| What follows is a short synopsis about each of | | | | other hand his reputation as a big spender as |
| the seven most likely Republican nominees for | | | | Governor of Arkansas will put him at odds with |
| President in 2012. They are listed in order of how | | | | anti-everything spirit of the billionaire funded Tea |
| likely I think it is that they will win the GOP | | | | Party "movement." |
| nomination. I'm basing prediction on polling and | | | | #4 Mitt Romney |
| some other factors. | | | | I believe Romney has the best chance of actually |
| #1 Sarah Palin | | | | beating President Obama in 2012, but luckily for |
| Palin at #1? Yes, that's how out to lunch the | | | | the Democratic Party I don't think he's crazy |
| modern Republican Party really is. It's become a | | | | enough to win the Republican nomination. He |
| good thing among Republicans to be ignorant and | | | | comes across as far too "moderate" for the Tea |
| not particularly intelligent and in these two ways | | | | Party crowd and his "flip flopping" on abortion |
| Sarah Palin excels like no one else (besides | | | | (along with his Mormonism) makes him an |
| perhaps Michelle Bachmann of Minnesota.) | | | | uncomfortable fit for the Evangelicals who make |
| Palin quit her job as Governor of Alaska to | | | | up a big portion of the Republican primary voters. |
| become a professional Twitter poster. | | | | #5 Jeb Bush |
| Her lack of basic knowledge and her below | | | | Another Bush? It seems unlikely, but when looking |
| average intelligence may make her a favorite | | | | at the extremely weak GOP field I think it could |
| among Republican voters but it should also make | | | | actually happen. That said, I think it's more likely |
| her an easy opponent for President Obama | | | | he won't run. Perhaps he'll try it in 2016 when the |
| among the general electorate. | | | | bad memory of his brother has receded farther |
| #2 Newt Gingrich | | | | into history. |
| Palin & Gingrich? Am I joking? If only I were. This | | | | #6 David Petraeus |
| is where we are at in 2010. People who should be | | | | This seems like wishful thinking for Republicans |
| laughed off the stage are being taken seriously as | | | | who think the rest of the field is weak (and |
| potential Republican nominees for President. | | | | they're right about that.) I think it's highly unlikely |
| Gingrich is best remembered for dragging the | | | | that Petraeus would run. |
| country through the dirt as Speaker of the House | | | | Also Petraeus once described himself as a |
| in the 1990s. Remember when he shut down the | | | | "Rockefeller Republican" (socially liberal) which |
| government because of a personal problem he | | | | would probably be a point in his favor in the |
| had with President Clinton? | | | | general election but would make winning the GOP |
| #3 Mike Huckabee | | | | nomination much more difficult. |
| Huckabee comes across as generally likeable | | | | #7 Rudy Giuliani |
| (which makes him much different than Palin and | | | | After his disastrous run in 2008, it seems unlikely |
| Gingrich) and his social conservatism will definitely | | | | he would try again. |
| appeal to a big part of the GOP base. On the | | | | |