The Republican Nomination For President: The Race For The Race For The White House

Is that not considered a problem in itself. "Money doesn't talk, it swears."

A billion smackeroonies, not his own, to fund about half of the weaving of the winds around the noggins of the contributors. That might be considered something like the US ******* itself.

If the trend continues elections will end up the only industry left in the US.

What would we be doing for that dead three months between elections and start of the campaigns?

Are you suggesting soz that Mr Obama is an expert at extending his 15 minutes? Or, to put it a little more scientifically, that candidates have an attention fetish?

Seems like forever.

No, I think there are a variety of reasons why politicians get into politics.

I think people like Obama and Huntsman actually feel the call of service, and actually think they would be able to affect positive change.

Then there are people like Bill Clinton and Michelle Bachmann, who have a real love/need for the limelight while also believing that they can change the world.

I think Palin is in her own category as a "serious" politician who has no actual interest in governing. (See: quitting her job as governor of Alaska.)

I don't buy that soz.

Not quite prez, but election-related:

http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/main/2011/09/warren-takes-lead-on-brown.html

Elizabeth Warren passes Scott Brown in polling. I think she will defeat him handily in the upcoming election.

Cycloptichorn

Considering how unlikely it was for Brown to win the first time around, your prediction of a Warren win in November is hardly daring.

I wouldn't bet on him winning, nor would I see his defeat as anything more than political equilibrium returning to the area. If he wins however...

I keep getting e-mails from his daughter asking for money. I think you've inspired me to donate.

What a good use of your money! I highly encourage you to do so, at the maximum amount allowed by law.

Cycloptichorn

Palin, last night:



http://gop12.thehill.com/2011/09/palin-suggests-shell-make-2012-decision.html

Now, who knows whether that means she'll actually run or just that she's more relevant as someone who MIGHT run than as someone who definitely won't run.

Maybe it means what it says, that she hasn't made up her mind and could still enter the race.

Clearly, she enjoys enhanced media attention as long as the question remains unanswered, but I don't think it's an issue of relevance, unless you are focused on publicity.

Since, for good or bad, Palin has a large number of supporters, what she thinks about the issues and the candidates has relevancy. The relevancy of her opinions and endorsement will not seriously diminish if she announces she will not enter the race.

In addition, since so many people (particularly among the MSM) suffer from Palin Derangement Syndrome there is bound to be great interest in what she has to say for quite some time to come.

just like a good old fashioned train wreck...

Yes, she might be genuinely undecided, too.

My point is more that she's definitely sending signals of interest, re: previous discussion here about whether she'll run.

I was saying that the signals may mean she's still seriously considering the possibility, or may just be her way of staying in the limelight even though she doesn't actually intend to run.

And I do think the limelight would be much diminished if she stops floating the possibility and says "nope, not running, that's final." Kookiness is much more interesting if it's attached to someone who has a real chance of becoming president, even if that chance is very small, than if it's just attached to a former half-term governor who's on TV a lot.

I avoid reading what Palin has to say. Don't want to know, not even if she becomes president.

The sheer shrieking noise of it is quite sufficient to arrive at that conclusion ed irrespective of the order or meaning of the words. Wouldn't it be funny to expose the Russian Parliament to it on a State Visit?

In addition, since so many people (particularly among the MSM) suffer from

That's because there seems to be this huge fount of Americans who just can't seem to get their fill of dumb.

Of course you're right that she is sending signals, and you are also right that by doing so she is attracting media attention. Whether or not the latter is the reason for the former is something neither of us knows. I suspect that, in part, it is and I find it tiring, however you included her being relevant in the equation.

My point is that she doesn't need to run for president to remain relevant. Proof of this will be the efforts made to secure or learn of her endorsement if and when she flatly takes herself out of the running. I understand that you do not think highly of her, but that's pretty meaningless when it comes to whether or not she is politically relevant.

Might her opinions be considered more relevant if she was running? Sure, but the fact that she has relevance without running is, I think, what will eventually lead to her not entering the race. Sometimes being a king-maker can be better than being the king.

I think that if Rick Perry flames out (entirely possible) and Chris Christie doesn't enter the race, there's a fair chance she will give it a go. If she does, I certainly can't predict the outcome.

I would caution you to not be so certain she has no chance of winning the presidency. I thought the same about Obama, in part because I thought he had no chance of winning the nomination, and I was certainly wrong. This is not to suggest that it is amazing in any way that I might have been wrong, but I wasn't alone in my estimation. I doubt Hillary thought he had any chance at first either.

LOL

Surely you jest. Her approval numbers are incredibly bad. And on top of that, the lady is an idiot - as you well know - and would be soundly trounced in any debate she participated in. There's zero reason to believe she has any chance of winning the nomination, let alone the presidency.

Cycloptichorn

Yes, but I did NOT think the same about Obama. My track record is, in fact, quite good on these things, including predicting the impact of Palin's selection as VP on McCain's chances.

She has very little chance of winning the presidency. There are some things that could align in such a way to give her some chance as opposed to no chance.

But Palin now does not equal Obama when he announced. She is much better known than he was at the time, with much higher negatives (and less room to move), and it is way, WAY later in the game. (Obama formally announced in February of 2007.)

Ron Reagan & GWB are two that leap to mind that illustrates that Palin has everything needed, in spades, to become a US president.