Take Us To Our Leader
By Chris | Friday, January 22nd, 2010 | PoliticsA very interesting piece in the National Journal today by Bill Schneider starts off with this bold statement:
Republicans don’t have a 2010 problem. They have a 2012 problem.
He couldn’t be more right.
2010 is shaping up to be a great year for the GOP. But as I wrote the other day, Republicans must not fall into the trap of having this year’s election results make us feel like Sally Field at the Oscars (“You like us, you really like us!”). Further, we must not be fooled into thinking that potentially big gains this fall will automatically translate into victory in 2012. As Schneider points out, Republicans managed to temper the enthusiasm of 1994 by nominating Bob Dole for President in 1996.
Michael Steele is the titular head of the Party. John McCain remains one of the most popular and respected Republicans. Every poll for 2012 has some combination of Romney, Palin and Huckabee at or near the top. But are any of these individuals going to be the ones to lead our Party back to victory and restore the voters’ confidence in our ability to govern? I think it is doubtful.
While I’m not sure that finding “a conservative version of Obama,” as Schneider puts it, is the right solution, Republicans are going to have to be forward-looking in their search for our Party’s next standard-bearer. Unfortunately, it is wishful thinking in this era of 24-hour news to believe we could avoid talking about this topic until after the November 2010 Elections. Still, I think it is entirely possible that the person who is best equipped to lead our Party in 2012 might be someone with whom the majority of Republicans are not yet familiar.
We shall see if that problem can find a solution.
Tags:
Contribute for Conservatism!
Share this post
About the author
Chris Obenshain has been involved in Republican politics literally since the womb, when he attended Virginia's famous 1978 Convention in utero. 30 years later he still can't get politics out of his bloodstream. He currently works as a lawyer in southwest Virginia and serves as Chairman of the Roanoke Area Young Republicans chapter. As Old Zach, he helped found the blog Sic Semper Tyrannis in 2004 and has been blogging off and on ever since. He has also proudly served in the United States Army Reserve since 2002.
Comments
8 Responses to "Take Us To Our Leader"
Chris,
It is interesting that you bring up Palin, Huckabee, and Romney.
Every candidate has his or her weaknesses. We are all waiting for a savior to ride in and save the GOP. Here is the sad fact though:
Lets say that John Thune surges onto the scene and becomes the GOP nominee. The media will try and make him as unacceptable as they have tried to make Palin and Huckebee.
Three years ago the NYT was touting Palin as a model governor. With Sarah Palin, you have unfounded assaults on her intelligence, and no real criticism of her record, because she was an effective governor.
They tried to assign Huckabee as a one issue candidate.
Do you not think that they will do the same type of thing to any new rising star that may come along?
A veteran Republican operative once told me that the GOP likes to “eat its young,” she was absolutely right, our party does not do a good job of defending its Reagans and Lincolns, lets hope that we can change that.
If we want another Lincoln or Reagan, then we must put forward the effort to help him or her succeed.
Steven, you bring up a good point. However, I think it is important to note that Lincoln was pretty much a failure as a politician until he became President. Roosevelt was viewed as hot-headed and even a danger to the Party before he accidentally became President when McKinley was assassinated. Reagan was not taken seriously by many due to his acting career. It is true, all politicians have their strengths and weaknesses. True leaders, however, are able to keep moving forward in spite of the inevitable efforts to bring them down or pigeon-hole them.
Chris,
That’s a good point. The key for the rising figures within our party is whether, like Lincoln, Roosevelt, and Reagan; they can push through to a victory, personally, I think that they can.
Right on. Republicans who think our recent victories are about our strength as a party are delusional.
Our brand is almost as bad as it was in 08. We are not trusted to govern as we have repeatedly proven that we are only a little less bad at it than the other party.
Any strength we have at the moment is due to two factors: a rhetorical move to the right (which I’m too cynical to believe substantive on the part of GOP congressional leadership) and united, apparently principled opposition to the spendthrift expansion of government that is occurring across the Potomac.
I’m all too concerned that we are just enjoying the heady wine of current and potential future victories without finishing the hard work of sober self-examination that was incumbent upon us after 08. Being in the minority is easy compared to the hard work of governance and I fear we are not yet ready for that.
the Republicans are just less hated right now because they are not in power. as far as 2012 is concerned, I’m leaning towards Gary Johnson of New Mexico
I know this sounds a little off the wall, but keep your eyes on Newt. Yes, he’s got baggage (plenty of it). But it is baggage that is well-known and lacking in any scandal factor. He got played by the Clinton PR machine in the 1990s (e.g., The Gingrich Who Stole Medicaid), and left office with huge negatives nationwide, but he’s done a lot to rehabilitate his image and let’s face it: most Americans don’t have that long of a memory.
If/when Newt jumps into the race, I think he’s going to get a lot of traction as the smartest and most experienced candidate in the field, which, for many primary voters, will be a welcome contrast to the tiresome MSM narrative that is already taking shape that the GOP frontrunners (Palin, Huckabee) are unintelligent and unintellectual.
The key, as usual, is whether he’ll be able to generate enough excitement to raise sufficient amounts of money.
Steve –
I think you’re right, but his whole “Gee, I didn’t realize I couldn’t start my organization and run for president at the same time” shtick in 2008 struck me as a little disingenuous.
I’m sure he’s running and agree with the rest of your comment. If I had to choose between Newt and the others, I’d probably go with Gingrich.
His knowledge and ability to break things down and explain them is really unparalleled.
J.R.
Well News certainly has the ability to break things. His ability to fix them has yet to be proven;-)
On a serious note, do your really think, with all his personal baggage that he’d have any shot at winning the GOP nomination?
Leave your response
The comments section is for meaningful discussion. Readers are reminded to post comments that are germane to the article and write in a common language that steers clear of personal attacks and/or vulgarities.
Please take a moment to review our comment policy.