So what? Who knows what will happen in the next two years or what any of them will come up with as solutions?
Respectfully, you are way off on your understanding of the Presidential calendar.
The first election of the 2012 GOP primary is in Jan of 2012, approximately one year from today. The contest will most likely be over by super Tuesday or shortly thereafter - that is April 2012, only 15 months from now.
To win by April of 2012 candidates will have to announce in the next six months, at the latest.
Mitt Romney announced on Feb 7, 2007.
John McCain announced on Apri 25 2007.
So, the equivilent for 2012 would be Palin. Huckster, Pence, Paul and Pawlenty announcing sometime in the next 2 to 4 months.
Romney endedhis campaign on Feb. 7, 2008, because he had lost.
Most of the action will be over in only a little bit more than a year from now.
Given that I must disagree that with your statement: It is stupefyingly dumb to go to the mat for this candidate or the other this far away from an election. It might be a few months early to be 'going to the mat', but it's about the right time to be helping out if you want to play a major role in a candidate's run. By April 30 I believe we will know who all the players are. The first debate in 2007 was on May 8. (IE: about four months from today if moved to the 2012 contest).
Yes BfloGuy, it really is that time again, already.