Just for kicks, predict the GOP nominee for 2012

[norepubsin08]

[flvegan]

1. Rush Limbaugh's right tit.

[Ardent15]

2. Yep

I second this

[Hugabear]

3. Perhaps one of Rush's turds

Why not.

[Horse with no Name]

4. Bobby Jindal or Charlie Crist

Because they are both very popular conservative Governors and they are the NEW lipstick the republicans are trying to apply to the pig because they aren't radical nor are they neoconservative.

[southerncrone]

18. I think Crist, too. He'll probably nominate himself!

He's been Jebbie's understudy in FL. He'd be the next best thing to another BFEE. Doubt Jeb could make it after big brother screwed the country up so badly.
BFEE prefer working "in the shadows" anyway. They need a front man, just like Raygun was.

[DesertRat]

5. Jindal n/t

[ecstatic]

6. Joe the Plumber!!! nt

[Sinistrous]

7. David Petraeus.

[lpbk2713]

8. I'd love to see them run the Jebster and Failin'

... think they were good to us last time? Let em run these two nitwits.

[ColbertWatcher]

11. That would be hilarious! n/t

[chollybocker]

9. I think it'll be Bill O'Reilly.

Or Kid Rock. Somebody fictional.

[ColbertWatcher]

10. A young virtual unknown: Adam Putnam.

[customerserviceguy]

12. Went for "other"

Sen. Jim DeMint. Keep an eye on this guy, he's angling hard to make sure he's on the "right" side of Rush Limpballs, and he's been fairly effective at getting some face time on TV.

[Pirate Smile]

13. My bet - Mark Sanford, Governor of South Carolina

[BuyingThyme]

14. Frist.

[Motown_Johnny]

15. Romney, because they all wish they nominated someone who could talk the talk about economic issues

instead of Johnny "the fundamentals of the economy are strong" McCain

[MarianJack]

16. Palin...

...to prevent anyone with an actual future in presidential politics from taking the drubbing but still dumb enough to believe that the party actually wants her.

[anonymous171]

17. Romney/Palin. nt

[RagAss]

19. This guy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Z6uka7DoVI

[dysfunctional press]

20. john boehner is positioning himself to take a shot at it...

nobody's going to commit until/unless they think they have a realistic shot at it.

[CatholicEdHead]

21. Tim Pawlenty (MN Gov)

He has to one-up Norm Coleman before he retires from politics.

[OmahaBlueDog]

22. Mittens is playing the part of presumptive nominee on FAUX

It depends largely on how Obama and the economy are doing by 2011.

Neither Jindal nor Jeb will take a shot unless Obama looks really vulnerable. Palin is not as universally popular as the right wing media would have you believe, and she has baggage.

Mitt will take his shot in the belief that the fundies will look past the LDS thing and see what they have in common. Newt might also take a shot, arguing that he can save the party and make it great again. Sanford gets mentioned a lot, and I think Rick Perry has to figure into that mix somewhere.

No matter who runs, their theme will be to reign in government spending, cut taxes, and end abortion. None of these things, of course, would come to pass even if they were elected. The GOP is putting on a great post-election front right now, but give it a year or so; they may still be headed for schism. There is an increasing disparity among those in their party who are small government libertarians versus those who want to turn the controls over to big fundie religon.