It's really not all that surprising that the GOP candidates for the nomination come across as a pack of embarassing buffoons. They are. It's not that there aren't capable men in the GOP, it's that none of them is dumb enough to want the job.

Think about it, people like Barbour, Christie and Bush are running away from the desperate calls of their political compatriots. The last thing anyone with any sense wants is to be President in 2012. He, and his party, will probably be crushed by history.

The state of the American economy is such that there is no simple solution, ideological or otherwise, that's going to fix it, at least, not the way we want it to be fixed. Whatever measures will have to be employed will not do the job in one or even two, terms, and in either case, will involve sacrifices the American electorate does want to hear or is willing to make. The best that can happen now is to mitigate the damage as much as possible. Even if the next president is successful at pulling it off, he will be condemned as a failure.

The next President, regardless of party, will be remembered for hard times if he is successful and competent, and for presiding over a disaster if he's not. And part of that blame will be attached to his party, as well. We have problems that will not be solved by throwing money at them, or letting rich businessmen get away with anything they want.

If Obama had any sense, he'd call in sick.