# So why Palin? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 30, 2009, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-palin/491339 "2009-03-30T18:28:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-palin/491339/121 "2009-04-01T22:03:10Z")
> [@](#): > > When you add in the extreme social views, the hypocritical ethics issues, the hypocritical policy issues, the hypocritical attacks on her opponents, the hypocritical patriotic correctness, the crazy religious views, etc. you do not have a recipe for a “dangerous opponent.” Mean and stupid failed to beat Obama last time, it’s not going to do it the next time. All the same, I think it would be far better for the country in the long run for a sane, reasoned, intelligent, and good-principled Republican to run against Obama (or whomever the Democratic candidate is in 2016), no matter who wins or loses. For someone like Palin to win the nomination in 2012 would slow down the recovery of not only the Republican party, but also the nation. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-palin/491339/122 "2009-04-01T22:17:23Z")
The whole Palin thing reminds me of some movie or sci-fi trope that I can’t quite put my finger on. The closest thing is the old Hulk series back in the 1970’s. We’re all familiar with it… you make the Hulk angry, he turns big and green, and then he starts going nuts on everything. Depending on what week you were watching, going crazy-go-nuts was either the solution to or the cause of the episode’s conflict. In the 2008 presidental election, the American electorate played the part of Hulk. voting for Sarah Palin was the equivalent of Hulking out… abandoning reason and hoping that raw emotion, bluster, and pigheaded brute force would save the day. We liberals sat on the edge of our seats wondering if Hulk (the electorate) was going to freak out and start tearing things apart (embrace the Palin idiocy). Fortunately, the voters calmed down, de-Hulked, and landed the distressed airliner [actual Hulk episode] skillfully enough to awake in shredded Chinos, horrified by what they almost ended up doing. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-palin/491339/123 "2009-04-01T22:18:46Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > All the same, I think it would be far better for the country in the long run for a sane, reasoned, intelligent, and good-principled Republican to run against Obama (or whomever the Democratic candidate is in 2016), no matter who wins or loses. We’ll have to amend the Constitution to allow unicorns to run for office, but apart form that I’m all for it. ---
**Author:** ![IdahoMauleMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/71c47a/32.png) [@IdahoMauleMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IdahoMauleMan)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-palin/491339/124 "2009-04-01T22:25:03Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > I’m not so sure about either of those. What she lacks is experience, and she’s going to get plenty of that in the next 4-8 years. We’ll see if she learns. If she does, she’ll be a very dangerous opponent in 2012 or 2016 (depending upon how well Obama does). I’d rather put my money on a few of the other young guns (Ryan, McCotter). Or maybe Bobby J. His rebuttal on TV was absolutely horrible. I have no idea who coached him, or what type of training he had before that. But I’ve seen him on many other occasions and he was very good. Don’t know why he screwed up so badly on that particular night. And he’s smart as a whip. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-palin/491339/125 "2009-04-01T22:41:26Z")
> [@IdahoMauleMan](#): > > I’d rather put my money on a few of the other young guns (Ryan, McCotter). Ryan, maybe, assuming you’re talking about the guy who was trying to put forth a budget with actual numbers, but McCotter? The guy who voted against SCHIP? For English to be the official language? For making the Patriot Act permanent? The guy who talked about [speaking Democrat](http://famousdc.com/2008/06/23/does-the-c-in-cspan-stand-for-comedy/)? He seems like a good candidate to you? ---
**Author:** ![IdahoMauleMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/71c47a/32.png) [@IdahoMauleMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IdahoMauleMan)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-palin/491339/126 "2009-04-01T22:46:10Z")
> [@Captain\_Carrot](#): > > Ryan, maybe, assuming you’re talking about the guy who was trying to put forth a budget with actual numbers, but McCotter? The guy who voted against SCHIP? For English to be the official language? For making the Patriot Act permanent? The guy who talked about [speaking Democrat](http://famousdc.com/2008/06/23/does-the-c-in-cspan-stand-for-comedy/)? He seems like a good candidate to you? He does, indeed. Your reaction is entirely predictable. ---
**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:** [April 1, 2009, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-palin/491339/127 "2009-04-01T22:57:45Z")
> [@IdahoMauleMan](#): > > He does, indeed. Your reaction is entirely predictable. Having read lots of Captain Carrot’s posts, I’d agree his reaction was entirely predictable. He has sense. ---
**Author:** ![Algorithm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/algorithm/32/12204_2.png) [@Algorithm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algorithm)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-palin/491339/128 "2009-04-01T23:11:30Z")
> [@IdahoMauleMan](#): > > He does, indeed. Your reaction is entirely predictable. Can you explain why he would be a good candidate? ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-palin/491339/129 "2009-04-01T23:28:31Z")
> [@Captain\_Carrot](#): > > The guy who talked about [speaking Democrat](http://famousdc.com/2008/06/23/does-the-c-in-cspan-stand-for-comedy/)? He seems like a good candidate to you? Whoa, what the hell was that? An SNL parody? Was he abused by a Mad Lib as a child? ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-palin/491339/130 "2009-04-02T06:25:22Z")
Sometimes I wonder if there is an intelligence test you have to fail to be a Republican leader. It didn’t use to be like this. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-palin/491339/131 "2009-04-02T07:47:21Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > I’ll bet you $500 that she doesn’t get even 5 percent of the vote in New Hampshire in 2012. No bet. In 2012 she’d be going up against an incumbent Obama. 2012 is going to be a bad year to be a Republican. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-palin/491339/132 "2009-04-02T10:41:33Z")
It’s been said before, but if the Republicans want to win in 2012 they’re going to have to cut loose the lunatic fringe and try to steal the center back by running one of their currently-pariah “RINOs”. Could you imagine the handwringing on the left if the GOP put forward, say, Olympia Snowe as a candidate? ---
**Author:** ![stolichnaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bcef8e/32.png) [@stolichnaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stolichnaya)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-palin/491339/133 "2009-04-02T13:27:54Z")
I think I’d wring my hands a lot less than I did when there was a tiny chance that someone like Palin would be making decisions for the whole country. I’d have to seriously consider voting for Snowe, especially if Obama screws up large. Of course I think he’s doing a fine job so far. ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-palin/491339/134 "2009-04-02T15:11:26Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > It’s been said before, but if the Republicans want to win in 2012 they’re going to have to cut loose the lunatic fringe and try to steal the center back by running one of their currently-pariah “RINOs”. Could you imagine the handwringing on the left if the GOP put forward, say, Olympia Snowe as a candidate? I don’t think there would be a lot of handwringing. I think no small number of people on the left would cheerfully vote for her without any complaint or regret. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-palin/491339/135 "2009-04-02T15:35:27Z")
Even at the expense of putting the Republicans in office again and ousting Obama? Even if her running mate was, say, Mike Huckabee? ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-palin/491339/136 "2009-04-02T15:38:47Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Even at the expense of putting the Republicans in office again and ousting Obama? Even if her running mate was, say, Mike Huckabee? That would first depend on Obama’s performance and the state of the legislature in 2012. Second, Mike Huckabee? Tell me another one. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-palin/491339/137 "2009-04-02T16:08:46Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > No bet. In 2012 she’d be going up against an incumbent Obama. 2012 is going to be a bad year to be a Republican. I meant in the Republican primary. Incumbency shouldn’t matter if we’re only talking about Palin running against other Republicans. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-palin/491339/138 "2009-04-02T16:17:07Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Whoa, what the hell was that? An SNL parody? Was he abused by a Mad Lib as a child? In fairness, it was about as funny as a funeral. (In fairness to SNL writers, I mean.) ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-palin/491339/139 "2009-04-02T17:41:53Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > I meant in the Republican primary. Incumbency shouldn’t matter if we’re only talking about Palin running against other Republicans. Right. How could she plausibly sit that one out? I suppose she could plead that her family needs her, what with a DS infant and an infant grandchild. I suppose that the Macchiavellian option would be for her to be the VP nom of the designated loser (because 2 months’ campaigning wouldn’t be so bad and the VP slot comes with childcare etc), gain another chance to impress, then go on to the nomination itself in 2016. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-palin/491339/140 "2009-04-02T17:50:38Z")
No nominee would be stupid enough to tap her for a running mate again. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-palin/491339.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-palin/491339.md?page=8)