Fishersville Mike: thanks, Newt, for bringing the party together!

Mike writes:

The Republican nominee in 2012 will have to bring different groups in the party together.

This week, Newt Gingrich brought the party together.

Against Gingrich.

You should click over just to see his title.

I’ve often wondered about the parade of people who become the “frontrunner of the month” in political campaign season. Not that we’re really in the season yet, but: if you’re Mitch Daniels, or Rick Perry, or..oh, hell, I dunno, Tim Pawlenty, then aren’t you pretty damn glad for people like Donald Trump right now?

Just look at the good he did. He took the shots at President Obama that everybody wanted to see taken; he sucked up all the media oxygen and, along with it, the glare and the full-body cavity searches; he left the rank-and-file amused, maybe interested, but still looking for somebody…else.

People like Trump allow – dare I call them more serious, more promising candidates – to avoid all that, at least a little, at least for a while.

I’ve often wondered this about Sarah Palin. Does she really mean to run? Or is she using her time in the spotlight to make her money and maybe take some of the heat the media and the Left (but I repeat myself) are just dying to heap on somebody? To give other potential Republican candidates some cover?

Yes, I know, this is wild and probably foolish speculation. It’s a heck of an idea, though. Find half a dozen potential candidates with a little legitimacy, have them get out there (one at a time) and maybe say a couple controversial things. They can get their media time, maybe sell a book, maybe get their own reality show for a while, and while they’re at it they can suck up all the opposition’s attention, giving the real candidates time to work on their campaigns without the withering and sometimes debilitating glare focusing on them.

There, Newt, I just gave you an out.