The media will politically assassinate any GOP contender from here on out. They did it to all the GOP candidates in 2008, and successfully demonized both Bush and Cheney. They have no independence now from the Democratic Party. We must have candidates that can rise above the media. This is the only path to return to power. Charismatic leaders are a must. Those with existing good will with the public or those so skilled they can beat the media at their game. Obama won by a few million voters in a year that did not offer any real advantages to the GOP, so it is doable, but it will be a war.
Well, not quite.
After all the GOP let the democrats and the media (a branch of the DNC) pick McCain to run on their ticket.