-
Adieu, Adieu, Remember Me
March 25, 2011 | 38 comments
-
DeMint’s Defense of RomneyCare is Ignorant…And Dangerous
March 17, 2011 | 85 comments
-
McConnell Pushing Vote to Block the EPA from Regulating Carbon Emissions
March 17, 2011 | 9 comments
-
More Barbour on Afghanistan
March 16, 2011 | 8 comments
-
House Passes Three Week Spending Bill
March 15, 2011 | 8 comments
The Spectacle Blog
On the main site, I have an article up arguing that despite his many political liabilities, Mitt Romney is the slight frontrunner for the 2012 Republican nomination, given the weakness of the GOP field.
For an alternate take on the GOP race, check out Karl Rove’s latest, in which he warns Republicans not to get cocky about 2012 given that sitting presidents are typically hard to beat, and the GOP field is wide open right now.
I’d make this additional point. As vulnerable as Obama may seem right now, Republicans still have to unite around a candidate who can beat him. And right now, all of the Republicans who are mentioned as possible candidates have severe flaws that make them either unattractive to conservatives or to the public at large.
People always talk about how in 1980, a lot of people viewed Reagan as unelectable. Yet one thing is clear — if you were a committed conservative during that primary season, Reagan was your choice. Is there anybody like that today? I would argue that there isn’t.
View all comments (21) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Philip Klein
http://spectator.org/blog/2010/11/18/rove-warns-gop-not-to-get-cock
Follow us:
ADVERTISEMENT
SPONSORED LINKS
FLASHBACK TO: 1995
-
Pope Culture
A man of faith in a godless age is hitting Americans where it hurts.
-
Why the GOP Does Not, Like, Totally Suck
Mr. and Mrs. American Spectator Reader, let P.J. O’Rourke talk sense to your kids.
-
Dames at Sea
-
In the Absence of Guns
In Britain, defending your property can get you life.
-
The Metaphysical Martini
-
Counting the Costs of Clintonism
The debacle of this president’s administration is both a cause and a symptom of the decline of American values. Unless Congress impeaches him, that decline will go on unchecked. An eminent jurist surveys the damage and assesses the chances for the recovery of our culture.
-
Chuck McHagel
It won’t take long for conservatives to scratch this presidential wannabe off their 2008 scorecard.
-
The Legacy of Old John and Mother Fresh-Roasted
-
It’s the Best Time of the Year
The American Christmas, like the songs that celebrate it, makes room for everybody under the rainbow. Is that why so many people seem to be hostile to it?
-
The Bush Crack-Up
Was the President done in by the economy, or by the politics of the economy?
Clip of the Day
ADVERTISEMENT
Pete| 11.18.10 @ 11:56AM
Sad that "can" beat and "should" beat are different things. A Pet Rock "should" be able to destroy Osama. But, in the current environment, "can" would seem to be more important. No matter who is ultimately chosen to run, that person will be slandered mercilessly by the mainstream media, his/her entire life examined with anything not approved by leftist elites blown into headlines and harped on constantly. And of course, even if nothing is there, the media will make things up and (maybe) just apologize later. So maybe "should" is just as good as "can" in this case?
Alan Brooks| 11.18.10 @ 1:22PM
Rove is no dummy, he knows the GOP can't think for itself, it needs the Tea Party to do its thinking for it.
Willey| 11.19.10 @ 9:52PM
Let Myth run in 2012 so Obama can kick his RINO ass like he kicked RINO McCain's in 2008.
james wilson| 11.18.10 @ 12:35PM
That's right, there isn't an acceptable choice. So let there being no frontrunner be seen as the advantage it is for the person who will finally step up.
David Wagner | 11.18.10 @ 12:35PM
Worth recalling, perhaps, that in '80 there actually were conservative activists who were not on the Reagan bandwagon until after the NH primary. As a member of an unofficial Yale Students for Reagan group I campaigned for him in NH -- and Phil Crane's campaign was still in full swing, making us jittery about splitting the "movement" vote and delivering NH to Bush, who had "mo" coming off his surprise win in IA.
And let's not forget John Connally: he had (famously) two delegates -- and (less famously) the support, at least at first, of conservative hero Richard Viguerie.
It will be enough if the first no-kidding-conservative to survive the early primaries (or debates, if those are the new primaries!) can bring conservatives together and be nonthreatening to swing voters, as Reagan was.
ggobllue| 11.18.10 @ 1:00PM
talk about self fulfilling prophecies....he is barely done backstabbing odonnell and now he slips the knife [still wet] into palin...
someone stick a pin in his overinflated ass and let the air out of him
JimmyT| 11.18.10 @ 1:35PM
Good one ggobllue--Klein acts like Rove will even be relevant in 2012. I would posit there will be better candidates in 2012 than the ones we hear about now. I, for one, am a BIG Paul Ryan fan. He has 15 months to make his name a household item. He's smart, articulate and a strong conservative. Romney doesn't have a chance. Way too much baggage. He's running thru sheer arrogance. I'm hoping by March, 2011, the TP has chosen a good candidate they can get behind and start pushing like crazy. I'm not sure the GOP apparatchik will get it in time to be as affective as they could be in getting that party back on track. As you can tell by his latest articles, Klein is part of the Rove faction. I read him only to see what we are up against.
Declan| 11.18.10 @ 1:38PM
It's funny to me to hear those from my own party moaning about not having another Reagan. And now how in 1980, the conservatives were united behind Reagan. Well, where were they the other two times Reagan ran for the GOP nomination and lost? Were they committed to him before that, even, when Reagan was pro-Choice and signed into California state law the nation's then most liberal abortion laws? Were they behind him before that, even, when he was a lifelong registered Democrat?
Don't get me wrong, Reagan, in my opinion, is in our Top 5 greatest presidents in history. My point, though, is that we hurt our own party, thus our cause, by letting nostalgia for Reagan diminish the good people who are with us today, which also is a detriment to our national potential as it denies the immense potential some of our prospects indeed possess.
I specifically am talking about Romney, as he has as much potential to be a great president that we (Americans as a whole) have had since Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. There are others who I think have great promise such as Rep. Paul Ryan and Gov. Chris Christie. Hopefully Sen. Rubio will prove to be the real deal, but unless we're turning into knee-jerk Advance To Go voters for the newest, hottest yet unproven candidate like Democrats do, I don't think any of these three are top-of-the-ticket material for 2012.
Looking at all the data, I see only two individuals who would have a reasonable, maybe good, chance to defrock Obama in two years. Romney I've mentioned, and the other is General Petraeus. I'd love for them to comprise the ticket, and truly in either order, but I don't think the General will be running. I'd love to be wrong about it, but for the sake of those of us who will be voting with a level-head, electability is the primary qualifier.
Those who seek to dilute Romney because of Commonwealth Care and hollow charges of being a flipflopper will fail because his record is accomplished in the private, public and volunteer, if you will, sectors. And his skillset and experience and temperment happen to be a match so perfect for our present ills that Mark Twain couldn't fictionalize a more well-suited character for the job. Most of all, he owns the swing voters. Moderates, independents and crossovers go for him. This makes him the most dangerous general election candidate. He also takes the lion's share of economic conservatives and the business community, and had about 40% of the national security / defence voting bloc against Senator McCain -- this demo will likely go for Romney in 2012, too.
No matter our preferred candidates for our nomination, let's not try to win it ugly and become bitter if your guy or gal doesn't get it. Let's not try to ruin each other based on platitudes and smear.
Lori| 11.18.10 @ 1:51PM
All these analysts overlook all the best qualities of Romney. His character, honest, moral, faithful husband and father, great role model, a life filled with service to others. You already know about his successful business career and his competent leadership. But the personal side of him is oft overlooked and its a pity. Personal qualities are important and in my mind, no one is better qualified to lead this nation.
Patriot| 11.19.10 @ 9:54PM
Competent leadership? You mean bankrupting Mass. with RomneyCare?
Thanks but no thanks.
Spicy Joker| 11.18.10 @ 1:55PM
Twit Romney is a RINO who has to pay off Hugh Hewitt and others to whore for him.
Mike Huckster is a phony who is so arrogant that he doesn't think his pardons of violent criminals who killed again will hurt his chances.
Sarah Palin is a bufoon.
Jim DeMint is just too conservative. A guy who thinks unmarried women shouldn't be allowed to teach is unelectable.
Bobby Jindal lost the confidence of conservatives with his response to Obama's State of the Union address. Besides, he has no accomplishments as Governor of Louisiana. The state is still a backwater.
Trick Perry is shallow and apparently so dumb that he thinks he can get elected on a state's rights platform.
Mitch Daniels is the dullest governor in America.
Mike Pence would be good a candidate, but the odds of a Representative getting elected President are slim.
Chris Christie would be a good candidate, but he's probably too liberal on social issues to get the GOP nomination.
Jeb Bush would continue the diastrous, liberal "compassionate conservative" policies of his brother.
Wayne | 11.18.10 @ 4:33PM
I am not getting the Palin is a bafoon crack. If you have some particular objection, then state it. But if you call her a bufoon, you are calling the rest of us who enjoy hearing her speak bufoons, and somehow I think without us, you can't get any Republican elected.
Patriot| 11.19.10 @ 9:56PM
Try spelling "buffoon" correctly, Spicy, and maybe your opinion would mean something.
JS| 11.18.10 @ 2:13PM
Mr. Rove should note the following:
"Kettle, you look kind of dark to me."
Pasadena Phil | 11.18.10 @ 2:32PM
Never underestimate Rove's ability to undermine conservatives. The leading candidates are Romney, Huckabee and (gag me) Gingrich. Any of these would mean "Hello President Hillary!"
Expel "The Ruling Class"!| 11.18.10 @ 3:17PM
Mr. Klein, with all due respect Tokyo Rove knows what he can do with his advice. Rove speaks for the GOP "ruling class" & their enablers, not conservatives. He is an arrogant gas bag who is in need of a good deflating as someone has already suggested here. Following Rove's advice will lead to another "ruling class" RINO candidate for President in 2012 & four more years of "The Won". No thanks. Go away Tokyo Rove.
PattyMor| 11.18.10 @ 3:48PM
Kark Rove epitomizes the ruling class. From up on high he proclaimed Christine O'Donnell unelectable; so it became a fulfilled prophesy. Why couldn't he just say, she wasn't my pick, but honor the wishes of the constituents? Because he thinks he is so much smarter than the rest of us.
Romney, Gringrich, Huckabee, PawT, & Thune (TARP) no thanks. Our country is in bad shape and we need a strong conservative to cut the gov'mt down to size and able to take the heat from both the Liberal braying media and RINO Reps.
I like Palin, but not sure she can be elected. The liberal media has succeeded in damaging her reputation. Maybe Mike Pense would be a better alternative.
Saber| 11.18.10 @ 4:35PM
I in no way see Palin as a ruined candidate, just the opposite as she has now been totaly vetted. She is no buffoon either considering the fear all the left has for her, yes she can win and she can win big. This woman is more genius than can be told, and those who do not see it do so at there peril
Wayne Peterson| 11.18.10 @ 4:36PM
The election process is a long hard slog. I am willing to see who emerges. I just don't want cross-over votes in New Hampshire determining the next candidate.
Drider| 11.18.10 @ 6:46PM
As long as not being cocky doesn't involve having to bow down to the New Democratic party .... I.E Marxists, and giving the Castle, Murky types the time of day then yeah, don't be cocky.
And Spicey Joker, I saw three names on your list that I would vote for in a second but I did notice you didn't have McCain on the list.Sorry bud, this ain't 08.Your not picking our candidate this time around.
Sabra| 11.20.10 @ 6:50PM
I'm afraid Pete's right. Except that-- no, the media NEVER apologizes. Are you kidding me? What irritates the hell outta me is that usually it is one of US that does that. Also....there IS a God in Heaven and we may get a miracle. Lastly, was that you just being cute or was Osama just a typo?