[Vigilanteman]

It depends. If she makes a couple of cameo appearances, I can forgive her for the payback in loyalty. Right now, I do not know of any other prospective presidential candidate in 2012 which excites me anywhere close to Sarah.

Jindal: Needs polish. Maybe ready by 2016, definitley not by 2012.

Huckabee: Forget it. He's a worse RINO than McCain on a lot of issues.

Romney: Any chance he had went bye-bye when he had the opportunity to distance himself from Massachusetts style health care and didn't. I don't think "We'll bankrupt America slower than ObamaCare" is a particularly great selling point.

Pence: I'd rather see him take out Bayh. I also don't think he can generate much excitement, though I think he's a good man.

Pawlenty: About as exciting as watching paint dry.

Thune: South Dakota: 3 electoral votes which go Republican anyway.

Fred Thompson: Liked him in 2008, but ran a terrible campaign. The window of opportunity has closed.

[mkjessup]

Excellent analysis of past and potential future candidates V-man, I haven't made a firm decision on ANY candidate at this point although I have always believed that if the GOP really wants to win, they need to go 'Back to the Future' and nominate an Eisenhower-like figure of unquestioned military experience, personal integrity and popular appeal. After all, America is still in a state of war contrary to the kumbaya-brigade currently in charge.

And I've got someone in mind, who would probably have to be drafted (and hopefully he would accept), FRiends, I give you retired General Peter Pace, USMC - former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a Marine's Marine, and although I was never in the Corps, I would follow him anywhere:

[wolfcreek]

Mihgt be one more in the mix. (if you can believe the Texas Monthly)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2434946/posts

[diogenes ghost]

"Thune: South Dakota: 3 electoral votes that go Republican anyway."

Great point!

And how many does Alaska have?