Peggy Noonan is a serious, balanced, objective journalist. So I was a bit surprised to hear her bold prediction that President Obama is likely to lose in 2012. Her article is well written, and (I think) dead right both in terms of Obama’s pervasive weaknesses and the manner whereby he could nevertheless come out on top (lack of GOP seriousness). Excerpt:
You know the conventional wisdom. It is that unemployment ticking down, plus the economy inching back, plus the power of the presidency to affect events, equal a likely Obama victory in 2012. Smart people, especially Republicans, believe this. But how about this for a thought: It’s not true. It’s all wrong. Barack Obama can be taken, and his adversaries haven’t even noticed. In fact, he will likely lose in 2012. Only one thing can save him.
Read the whole thing.