by going to hotwire.com...thanks for the campaign tip. Iowa, here I come!
I will no longer tear other opponents of Palin down...their lack of conservatism and Kerry-esque policy changes will.
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