by Taylor Huffman

Created on: March 12, 2009   Last Updated: April 01, 2009

As the Democrats sit snugly in power along the pews of Capitol Hill and in the halls of the White House, their rivals have found themselves floundering, their relevance dwindling steadily as the early weeks of the Obama administration mature to months. They've been reduced from the party that put country first to this sour grapes group of guys and gals in the peanut gallery, trying desperately to stall any and everything they clearly can't stop. And when Rush Limbaugh, the king of the "if I'm louder and more obnoxious than you I must be more correct" style of debate, has taken the ideological reigns of the Republican Party, electrifying each and every suburban stalwart possessing a mile-per-gallon max lower than their last president's approval rating to angry, useless chatter, you know there's something wrong.

It's really quite the identity crisis to solve before the 2012 elections, where the deeds or don'ts of Barack Obama will face off against the mettle of whichever man or woman decides the task is theirs. Naturally, it leads one to wonder just who is left in the Republican party competent and bold enough to put on the display necessary to take down a President who, within a mere matter of four years, became the media's favorite man sine...well, ever.

And while it is clear that this particular man or woman will have to be of extraordinary ability for the Republicans to take back the White House, it remains to be seen whether such a candidate exists in their roster.

Sarah Palin will run for President. She knows she has the looks to take up media space and have it be advantageous, as it seems this was the sole basis for her nomination to the Presidential ticket. She will run, and it will ruin her. Unless she has done quite a bit of homework, reporters and interviewers will tear her apart as the scrutiny on her character and intelligence increases tenfold. She barely managed to emerge somewhat distinguished after her Vice Presidential bid. As a Presidential candidate, she won't be able to escape the fact that she actually doesn't know anything.

The Republican party does have hope, however. Bobby Jindal, Governor of Louisiana, has made his way onto the scene through sensible governance. Jindal has approached conservatism in a practical way that returns the ideology to its roots, free from modern "conservadrama," and has produced significant results to date as Louisiana's chief executive. Newt Gingrich's report on Bobby Jindal's first six months as Governor is a worthy resource to look into to get the gist of Jindal's policies.

Unfortunately, Jindal may have ruined his chance to rise recently when he delivered the response to Obama's address to Congress. Jindal seemed as if he were explaining fourth grade math to second graders who just weren't advanced enough to take it in. Anything significant or brilliant he had to say was lost in the condescending tone, the nervous hand gesticulations, and the overall blandness of the speech. It's a shame that Jindal blew a beautiful opportunity to make a first impression with many Americans.

These two, once with substance, the other with photo appeal, seem most set to lead the party into the next election. Perhaps we would all be OK if they were able to fuse, bringing style and substance together in harmony to the betterment of our nation. Or perhaps we've just gotten that now...

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