Who speaks for the GOP? “No One” does

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Gallup has a new poll out which asked the burning question, "Who is the main person who speaks for the Republican Party today?"

Top response: No opinion   37%

Next top response: No one 14%

That's 51% of respondents who cannot readily identify who is the main person who speaks for the Republican Party today.

Gallup had to drill down into the polling data to come up with this headline: Limbaugh, Gingrich, Cheney Seen as Speaking for GOP So that's what "RNC" stands for: Rush + Newt + Cheney = "leadership vacuum."

Let's take a look at the poll results:

Gallup analysis:

Additionally, no one person dominates even among Republicans who are able to name someone who speaks for their party. Radio talk-show host Limbaugh, former Speaker Gingrich, and former Vice President Cheney — although at the top of the list — are all mentioned by only 9% or 10% of Republicans. The only other individuals named by more than 1% of Republicans are Sen. John McCain at 6%, Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele at 2%, and former Massachusetts Gov. and presidential candidate Mitt Romney, also at 2%. Of notable interest is the fact that less than 1% of Republicans name George W. Bush in response to the question.

* * *

Almost half of those who identify with or lean toward the GOP cannot think of a single political or other figure when asked to name the main person who speaks for their party. And none of the three individuals whom Republicans name — Limbaugh, Cheney, and Gingrich — would likely be characterized as new visionaries or individuals bringing a fresh or new face to the Republican political scene. None of the three hold elective office at this time, all are older white males (the youngest of the three is Limbaugh, who is 58), and only one has a realistic chance of running for the presidency in the future (Gingrich).

Perhaps most importantly, none of these is mentioned by more than 10% of Republicans, a telling indication that rank-and-file Republicans today simply have no single consensus leader around whom they can gather their forces.

Most pundits and political observers already have a list of possible candidates who could end up battling for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination — including (in addition to Gingrich) Sarah Palin, Romney, Mike Huckabee, Charlie Crist, and Jeb Bush. Gingrich is the only one on this list who is mentioned by more than 2% of Republicans as the person who — at this point in time — speaks for their party.

Hey, Gallup is right! Media darling Sarah Palin didn't even make the list. So why the hell does she always seem to be on the cable news channels? Media villagers and Beltway bloviators take note of this poll. America has had enough of your infatuation with Sarah Palin. She is so yesterday's news. Time to give it a rest. The Alaska Disasta is no longer newsworthy.

So Republicans are left with a racist/misogynist radio clown, a disgraced former congressman booted out of Congress for ethics violations by his own party, and the torturer-in-chief troll (who is unelectable in the GOP because he supports same-sex marriage). This is a party truly lost in the wilderness.