Who will the GOP run in 2012? McCain is a fall guy and they will wait in the wings for Reagan 2

[synesthesia]

I keep a close eye on the Republicans and their doings.

Their strategy right now, is basically, they're going to throw this mess to Hillary/Obama (and boy what a mess it is), and try to Jimmy Carter him/her.

Remember how easily people forgot about Nixon and ushered in Reagan dominance in 1980.

The Dem nominee is going to inherit a country that is in terrible shape, that will take a long time to fix, if ever. But they'll make people forget about Bush and pretend it was all Hillary's fault.

Then in 2012, with the country reeling from years of recession and energy crisis, they will stage a 1980 type coup.

This is why they're not even going to pretend to get behind McCain. People who are worried about him are irrationaly scared. He is a flawed politician. He only won the GOP nod by default because Romney was Mormon, Rudy had the most baggage EVER, and Thompson was always a joke to anyone outside free republic. He will get crushed by either Hillary or Obama.

2012 is when one must worry. But who does the GOP have in the wings? Who will be their Reagan in 4 years?

Perhaps John Thune, the senator from South Dakota. He's very good looking and is an evangelical so he will rally the activists in Iowa, etc. He might be too good looking though, in that Romney Ken Doll way. Something about him is flawed, but it might be him.

People talk about Crist, the governor from Florida. He has the look and appeal, but there's a lot of rumors he's homosexual, and some other weirdness, and that won't fly with the GOP base.

South Carolina governor Mark Sanford. He could be it. I think it will be either Sanford or Thune.

[DUyellow]

1. Jeb

[Sir Jeffrey]

3. Seconded.

[TornadoTN]

7. Third(ed)!

Their grooming Jeb for a run in 2012. I really have my suspicions that is why they eagerly speak of Hillary as the nominee they want - they would love that matchup.

[Sir Jeffrey]

10. What's scary is that Jeb is not a fuckup like his brother...

Jeb is pretty quick and intelligent. He is also a good campaigner and was very popular in Florida.

Okay, I need to take a shower after complimenting Jeb that much.

[synesthesia]

4. Nah

the Bush family is done for a very long time. The dirty little secret is that even Republicans who pretend to like George, really don't. It's just spite for liberals or they think he's a nice family man.

That whole family is cursed with the electorate. They're done for a long time.

Maybe George P, the son of Jeb, who's half Latino, might be President in 20 years, when the sting will have worn off and the demographics have changed (I expect the GOP to make inroads with Latinos). In fact, he probably will be. But Jeb is finished. The antipathy for the Bushes is far too great for 15 years or so.

[Sir Jeffrey]

12. The Republicans who secretly dislike W...

still like Jeb.

Do not discount his political future out of hand. Things can change a lot in 4 years.

[Politicub]

14. Yep - that's why he didn't run this year

[grantcart]

2. it will be a govenor

[cobalt1999]

8. Some southern or western state governor.

I agree. It won't be Jeb though.

[synesthesia]

9. agree

watch out for this guy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Sanford

I think he didn't run in 2008 because it's a Democratic year.

If the Democrats were as good as the GOP, they'd start the oppositional research early and ruin his image before he can define it. The GOP spent like a decade anticipating the Hillary run and spoiled her for most people from the get go.

[cobalt1999]

5. I too think the republicans have written of 2008.

McCain is just too old to wait.

They already know they aren't going to win.

[in_cog_ni_to]

6. Jeb will be his VP. I thought Romney would win because that's who the BFEE wants

it looks I was wrong about Romney though....maybe. Either way, McCain or Romney wins, JEB will be VP.

[aquart]

16. Jeb will not be on a Republican ticket.

The Bush stench WILL last that long. And hordes of young Turks have been waiting to do an Obama on their own party. But the Bush hold was too strong. Now, they can insist from the ground up that their campaigns have to be clean of the taint.

[lurky]

11. So McCain is the Bob Dole of 2008?

Hope you're right. :)

[oviedodem]

13. CRIST!! ROFL!!

:rofl:

This dude is fast-tracking the Florida economy into the ground. He has high approval ratings b/c of the repub base. His latest budget proposal literally guts Medicaid and every other middle to low income program, along with education scholarships.

He is a complete joke.

[momster]

15. We Won't Forget

and neither will anybody else. How could they possibly spin the GWB/Cheney years into anything good in only 4 years? It will take at least 12 and things would have to get really, really ugly before there's any widespread nostalgia, even among the chattering classes who deify Ronnie, for these terrible days.

[synesthesia]

17. hrmm

I don't know, people's memory is awfully short.

Hillary (she's going to win, but I'll say or Obama as to not offend anyone), is going to have to do some really really unpopular things.

Massive tax hikes, withdrawal from Iraq (there will be genocide there when this happens, Hannity will go on and on about how the Democrats, or Defeat-O-Crats, are responsible for this), the economy is going to be worse than anyone can imagine for no fault of her own, energy shortages, gas prices at 8 dollars a gallon.

And with the amount of negativity Hillary has already, it will be really easy for the right wing pundits to blame her for all of it. People know Bush was terrible, but they have no idea how privatized everything has become, how we have sold off our entire nation to foreign entities, etc.

It's going to be a bloodbath, and I'm not too optimistic people will be able to fully appreciate how much of it's roots came from the past.

[synesthesia]

18. .

Also, the 2012 guy will not associate himself with Bush. He will be a 'new kind' of politician (I know Obama already used this, but like I said, short memories, people don't even remember Axelrod did Edwards 2004 campaign where he ran as Obama from 2008). Recycled themes are easily forgotten.

Anyways this 'new kind of Republican' (some new clever marketing variant of compassionate conservatism), will not be seen as associated with Bush, much as Obama has distanced himself from the divisive Clintons.

So it won't really matter he's a Republican.

John Thune already has been making remarks to distance himself, and I think him or Sanford are the possible guys.

[Angela Shelley]

19. Take a deep breath and return to reality.