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...if she is in it for the long haul, she may find considerable advantage in drafting for a bit. It's humbling, not to be out in front right off the line, but it saves your tires and your gas and you still get to cross the finish line first.

In my mind, it's like proposing that Reagan 'draft' in the slipstream of GHW Bush, because it's a safer bet to win.

As I see it (and it's a common perception), the stars are now aligned almost precisely the same as they were in 1979, and it's exactly the right time to put forward our most unapologetic, most outspoken conservative leader for president. The people are dying of thirst for the same type of leader they demanded in 1980, and will vault their most fearless patriot into the White House, should that leader stand for the office.

Please rise, Sarah Palin.

I've heard that argument before, and it still doesn't compute to me. Why would you keep your MVP quarterback in reserve, and pin all of your hopes on a second string QB when you're playing the Super Bowl?

In this analogy, however, both the first string and the second string QB are on the field at the same time. Remember it was Sarah Palin's introduction to the race that saved McCain from an embarrassing landslide defeat by Obama. In fact she re-energized the race and was nearly able to secure a victory for McCain. If she can accomplish that for McCain, of all Republicans, doing the same for a genuine conservative (any of them) would seal a victory. Doing so for Cain, a well-spoken intelligent professional man having Tea Party inroads, would be a cake walk.

If she wants the Presidential seat for her own self-satisfaction, then she should run and I would encourage her to do so. There's a high probability she would have my vote in the primary. Running against fellow genuine conservatives, however, will be divisive and expensive. Considering there are already two genuine conservative minorities in the race, a woman and a black man, the divisiveness will be used as a weapon by both camps. She will not come out of it unscathed. And there is no guarantee of her success -- a high probability, yes, a guarantee, no, but expensive and divisive regardless.

When you consider that the Left has been anticipating her run for three years and has spent considerable effort (time and money) preparing for that run, significant advantage can be had upsetting their game. Using the front runner as a shield and becoming the running mate provides all the benefits to the team while defusing the traps and bombs laid by the opponent. That is where the drafting analogy is more appropriate. It's nearly a guaranteed victory at a fraction of the cost while making the party more cohesive instead of less. It's a win all the way around. And, assuming Palin and Cain do the People's work honestly for the term, Palin will be not only be the first woman Vice President in U.S. history, but also the first woman President as well -- no small honor there.

I'm a huge Palin fan and I think she would be a fine President. As the nominee, she will unquestionably have my support. I'm also pragmatic and analytical. When I find a route that has all the benefits, none of the liabilities, and costs substantially less --- I seize it. If Sarah Palin does as well, and humbles herself to forgo the short term vindication for the long term honor, I will understand completely and my admiration of her will only grow.