While the Rod Blagojevich arrest news and all the emerging questions ring on, A Second Hand Conjecture looks at who may become Leader of the Opposition
Whilst most elected Republicans are still preoccupied in pledging to work with (or for) the Obama administration, Sarah Palin isn’t having any of it.This is significant criticism, because it is vitally important that a Republican leader emerges who can command a media platform, and will articulate regular opposition to the Obama administration on national policy. Naturally, whoever does emerge to shoulder this burden, will be perfectly placed to continue that opposition in the next presidential election.
There’s certainly no point in looking to the decimated and newly submissive ranks of congress for this leadership. As in 1976, political reality mandates that it must come from outside Washington. Interestingly, Palin possesses an advantage over Reagan when he sought to become this kind of external leader of the opposition: she holds political office and can reinforce her criticism with independent action, as the new pipeline with Canada demonstrates.
Any Republican who aspires to leadership now has an excellent opportunity with the Blago scandal. Palin may be one, but more are needed.
Who will take advantage of this opportunity? We’ll find out.
