Just three weeks ago a general observer of Republican politics would have guessed Mark Sanford to be the most likely fiscal conservative candidate from South Carolina to land the 2012 GOP presidential nomination. Three days ago, the same observer would probably have named Sarah Palin as the social conservative who has the best shot at the job. Three years from now the best choice for both will be SC Senator Jim DeMint.
Until the Sanford implosion, DeMint would have been reluctant to elbow into the palmetto state parade led by his fellow South Carolinian hailed as the only governor to fight Obama to the finish on the stimulus money. If not for Palin’s bizarre choice to end her only chance to accumulate legitimate executive experience, she would have remained the favorite of the pro-lifers and churched. Now DeMint can squeeze through the door they’ve left ajar just in time to launch his new book, “Saving Freedom: We Can Stop America’s Slide into Socialism.”
He’s the most fiscal conservative member of the US Senate. And while his wit and wisdom are expressed in the manner of gentle kitten, his courage is that of a lion. Few national politicians have the nerve to discuss certain polemic issues publicly, let alone write about them as he did in his book “Why We Whisper: Restoring our Right to Say It’s Wrong.”
He may not have the name recognition, money or television exposure to duel with the likes of Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee right now, but the foolish ways of Sanford and Palin crack the door just enough for him to have the chance to eventually get there.
Moe Lane
Steve Maley
Dan McLaughlin
Neil Stevens
Daniel Horowitz
Oh thanks. Now we will be invaded by the DeMintbots.
Tbone (Diary) Monday, July 6th at 7:16PM EST (link)How are we ever going to deal with both of them?
Envisioning when all that is Left is the Right.
You know Tbone- I was neutral until this post
Scope (Diary) Monday, July 6th at 7:48PM EST (link)You really need to get a life. DeMintbots? Now I really have to wonder just what planet you are coming from. If you question DeMint, you really have no place on a Republican/Conservative site. What do you support? You have me totally confused. Have you been an operative all along? You sure as hel! sound like one.
I also hate having to explain knock-knock jokes.
Tbone (Diary) Monday, July 6th at 8:42PM EST (link)“How are we ever going to deal with both of them?”
The key word is “both”. That would indicate that Demint only has TWO bots. That would be indicative of his lack of a fervent group of core supporters,(called a “personality cult” by Palin bashers), which would be indicative of the fact that to be a viable candidate he will need to somehow generate a core group of fervent supporters(see “FredHeads”),
Now, if he has the charisma to do that he has a chance. If not, he has a Senate pension.
Now, if you are still confused, what I support is my sig line and I don’t care how we get there.
Envisioning when all that is Left is the Right.
one down, one to go ;-) lol
JLenardDetroit (Diary) Monday, July 6th at 8:55PM EST (link)and now I’m an even bigger fan of Palin considering those who have expressed annoyance over her
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Neil Stevens (Diary) Monday, July 6th at 8:45PM EST (link)Lighten up, Francis.
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DeMint would have a small chance-similar to Fred in 08
red_oakster (Diary) Monday, July 6th at 7:51PM EST (link)Anyone who wants the GOP presidential nomination must do well in the Iowa-New Hampshire preliminaries. DeMint could win in Iowa or finish a strong second if Huckabee stumbled and social conservatives rallied to him. His chances certainly are no worse than Pawlenty; and Romney’s fade in Iowa in 2008 may set Mitt up to finish worse than second in Iowa in 2012-another potentially good break for DeMint.
DeMint probably couldn’t do well in New Hampshire. But a strong Iowa showing would set up DeMint to compete in the South. Of course the South Carolina primary wouldn’t count for much if DeMint was the favorite son.
But if Demint caught a break in Iowa that Fred Thompson failed to catch in 2008, he has the ability to close the sale in a way that Huckabee cannot. So it’s not an inconceivable scenario.
Demint and Cantor
mbauer (Diary) Tuesday, July 7th at 11:35AM EST (link)have risen to the top of my 2012 watch list over the last week. Friends of mine from S.C. usually have a far greater personal opinion of DeMint than Sanford. It’ll be interesting to watch the events unfold.
Of course, I’m still waiting for our SoS’s ego to clash with that of our POTUS so we have 2 primaries to watch next time around.