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Lou Dobbs for President?

By Jamie McIntyre Tuesday, November 24th, 2009 2:01 pm
Posted in On Media

I’m not saying, I’m just asking.

I was reading a column today in The Washington Post, about how it’s not all that impossible that a polarizing figure like Sarah Palin could be elected President of the United States of America someday, maybe even in 2012. Personally, I think Barack Obama will be unbeatable, especially if he gets a handle on the economy, healthcare, and Afghanistan. But, President Palin? Could happen, says former Bush strategist Matthew Dowd, writing in the Post [Yes, she can: Palin has a shot at the presidency — Washington Post, Nov 24, 2009]

So that got me thinking, if Palin could get elected with her strong negatives, but nevertheless, populist following, what about “Mr. Independent” Lou Dobbs? If you saw Mr. Dobbs on “The Daily Show” last week, you can see he does have a self-effacing sense of humor, and Jon Stewart seemed to forget all about the “birther” unpleasantness.

UPDATE: Lou Dobbs Weighs Senate Run, as a Steppingstone — New York Times

Lou Dobbs on “The Daily Show,” Nov. 18, 2009

Back in my CNN days, when I appeared on Lou’s show, he would sometimes go into one of his famous rants, where he would berate bureaucrats at the Pentagon, while I stood by in a split-screen looking like I wanted to be somewhere else. After all it wasn’t MY job to defend the Pentagon, or to agree with Lou, for that matter.

Often Pentagon officials would come by my office afterward and offer their sympathy for being subjected to Dobbs’ opinionated tirades. But my defense of Lou was always the same: You couldn’t accuse him of having a hidden agenda, like some reporters. His agenda right out there, on his sleeve, and in your face, and you could judge for yourself if he was full of spit.

Once, while appearing at a charity event in New York City, I made a joking reference to Dobbs’ penchant for challenging my reporting on the air, and it got me in hot water with some thin-skinned CNN suits who thought I was attacking Lou. (Do you WATCH the show, I wondered to myself, but didn’t say). Worried that Lou himself might have been offended at what I intended to be “all in good fun for a good cause,” I called his Manhattan office as I drove home down the New Jersey turnpike. “Nonsense,” chucked Lou over the phone. “We’re watching the tape now. We all think it was very funny. It’s not like I don’t have a sense of my own absurdity…”

That’s Lou Dobbs. He’s a serious guy, with a serious agenda, who — at least in my experience — doesn’t take himself TOO seriously. But seriously enough to want to change the country more to his liking. Some see him as a potential Senator from New Jersey, but I wouldn’t put it past him to run for president.

I don’t know about you, but when I listened to his farewell address on CNN, I thought he might be about to announce his campaign right then and there. Quick reality check: In order to win Dobbs would have to get the Republican nomination, beating Sarah Palin and whoever else is running, and that’s a tall order. It is simply is not possible ever to be elected U.S. president as a third party candidate, because of he quirks of the Electoral College. (That’s a political science column for another day) But you can sure wreak a lot of havoc. Just ask Ralph Nader or Ross Perot.

What do you think?

Tags: CNN, Lou Dobbs, President

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	Harry November 25th, 2009 at 3:37 pm Although I support Mr. Dobbs in most of his insight, I feel that even with his bully pulpit at CNN he is about as effective and noticable as farting in a tornado. For him to rise to power and be in a position to make real changes he would have to launch himself as a leading figure as a true independant candidate. Given the strong arm tactics that the current Dems and Reps have, that is unlikely. I will also bet $1,000,000.00 that there is a book comming within a short time. It never ends, does it?
	Ken from Kassen November 26th, 2009 at 7:15 pm Like him or not, aqree with him or not, Lou Dobbs puts his agenda out there for the public to see, unlike a lot of other reporters who hide theirs in order to “not offend” or to be “politically correct”. Personally, I miss his CNN evening report. Anderson Cooper, in my opinion is the only other CNN reporter who personally researches and reads in detail everything before he reports it or gives point of view. He is the consummate reporter, as is Lou. I can’t believe Lou Dobbs would want to be a politician. He is too much of a citizens advocate and statesmen don’t survive long in th D. C. politicians cesspool arena.
	Eli Jemison November 26th, 2009 at 7:48 pm Oh Loardie. I think Lou Dobbs is a xenophobic racist. He would be even worse than Palin, which speaks white dwarf sized volumes about his abilities. What is he going to do? Make his cabinet members sit in other rooms filmed by cctv cameras piped into the cabinet room to chairs typically filled by members but instead hold small tvs? Then have everyone yell all at once while he sits scowling untill that moment he decides to cut everyone’s mic to make a filthy statement like, “Mexican Americans should all have to wear a snake and eagle patches on their chests to distinguish them from illegals!” or The Amero will be the death of this country! Down with this Canadian-Mexican conspiracy!!” Christ I hope this will never see any more press.But then again Regan got in.…
	Lou Jr November 27th, 2009 at 7:04 pm Mr. Dobbs is a voice that many liked to listen to. He may have run into trouble back at CNN and he won’t cut his statements short just to save his job. I do not understand his attempts to kiss the butts of the thousands of illegals or Mexicans last week.
	Rlynch November 28th, 2009 at 1:43 pm “xenophobic racist“ Redundant? Redundant?
	Bill December 11th, 2009 at 4:00 pm Lou Dobbs is not qualified for anything other than rabble rousing, stick-in-your-eye verbage, and half-assed logic. Hard to believe that anyone other than the Palinities even considering him (or are they?)
	Eli Jemison December 15th, 2009 at 10:43 pm Xenophobia does not inherently imply racism, though they are more often than not connected at the hip. A 30 second google search can confirm that: “Xenophobia and racism often overlap, but are distinct phenomena. Whereas racism usually entails distinction based on physical characteristic differences, such as skin colour, hair type, facial features, etc, xenophobia implies behaviour based on the idea that the other is foreign to or originates from outside the community or nation.4 “ from : http://tinyurl.com/atb93u