The conventional wisdom is that Barack Obama is now unbeatable
in the 2012 Presidential race because he has finally put the birth
certificate and Osama bin Laden issues to rest — and because there
are so far no strong GOP candidates on the horizon.
Not so fast. Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty, and Michele
Bachmann may not seem exciting enough conservatives to give Obama a
run for his money, so insiders are now thinking outside the box for
potential White House candidates. Among the exciting
prospects:
George H.W. Bush: He still
has four more years of eligibility. True, he’s 87 years old, but 87
is the new 77, and Ronald Reagan was 78 when he left office. Bush
Sr.’s star has risen since losing to Bill Clinton and jumping out
of an airplane at 80. He proved he works well with Democrats after
he and Clinton teamed up to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Moreover, after George W. Bush’s eight years, George Sr. looks
twice as good as he did in office. If son Jeb is not available, the
old man might well be open to be drafted. Four years is too long
not to have a Bush in office.
Ross Perot: He hasn’t been
in the news a lot lately, true, but he’s still feisty, rich,
outspoken and excitable, even if nobody quotes him anymore. He
would bring some pizzazz to an otherwise bland roster of GOP
candidates. At the very least, Perot is certain to throw a good
scare into the Democrats and, maybe best of all, restore Dana
Carey’s career.
Steve Forbes: Like Perot,
he’s kept a low profile lately and, though still a terminally
boring speaker, his radical tax plan has gained new luster since
the economy tanked. The deficit and the budget are suddenly very
sexy issues. Forbes hasn’t talked about running, but he may just be
acting coy and might be coaxed out of hiding to take on the
President, whose glamour boy image may work to Forbes’s credit as
Mr. Un-excitement.
Todd Palin: Perhaps not the
most likely name that leaps to mind, but, hey, why not? He’s
attractive and married to a woman who is catnip to the media. While
lacking certain governance skills, Palin has shown himself cool
under fire and is able to manage a maverick wife and crazy daughter
while also proving he can exert firm control behind a dog team. If
that’s not enough, John McCain is said to be ready to endorse
him.
Chuck Norris: Fading movie
stars make by far the best Republican politicians β Ronald Reagan,
George Murphy, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Shirley Temple — so Norris
could be a shoo-in, especially on a macho ticket with Tom Selleck.
They would line up favorably against Obama, towering over him in TV
debates. If Norris declines to run, there’s still a wide open field
of conservative star prospects β Kelsey Grammer, Jon Voight,
Heather Locklear, James Caan, Cheryl Ladd and Craig T. Nelson.
Clint Eastwood, 80, and Ernest Borgnine, 92, are probably a tad
elderly to appeal to the electorate, but Ron Paul, a serious but
spry contender, is 75.
Lamar Alexander: Many
people, even Republicans, are surprised to learn that he’s still
around β not only alive and well but a Senator from Tennessee. He
ran for President in 1996 and 2000, so the man is battle-tested.
He’s tanned, rested and ready, and looks good to go, especially in
a plaid shirt with a hunting rifle under his arm. Don’t write him
off too quickly. Alexander stands out in a field of even darker
horses.
Dennis Miller: He’s the
liveliest speaker among potential GOP candidates, or at least the
most intentionally comical. It didn’t hurt Al Franken (D-Minn.).
Miller has years of experience before audiences delivering amusing
rants and can be counted on to draw good crowds, rev up his Comedy
Central base and provide much funnier sound bites than
Obama.
Joe the Plumber: Joe still
has about two minutes of fame left and could make the most of them
if he ran for President. He hasn’t been heard from much since the
2008 race, probably because of a news blackout by the media, who
finally abandoned him when it turned out he didn’t have a plumber’s
license or possibly even a wrench.
Edward Brooke: The first
modern-day Republican black Senator is now 91 but could prove a
formidable foe against Barack Obama as a Massachusetts alternative
to ex-governor Mitt Romney. Brooke hasn’t held office since he
retired in 1979 but he could really make things hot for the
country’s first black President. The only possible down side is
that he once had an affair with Barbara Walters, but at 91 that can
only enhance his chances.
