palin could not handle running the state with the least population, what makes you think she could handle running the country?
I don't think of her as short term 2012 pres material, but when has any president ran the country???
The office is about those around the potus, He or she needs the best and brightest, with no ties to the status quo, or only enough, that the status quo, know they have to deal with them, and its not going to be business as usual.
I think of Romney the same way as FQ, I do like Newt, but don't think he is electable, but his new messages and interviews might get him somewhere, He is more of a statesman, than all the rest, and We do need a true statesman.
Heard great things about Jindal, just don't know if he can pull it off.
Believe me, McCain would not have done as well without Palin, she is great as a polarizer of the conservative side. She also does not back down, We need people like that, no apologies for our way of living that has to include giving lip service and money to ideals we don't believe in.
We have 3 yrs to come up with someone like Ronald Reagan, articulate, forceful and with a will to get things done. I don't have a clue of who that might be, but definitely not any of the aforementioned. I remember in my 20's President Reagan, coming down to congress with what looked like a 100 lbs of bills, and flat told them to get busy and straighten it out. When was the last time any of you remember a President, taking a stance like that, and embarrasing the congress or senate on live tv. That's what we need.
In closing, I want someone new, I would like some of the candidates that have great skills in the cabinet, like Romney, like Palin, Like Gingritch, each to their special skill. Throw the status quo out the window when possible, this is hard for me, as I like my reps, but a clean slate should be free of former parasites, even if I like them.