Tom, it'd help a lot if the entire country got an equal say in the primary. Most of the early primaries are concentrated in Ohio and New England. By the time the primaries get to the south and the west, some of the candidates that those areas would've favored (e.g. Fred Thompson) have dropped out because they haven't won after 3 of 4 primaries and their funds are dropping off. The only remedy is to have a nationwide primary day.
I agree, though. I'm not excited about any of the above. Too much recycling of what we're not looking for. Look at the bright side, though. 12 years of Republican persistence got us Nixon.