# Sick of "President Palin" talk? How about "President Hannity"? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 28, 2009, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-of-president-palin-talk-how-about-president-hannity/508027 "2009-08-28T14:32:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-of-president-palin-talk-how-about-president-hannity/508027/1 "2009-08-28T14:32:28Z")
> [@](#): > > Talk-show host Sean Hannity, a vocal opponent of Barack Obama’s policies, said today he would not rule out a bid for the presidency in 2012. > > … > > Hannity would make a formidable candidate, with the likability of Reagan, good looks and strong convictions. He’s also a polished communicator and knows the issues inside out. Okay, it’s [WND](http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=107591), but I have to admit that it wouldn’t surprise me. And heck, I’ll happily watch a talk show host other than Jerry Springer put his money where his mouth is. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-of-president-palin-talk-how-about-president-hannity/508027/2 "2009-08-28T14:34:48Z")
Likability? Good looks? Polished communicator? What Sean Hannity are they talking about? ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-of-president-palin-talk-how-about-president-hannity/508027/3 "2009-08-28T14:38:46Z")
“Knows the issues”??? ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-of-president-palin-talk-how-about-president-hannity/508027/4 "2009-08-28T14:44:46Z")
Also: “Egged on by radio colleague Bill Cunningham, Hannity said he would consider entering the front lines of the political fray if God directs him.” Haha, then after the bit about him being good looking, and knowing the issues, the article added: “And he can debate.” If by “debate,” they mean “shut off his guests’ microphones when he’s nothing to say,” then yes, he can. Does anyone remember when those teenaged girls from Columbia U pwned him regarding an illegal immigration/Minutemen debate? Sheer gold. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-of-president-palin-talk-how-about-president-hannity/508027/5 "2009-08-28T14:45:59Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > Likability? Good looks? Polished communicator? What Sean Hannity are they talking about? Likability: He’s not a child molester. Yet, anyway. Good looks: In a plasticky, Ken-doll sort of way. Polished communicator: He’s able to read what other people write for him, without actually having an opinion of his own. Knows the issues: As spun by Murdoch and Associates The guy is a paycheck whore, but so are many politicians, so he’d fit right in. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-of-president-palin-talk-how-about-president-hannity/508027/6 "2009-08-28T14:46:36Z")
Q: would the candidate debates be ‘fair and balanced’? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-of-president-palin-talk-how-about-president-hannity/508027/7 "2009-08-28T14:49:27Z")
He’s never ever ever ever ever going to run. I remember seeing at least one “Rush for President” airplane banner when I was younger, and even at the height of his popularity and influence Rush never ran for office. Another example: Chris Matthews recently flirted with running against Arlen Specter in Pennsylvania. He didn’t do it. A career talk show host is a different kind of person from a career politician: the talk show host wants attention, and the politician wants to be seen as a great person. So talk show hosts love floating their names in things like these, but they never do it. They like to convince themselves they could win if they tried, but in reality, they don’t want to give up the money to take on a bunch of hard work and then be held accountable to all voters - not just devoted fans - for everything they say and do. Before anybody brings up a counterexample, Stephen Colbert doesn’t count because he’s a satirist, and Al Franken doesn’t count because the talk show was a minor part of his career. There’s more overlap between the categories than there used to be, but no matter how many ex-politicians end up hosting TV and radio shows, you won’t see a lot of guys giving up their shows for politics. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-of-president-palin-talk-how-about-president-hannity/508027/8 "2009-08-28T14:54:03Z")
The fact that anyone could take this even the least bit seriously (not that anyone in this thread is, really, at least not yet) makes me want to go slam my head in the door of my car. (Yeah, I feel the same way about Palin.) ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-of-president-palin-talk-how-about-president-hannity/508027/9 "2009-08-28T15:13:53Z")
I’m all for drafting him to run. I’ll kick money into his campaign. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-of-president-palin-talk-how-about-president-hannity/508027/10 "2009-08-28T15:24:14Z")
I would love to see that, if only to chuckle at his supporters trying to justify the glaring holes in his resume. “He was a contractor! He understands small business!” ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-of-president-palin-talk-how-about-president-hannity/508027/11 "2009-08-28T16:53:44Z")
The temptation to make horrible puns involving the word “insanity” would be far too great. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-of-president-palin-talk-how-about-president-hannity/508027/12 "2009-08-28T16:55:12Z")
Don’t forget “vanity” and “calamity”. ---
**Author:** ![Gus\_Gusterson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85f322/32.png) [@Gus\_Gusterson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gus_Gusterson)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-of-president-palin-talk-how-about-president-hannity/508027/13 "2009-08-28T17:08:34Z")
Hannity isn’t allowed to make any more stupid claims until he goes through with his promise to let Charles Grodin waterboard him. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-of-president-palin-talk-how-about-president-hannity/508027/14 "2009-08-28T18:09:15Z")
I decided to take a look to see if Freepers like the idea, and so far I haven’t run across anyone who loves it. These kill me, though: “Hannity, no. Beck, yes.” “The Presidency is far too critical and frankly I wouldn’t want Hannity representing or speaking for me. At this point, Sarah Palin is the only one that truly has a clue and is not tainted.” “Unqualified, self-important, publicity seeker…sound familiar?” “Palin is a serous spokesperson in the political arena.” “Michael Savage would make a better President.” “He’s a woose” Aha! A strong supporter: “Not just yes, but HECK YES. Palin / Hannity 2012. :)” “Seriesly, from the snarky baloney on this thread, perhaps we should just rename the entire thread “Mitt Romney, because he’s got the best hair-do”.” “Sarah Palin/John Bolton 2012” “President Coulter sounds good too.” “What about Palin/Keyes?” “No. He’s over-qualified; so’s Sarah.” “Well-meaning, but very shallow. I feel mildly embarrassed for more intellectual conservatives like Malkin or Coulter when they appear on his show.” ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-of-president-palin-talk-how-about-president-hannity/508027/15 "2009-08-28T19:42:10Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > “Palin is a \*\*serous \*\*spokesperson in the political arena.” [In physiology, the term **serous fluid** is used for various bodily fluids that are typically pale yellow and transparent, and of a benign nature, that fill the inside of body cavities](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serous_fluid). I’ve never _heard_ her speak on behalf of serous fluids, but I have to admit, it sounds about right. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-of-president-palin-talk-how-about-president-hannity/508027/16 "2009-08-28T19:51:58Z")
Except the benign part. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-of-president-palin-talk-how-about-president-hannity/508027/17 "2009-08-28T20:33:37Z")
No thank you, though I suppose he’d be slightly better than Palin. I’m looking forward to “President Gingrich” talk instead since he’s being brought up these days; even if Newt doesn’t make a serious bid heads on the left will explode in a more entertaining fashion than Sean or Sarah’s campaigns could encourage. ---
**Author:** ![Maia\_s\_Well](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Maia\_s\_Well](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maia_s_Well)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-of-president-palin-talk-how-about-president-hannity/508027/18 "2009-08-28T20:55:00Z")
Just wanna say that this thread title, when I first read it, was followed immediately by this thread title: Tell me about a time when you were bone-chillingly, teeth-chatteringly scared. That pretty much summed up my reaction. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-of-president-palin-talk-how-about-president-hannity/508027/19 "2009-08-28T20:55:40Z")
Why would Newt = exploding lefty heads? We don’t much care for him, but at least he’s a serious candidate. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2009, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-of-president-palin-talk-how-about-president-hannity/508027/20 "2009-08-29T00:57:27Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Why would Newt = exploding lefty heads? > > We don’t much care for him, but at least he’s a serious candidate. I don’t know when laughter became synonymous with exploding heads, but at some point that’s where the rhetoric went. If you laugh hysterically at Palin, it means your head is exploding from the thought! Or something. And yeah, nothing wrong with Gingrich as a candidate. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-of-president-palin-talk-how-about-president-hannity/508027.md?page=2)