If there is a silver lining, it is that there is no where to go but up, and what a great opportunity to blow it up and begin anew.  It's time for Conservatives to shake the cobwebs and determine where they are headed in the future, and who is going to lead the new movement.  One person I find very impressive is this young congressman (young in age), Paul Ryan.  He nailed it last night with Britt Hume when he said that the Republicans need to go back to being a "reform" party as it was in the 80's and in 94, championing smaller government, not the politically scared party that began supporting pork-barrel earmarks that we've seen in recent years.  He also intimated that an overhaul for Republican Congressional leadership is in order, and I concur, despite my respect for Roy Blunt.  Watch this guy.  He reminds me of a young "Newt."  One thing that will need to cease is trying to out-Democrat the Democrats, which sadly our President has found himself doing on a few occasions.  The Republicans will need to continue show the kind of spine they had this past summer when they stayed in town to debate drilling, and many showed by rejecting the $700B blank check given to Paulsen and his successor.

While it is very early,  I think we have some great potential candidates for 2012.  One of course is Palin, who has the opportunity to become a little more seasoned (politically speaking).  The skewering she took from the left, media, and from within her own party is somewhat reminiscent of another figure from the 70's.  Whether or not she can evolve and seize the day is something we will have to wait and see.  There is also Bobby Jindal, the young governor from Louisiana, who really showed leadership during last summer's storms; and of course both Romney and Huckabee will have much to say.  Newt Gingrich might actually end up a dark horse depending on what happens the next four years, but I see him more a philosophical force than anything else.