Who Can Lead The Republicans?

I am asked all the time who will emerge as the next Reagan. I suspect nobody will. Our Ron was a different kind of man for a different kind of time than this. Both the economy and the Democrats were less problematical. Events and underlying trends hadn't played themselves out to the degree they now have. No one wanted to drive the oil companies out of business. Few wished Washington to lord it over Wall Street. Things certainly aren't like that now.

The Frank-Waxman-Obama policies, rooted as they are in fantasies about the way economies function and human incentives operate, could yet fall short of fulfillment. Already polls show Americans worried about the overdraft charges piling up as Congress writes one hot check after another. Nor are policies founded on government oversight of everything capable of producing and maintaining the prosperity that Americans regard as their entitlement. Either the economy rights itself without taxes rising or a lot of Democratic seats in Congress are going to have Republican occupants in 2011.

The Republican leader who can accurately limn the dangers while inspiring people to go out and meet them is a rare bird who possibly hasn't hatched yet. Though you never can tell. Already he could be readying himself for flight, without anyone's noticing.

Or, yes, she could be. Why not? Margaret Thatcher was the greatest European leader since Adenauer. Love that woman -- her courage, her brains, her fortitude. Fortitude, yes -- the attribute of which Gov. Palin showed so little in walking away from her day job. If there's more to the governor than right now seems the case, well, praise be, and if she's crazy enough to want the post-Obama presidency, fine. The proof's nonetheless in the pudding.