Notwithstanding the post immediately below, and my full-throated participation in Sarahmania this fall, I notice with relief and maintain with delight that conservatism actually has a rather deep "bench" right now, involving none of those losers from this past cycle.

Besides Palin, who is very much in play but doesn't have anything locked up yet imo, there's also Bobby Jindal, Mark Sanford, and now, Florida's likely next Senator -- Jeb Bush. At a NR-summoned conservative "summit in January of '07, Jeb gave the best speech and got the warmest reception, far outstripping any of the actual candidates. Who knows, maybe that was in part because he wasn't a candidate. But he's smart, he's conservative, and he's popular, at least in his state. Oh and did I mention he's Catholic?

Watch the House too, where new Minority Whip Eric Cantor (VA), Deputy Whip Kevin McCarthy (CA) and Republican Conference Whatever Paul Ryan (WI), are becoming known as the conservative "Young Guns" who may challenge the stodgy and compromised Republican leadership. Party like it's 1978!