Stop it. Stop it now.
This party has been waiting for Ronald Reagan II since at least 1992, probably since January 21, 1989. But it's unfair to Gov. Palin and unfair to the conservative movement that's hoping it's found a future leader.
Sarah Palin is a first-term governor of a 3-electoral vote state. While this makes her over-qualified compared to Obama and Biden, it doesn't stack up against 8 years as governor of California. It's enough to qualify her for Veep, and to be trainable for President.
Ronald Reagan was a speaker gifted beyond belief. He was also a man with tremendous physical courage, who spent years negotiating with movie producers and personally fighting communism; who spent 8 years governing the most affluent and fractious state in the union; an intellectual who spent years afterwards writing radio addresses and working out his positions on the critical issues of the day.
Sarah Palin is a speaking phenomenon. She's a woman of strong convictions that she lives out herself. She's got a compelling personal story. She has stood up to bullies and thugs who think that politics is a 3rd grade cafeteria. She is - to all appearances - raw material of rare quality.
But she's not Ronald Reagan.
At least not yet.
Comments
Of course no one is going to have the exact records of Reagan, or similar up-bringing... Reagan had a unique rise to the Presidency that will always be his own...
The idea of the new leader of our party, and why Palin fits the mold, is character! She has the ability to unite the party base, and reach out to independents as well as the youth and women. She is a symbol of the future of the party, her youth and beauty no more or less important than her values and character.
She is ready to lead and ready to attack.
And though she will never have the resume of Reagan, doesnt mean that she does not represent to the party what Reagan did.
But I agree - let's give her a few years in the White House and see where she will lead us!
Posted by: Steven M Nielson | September 5, 2008 7:59 AM
Boys, it's time for you to let go of your woodies and face reality. The last time a presidential candidate chose a female running mate to try to pick up chicks it failed miserably: http://ronwade.freeservers.com/Mondale.html
Sarah Palin is a "preachin' to the choir type" candidate who won't reach the Hillary Clinton backers: http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-politics/20080905/From.Clinton.to.Palin_/ and John McCain has guaranteed his defeat.
Posted by: peachdanish | September 6, 2008 12:11 AM