Palin Needs More Knowledge to Win

Fred Barnes: She Dashed Her Chances of Winning 2012 Nomination, but Path to Presidency Remains Open for Sarah Palin

(Weekly Standard)  Fred Barnes is executive editor of The Weekly Standard.

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Forget about Sarah Palin as the Republican presidential candidate in 2012 and probably ever. She may have no interest in seeking the GOP nomination. But if she does, her chances of winning the nomination have been minimized by her decision to resign as governor of Alaska. She's knocked out one of three legs of the presidential stool and a second one is wobbly.

I say this reluctantly because Palin, in my view, is the most exciting Republican figure to emerge in decades. She mesmerizes crowds in a way that no other Republican leader can come close to matching. She has what can't be taught--real charisma.

But personal magnetism is only one of the legs, or underpinnings, for a successful race for the Republican nomination. The other two are experience in office and enough knowledge of foreign and domestic issues to talk about them persuasively. By stepping down, she's cut her experience short: it now consists of a meager two and a half years as governor of a thinly populated state. And, from all appearances, Palin has made little headway on the issue track.

Even a super-abundance of charisma cannot make up for her shortcomings in experience and knowledge. It might be enough if she were running for a lesser office. The election of Arnold Schwarzenegger as governor of California proves that point. But running for president on charisma alone? I don't think so.

You only have to look at the Republican nominees since World War II to see what's required. Not one of them was anywhere near as lacking in experience and knowledge as Palin is, and that includes the most charismatic of them all, the Great Communicator himself, Ronald Reagan.

Palin is no Reagan. He was governor of California for two terms, before which he'd been an effective leader in the fight against Communists in the movie industry. Every bit as important, Reagan had read the works of all the great conservative thinkers of the past two centuries. He had imbibed their wisdom. Also, Reagan had been thinking and talking about the political issues that dominated the national agenda and Washington.

Other Republican nominees weren't as towering as Reagan, but they met the three-leg test. Thomas Dewey, in 1948, had been governor of New York. Dwight Eisenhower? His credentials were obvious. Richard Nixon had six years in Congress and eight as vice president before he was nominated in 1960 and again in 1968 and, after fours years in the White House, in 1972.

In 1964, Barry Goldwater was the Republican candidate. A senator for 12 years, he was leader of the nascent conservative movement and author of a widely read book, The Conscience of a Conservative. In 1976, Gerald Ford had been president for two years when he won the Republican nomination.

Then we got Reagan for two cycles, followed by George H.W. Bush, bubbling with experience (House, United Nations, China, veep) when he was the nominee in 1988 and 1992. Next was Bob Dole, with decades in Congress, in 1996, and George W. Bush, governor of Texas for six years, in 2000 and 2004. Finally, there was John McCain, with nearly 30 years of duty in Washington, in 2008.

These nominees, from Dewey to McCain, not only passed the experience test, but they were also up to speed on national issues and able to discuss them knowledgeably. True, some were better at this than others, but they all reached a minimum threshold of knowledge.

Palin's limitations were evident in the vice presidential debate last year. I thought she won that debate, almost purely on the basis of her personality and likeability. But she could have taken Joe Biden apart while demonstrating her own knowledge and brainpower had she known more about national issues. Biden made numerous erroneous statements, particularly on the Middle East, but Palin didn't know enough to correct him.

I first met Palin in 2007 and talked to her over lunch at the governor's mansion in Juneau. I was impressed. She talked quite ably about energy, taxes, and the environment--issues on the table in Alaska. I wrote a highly favorable story about her. I thought she was a brilliant choice as McCain's vice presidential running mate in 2008.

By itself, two months on the Republican ticket won't propel her to the presidential nomination. But there is a way: win Alaska's lone House seat in 2012 and oust Democratic senator Mark Begich in 2014. A term in the House and another in the Senate--nothing would do more to groom her for the White House than this and transform her into the best Republican candidate for the presidency in, say, 2020, when she'd be 56.

[babooph]

They made their silk purse from a sows ear with little Bush ,Why not again-the US propaganda system sold one idiot already.

[noloyalisti]

Palin quit to start a new line of lipsticks. They are designed only for pigs.

[daffy64]

And you really think Obama is "qualified to be the leader of the free world"???? All he does is apologize.

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He must have been reading that crazy Jesus guy's book!!!

[mzwild]

Gawd! My greatest wish is that she DOES run in 2012. I will follow her on twitter, quote her and invest in extra-absorbent Depends from LMAO. I will not vote fer her tho-it is only the fear-mongering, righteous, racist haters who will ... well, yanno? She does have a higher purpose. To provide comic relief to those of us whom are aware and concious, not like Rush & the CEO's of infamy who bled this nation without remorse, his drug addiction, just to name one pathetic republican.

[noloyalisti]

Failin Quaylin Palin supports guns and killing stuff. Another extremist Christian wacko with nothing bu air between the ears. Just like Bushoccio. No wonder some Republicons like her.

[daffy64]

Americans always seem to chose the "sizzle over the steak". Maybe it's because they don't have the Monarchy to fawn and gossip over any more so the President becomes your de-facto "King".

The idea that any politician has to be "charismatic" and a "moral leader" is ridiculous. You have movie stars for charisma and religious leaders to preach morals. The President's job is to work as part of the government making everyday choices about international affairs, the economy etc.

I admit Canadian politicians are "boring" (except maybe Pierre Trudeau), but who cares? They do the job we pay them to do. I don't care if they're "dazzling".

Is Gordon Brown in Britain "charismatic"? Is Germany's Angela Merkel?

It's only an issue in the States.

[tomadams99]

Ms. Palin resigned for all the right reasons, and she did so with dignity. She is unlike the run of the mill politician who insists he or she did nothing wrong. Will she ever be president...I doubt it for three simple reasons...she is attractive, she is smart, and she endears the common man with her folksy manner. The libbies out there cannot stand those traits in a woman. They prefer Botox Pelosi, Funky Feinstein, Bubblehead Boxer, etc. They are real lookers and oh so smart in the eyes of libbies.

[velma179]

And what were those "right reasons"?

She stated -- albeit in a circular, hard to follow ramble: since she was not going to run for election again, she would be a "lame duck"... and then went on to list why a politician would not do their job in that situation. The how-could-you-have-missed-it implication was she would flat out NOT be doing the job of governor without the goal of re-election.

How can that possibly be a "right reason"? One of the things all of us find repugnant about politicians of all ideologies and parties is their focus on FIRST getting re-elected, THEN maybe doing some work for the people who they coddled into casting votes for them.

(Of course in her almost incoherent, rambling speech Mrs. Palin also gave other reasons such as what a persecuted-beyond-all-others victim she has become.... and AFTER reading the responses to her speech, she picked that one to continue her media marathon explanation.)

Attractive, smart and endearing people, men or women, have been and will continue to be elected to office -- what the majority of Americans require along with these appealing traits is intelligence and a sense that the candidate understands WHO it is they serve.
For Mrs. Palin, it has become clear who she serves FIRST is herself.

By the way -- you sure don't have a right to say what "libbies" or anyone else prefers as traits in women... since if you, yourself don't like a woman, you resort to name-calling and insult. Pathetic.

[toldyouso29]

LMAO!!!! TRANSLATION SUMMARY FOR ALL LUADDA22 COMMENTS: "I know "We" are ...but what are you guys?"

Try original thought. Try facts and information not compare and contrast. Contrary to the Republican tactics used every election season; smears, comparisons, denigration and castigation are NOT ways to win either debates, or dialog--it is the response of a lazy mind. Promote Sara or the GOP on their merits--if you can find any--because the days of just blasting or contrasting your opponents or blaming it all on Clinton or the other party is pretty much gone.

As an Independent, I'd like to know what the Republican party has done to benefit the nation in the past 8 years. Do not use the "we never had a terrorist attack on domestic soil after 9/11--because Clinton can make the same claim about the attack in 1993 and his subsequent time in office--not to mention attacks around the world have grown exponentially since our Iraq debacle.

Just the facts please. We can compare and contrast forever but for the "merits" of what the Republicans accomplished in the past 8 years--do tell.

We'll wait. LOL

[OregonJames]

Sarah Palin is a quitter that could not stand the heat of her position. She is unfit for any office and has no respect for those that elected her. To me she is nothing more than life support for a vagina. I would not vote for her if she were the only person running.

[shurch4truth]

The irony...many Dems hope she will run for Pres in 2012

Most smart Republicans (probably all) are scared to death she'll run.

[ChiefP]

I think it's a wonderful thing that "independents" now outrank either pure Dems or pure Repubs. It's about time that we started thinking for ourselves and make sound, logical choices vice strictly partisan. Sure, there will still be plenty of dittohead repubs on the right and Pink Party and GLBT fringes on the left, but America has to be for all of us not just the radical fringes. Most of us don't hate others just becuase of their party affiliation or voting patterns. Thank goodness we are growing as a society and as a nation. As for those uninformed blame gamers that think the Dems bankrupted social security - pls study a little, learn and get real. The financial collapse - - again, not sure where you've been for the 8 years before the new administration and congress but time to doth your rumplestiltskin PJs and join the real world. What does anyone have against a person having a real choice between types of medical insurance? I'd prefer to be able to choose what's best for me and my family, including a public type of plan. I don't mind paying for it but the HMOs are as or more greedy than the freewheeling CEOs in the financial sector that stole so many people life savings and retirements accounts. I don't trust the CEOs of the health care industry and pharmaceutical conglomerates any more than I trust the last group of elites that took us down the wrong path and had us all sipping purple kool-aide.

[longtree-2009]

palin apparently has the republican base in her pocket. if each of those republicans donate 20% of their monthly income, before taxes, to palin then she might have the financial base to reach and acquire her "higher calling", whatever that means to her and the republican base. 7 out of 10 republicans would still vote for her, even though she quit. wondering what does that say about the republicans, base or not, and palin? wondering too, if palin has the ability to really learn and expand her knowledge base of the world, world politics, the usa and its politics, global issues, usa issues?

[proudmilvet]

Well I've gone on for far too long. Unfortunatly anything that I've spoken about tonight will probably happen when Pigs Fly. GOD BLESS AMERICA! Also as Edward R. Murrow would say: "GOOD NIGHT & GOOD LUCK"

[formrusmcsgt]

Determined to remove any doubt people may have about how downright ignorant the broad is, Palin stated that if she were in the White House, the "department of law" would protect her from baseless ethical allegations.

There is no "Department of Law" at the White House.

[proudmilvet]

I know I've been going on & on about this, but it's probably my insomnia. Does'nt anyone in here also believe that for the sake of our Country we should finally ditch this phony & devisive Liberal/Conservative B.S. & go back to being Mainstream Republicans & Democrats.During my time in the Military i didn't care about which political party any of my buddies supported or belonged to & neither did they about mine.all we knew was that we had a job to do for the American People & we had better get it done as successfully as possible because we w'ere all Americans. Why can't Politicians & Media Pundits think the same way?

[toldyouso29]

Don't blame Fox News or Rush for feeding a need that quite a few in the right have for their product. That these people are malleable and eager to hate their fellow countrymen due to race, creed, religion, gender orientation, political affiliation, etc is not the fault of the media--they are just exploiting it--they simply found a very ugly yet viable vein of ignorance to tap into. If you must blame anyone for the division, blame the politicians and parties for it. We can start with the racial tactics used during the Willie Horton scare, work our way through Bush saying McCain had a child by a black prostitute, icing the whole thing with swift boating Kerry, then swing around to some Maccaca sprinkles from Allen, the commercials used against Harold Ford and add a large helping of torture and wars based on lies while calling all who opposed it ---traitors or unpatriotic as the final cherry.

THOSE things did not come from the media. The far right would not be selling their products of hate and vaguely hidden racism and bigotry if there was not a ready market for it. The Republicans are reaping what they sow--as for America--like every other drug addict who indulges in evil that pollutes--we have to hit rock bottom, then due to our disgust,; ESCHEW the offerings from such a venal and craven/hypocritical party. That may be now--it may not be--but certainly at least 18% of Americans have not hit this bottom, they are in the mud and poo--reveling in the texture--the smell and depravity of where they revel has not hit them yet.

[proudmilvet]

Whenever i think of Rush Limbaugh I think of General Norman Schwarzkoph's comments about Saddam Hussein At the end of the Gulf War in 1991: "As far as his being a great Military strategist, he is neither a strategist, nor is he schooled in the operational arts, nor is he a tactician, nor is he a General, nor is he a Soldier, other than that he's a great Military Man. LOL!

[proudmilvet]

Can you imagine the things that could get done in this Country if People regardless of whether they are Republican or Democrat would begin to reject the Silly, Childish,worn out idea's & strict Ideologic philosophys of the Far Right & Far Left.Kind of almost makes you nostalgic for the pre-watergate Nixon & the post-watergate Ford!Today i doubt if Nixon could be nominated by his party."Leader" Limbaugh would consider him a RINO. LOL!

[proudmilvet]

As i said before,regardless of which party you support the current poisoned political atmosphere is the creation of the likes of Rush Limbaugh, Rupert Murdoch, & the Fox News Crowd.They have absolutly no intention of promoting any political compromise in this country.They could care less about the Middle Class, the Working Poor, or the unemployed or uninsured through nofault of their own in this Country. What matters ONLY to them is that they do not risk losing a Dime of their untold Multi-millions of Dollars of Money! Political wise i consider myself a Moderate Democrat, but even if the folks mentioned above considered themselves the same i would still blame them all for their Cold & Uncaring Greed. Certainly not for their so-called Patriotism. They are all modern day Hucksters, like some of the Phoney TV Televangelists.

[proudmilvet]

Even as a registered Democrat I still respect most Republicans, as i hope they would respect me!I also believe they need to get beyond Ronald Reagan. God Bless him but he is Long gone.What i think we need much more of today are MODERATE Republicans & Democrats who are pragmatic, respect one another,& can compromise with one another to get things done for our country!This Liberal/Conservative nonsense,is what is killing this country! There is no compromise, never will be, only name calling & insults.Remember this is the United States Of America, not the United States Of Limbaugh.

[proudmilvet]

Like the great actress Dame Judi Dench said in the James Bond Movie Casino Royal,"Christ, I miss the Cold War!"