This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
With Republican candidates starting to opt in for the 2012 presidential race, things are already getting interesting. With the current, very partisan Congress, we need a moderate president to balance things out.
Here's the real challenge with that: the tea party. The existence of the tea party requires Republican candidates to be more partisan in order to get their votes. Especially recently, more partisan individuals mobilize for the primaries, cutting out the moderate candidates (e.g., Sen. Bob Bennett).
If this dynamic remains the case for the 2012 election, it is likely that a very partisan candidate will be on the Republican ticket. If that person were to be put in office, I fear for the state of the nation.
I really hope America is smart enough to start moving politics toward the middle instead of perpetuating the current polarization.
Emily Donaldson
Salt Lake City