Sarah Palin Wins Straw Poll in LANDSLIDE!!

@anniepa (27955)
United States
July 27, 2010 12:45am CST
The problem is, it's probably not the kind of poll she'd like to win. At the Netroots Nation convention in Las Vegas this past weekend attendees overwhelmingly voted for Palin as the person they want to mount a Presidential campaign in 2012. "Respondents were asked who would they "most like to see" as the GOP nominee to challenge Obama for reelection two years from now. Netroots attendees preferred Sarah Palin, with 48 percent of them choosing her. The next closest vote-getter was libertarian Rep. Ron Paul with 11 percent, followed by former Sen. Rick Santorum with 10 percent and former Gov. Mitt Romney with 9 percent. The others trailed in this order: Former Speaker Newt Gingrich (8 percent), Gov. Tim Pawlenty (7 percent), Former Gov. Mike Huckabee (5 percent) and Rep. Mike Pence (1 percent)." (End of excerpt) : http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/07/its-a-landslide-netroots-want-sarah-palin-to-run-for-prez.php I know this is just a group of progressive activists, but I think they have something here. I tend to agree that anyone who supports President Obama to win a second term would prefer the GOP nominee to be Sarah Palin over any of the others who have been mentioned as possible contenders! What do you think? My next choices would have to be Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich because they're both also VERY divisive and would have a hard time pulling in any independents or anyone other than the farthest right conservatives. Annie
2 people like this
10 responses
@callmecat (247)
• United States
27 Jul 10
Of course Sarah Palin should try and run in the 2012 election. I'd love to watch her lose again. ;)
2 people like this
@matersfish (6306)
• United States
27 Jul 10
I can't really blame likely Republican voters for choosing Palin. The Republicans have nothing new to bring to the table overall. They're all hell on beating the "common sense" drum now but were absent with that sht for the last 8 years. In a lot of people's minds, Palin wins strictly because she isn't "establishment." At least not yet. We don't have good politicians anywhere. Even on the Democrat side, what's left for you guys other than an ubercharismatic Obama? For Pete's sake. It's saddening to look out at the political pool and realize that they're tools.
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
27 Jul 10
I'm not sure who I think likely Republican voters would choose but this discussion isn't about them. This straw poll was held at the Netroots Nation Convention, which was a gathering of progressive activists, not likely Republican voters. They were choosing the candidates they felt would be the easiest to beat in 2012, NOT the one they'd like to see as President. Annie
@jb78000 (15139)
27 Jul 10
doubt they are tools mrfish. tools are useful. in fact i need a toolbox, i certainly do not want a politician box. they'd expect to be fed.
1 person likes this
• United States
27 Jul 10
Okay. Read it wrong. It was a Che t-shirt sell-a-thon. My bad. But the second part still stands.
@irisheyes (4370)
• United States
29 Jul 10
I kinda have a soft spot for Newt and I wouldn't mind seeing him run for President even though I wouldn't vote for him. He had very nice things to say about Hillary one and I liked him for that. He would suit my purposes since I think he couldn't win but I would not mind him being constantly in the news. As for Rick "The Sneer" Santorum, I just want that guy to fade away and stay gone. Even though I agree with you that he would be very divisive, the guy just creeps me out and I don't want to see or hear any more of him.
1 person likes this
@Qaeyious (2357)
• United States
27 Jul 10
I wrote Ron Paul in last election. If his message is basically the same I'll write him in again if no party will take him. I have accepted federal voting results as less-important results. What really matters is the local level to get things done in your own area.
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
27 Jul 10
Maybe in the bigger cities they can get things done on the local level but not i a small town like mine and all of the many small towns that surround my area. I guess what I was really asking in my OP was who you'd have chosen as the candidate the Democrats would have the easiest time with. I was surprised that Ron Paul finished second, albeit a very distant second, in this straw poll because I think he just could be a formidable opponent. I also doubt the GOP would ever allow him to be their nominee. Annie
• United States
27 Jul 10
I saw that and laughed....because of course the democrats are going to pick for the other side someone they could easily beat. Out of that whole list I would only vote for one of those candidate..as you guessed it would be Ron Paul..I don't like any of the others. I can't even believe Newt is even THINKING about running. But I have read reports that he is. That is almost laughable. I hope he thinks better of it. I just want decent candidates on both sides. If I could set up a dream election it would be Nader for the Dems and Paul for the Repub. That way I would not care who won...either way the country would be getting a dang good president. I think now that Newt has gotten stupid and thrown his hat in ring (sort of) we are going to see ALOT more come out of woodworks. Come January we are going to be up to our necks in republicans running in the primary. It will be interesting to see how decides they want to go for it. Here's hoping we have some decent choices. If not...I am going third party.
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
27 Jul 10
That was the point, to choose the candidate they felt would be the easiest to beat! An organization in which the majority of its members support the President isn't going to pick someone they think could actually win. Annie
• United States
27 Jul 10
The fact the dems WANT her to run should tell the GOP something right there. I had high hopes for her when she first came out on the national stage...but I can't say I am impressed with her now. Her personal life in the tabloids aside....She is good for delivering catch phrases...not much on substance. She had a change to prove herself a "rogue" and all she has done is prove to be a "status quo" republican who the party is using to try and take over the tea party.
1 person likes this
@artistry (4152)
• United States
27 Jul 10
.....Hi annie, Hope you are well. I love it. Let them all try, what we need here are jobs. If they let the tax cuts expire and they should, that will free up money for possible job creation and also pass that job's bill. I think if people start seeing jobs coming back in the ecomony the attitudes will change. Right now that's not happening to the extend that it should. What happened to the money in the stimulus for jobs I don't know? Sarah Lee is a joke in my mind. Even if she has been getting someone to write more speeches with a little more substance and policy in them. But ask her to explain what she said she would stare at you and wink. Empty as a hollow log I'm sorry to say. Bring on Mitt, at least he can think on his feet, changes every other day, but he can reach a conclusion and not keep repeating the same thing over and over again, not having a clue. I like a fight, with issues on the table and someone who can articulate on both sides. Obama us up to the task. We just have to get jobs rolling. Tell Sarah Lee to go back to Alaska and finish her term, who would elect a quitter? Take care.
1 person likes this
@bobmnu (8157)
• United States
29 Jul 10
And both President Obama and VP Biden are great thinkers on their feet. "Stank up Charlie - oops Charlie is in a Wheel chair, or I have campaigned in 57 States.
@sierras236 (2739)
• United States
27 Jul 10
As many discussions as you start on her, you would think that she is actually running for President. I would be curious to know the percentage of women at this convention. I have a feeling that many men think it would easier to beat a woman instead of a man. (Gender bias is alive and well especially if the makeup is 90% men. Oddly enough, that same belief is alive and well for some women too.) In some weird way, it was proven in the last election. But that's a side issue. If Sarah Palin was going to run, I would advise her to wait until 2016 and not run in 2012. I hate to say this but the most polarizing figure of them all is President Obama, himself.
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
28 Jul 10
Gee, I haven't started hardly ANY on her lately...lol! Anyway, I think she IS running, I have little doubt about it. She's playing a little game now, hoping enough people "beg" her to run. That's not to say I think she'll follow it through to the end, however. I have no idea what the gender make-up of this group was. I sure won't disagree that gender bias is sadly still alive and well but I don't think it's really come into play regarding Palin. To be honest, it really irritates me when women, regardless of party affiliation or ideology, act in a way that puts fuel on the fire of the sexists. I also can't disagree that this nation has been more polarized since President Obama was elected but I don't think it's his fault. I realize that's a whole 'nother discussion, however! Annie
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
27 Jul 10
If you wanted to discredit someone or make their chances for winning appear small, you would definitely tout them as the person you feel most confident of beating, and do so in a deprecating way. This isn't a bit surprising, most liberals can't go a whole day without uttering the words "Sarah Palin". The obsession drives them to name her as the candidate they feel has the least chance against Obama - it's because they truly fear that she does have a chance. This way, they think to convince everyone else of what they themselves are not completely sure. But, as Willie Wonka would say: "Never, ever doubt what no one is sure about".
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
27 Jul 10
Yes, I believe she would...again, jb. I've been a Republican for over 35 years and I have never been insulted or called names (RHINO) by members of my own party until recently. The diehard far right wing has no love for the moderates due to the division that exists within the Party itself.
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
28 Jul 10
What I find amusing is the view that folks can't see, hear and think for themselves. The media is not entirely responsible for the opinions that were formed about Palin. Her own words and actions have formed and re-formed them.
@jb78000 (15139)
27 Jul 10
i know annie starts 6,000 discussions a day about palin , but i am sure most liberals can manage a bit longer without mentioning her. anyway just guessing, but wouldn't she put a lot of moderate conservatives and floating voters off?
@irishidid (8688)
• United States
27 Jul 10
A second term of Obama is equal to a second term of Bush. A total nightmare. Infact a much worse nightmare. Who knows if Palin will run, but if she does I'd vote for her just to irritate people. After all, the Obama voters deserve to be irritated and I will relish every moment. LOL I'll settle for the democrats losing the majority in November. That isn't because they are democrats but because no one party should have complete control. They tend to forget about checks and balances.
• United States
27 Jul 10
you said it...when ever either side gets a complete majority the power goes to their heads and they go nuts. It never works out well.
• United States
29 Jul 10
Could any of the possible candidates you mentioned be worse than Obama?
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
29 Jul 10
Only EVERY one! Annie
• United States
30 Jul 10
How can you say that when they've not yet been tested as President?
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
1 Aug 10
Let's just say I wouldn't want any of them to face that test, it would be too dangerous for the rest of us. Annie