[Arguendo]

Gingrich didn't really have the personality to run for President, but he gave the party a strong and compelling intellectual/ideological platform to run on (nevermind that the party largely abandoned it as it got comfortable in Washington and subsequently lost the power it had gained running on that platform).

Palin has her folksy charm, but I haven't seen her do a great job articulating conservative ideas in a way that appeals to a broad range of the population.

[ansel12]

Without knowing which other freeper names that you go by, I’m not much interested.

[Melas]

IMHO, Gingrich is the the anti-Palin. The whole renewing America philosophy that he gave birth to was all about detail.

However, and this speaks extremely well of John McCain. McCain is obviously much, much smarter than I am. I would have never thought that his ticket needed something as superficial as I percieve Palin to be, but the cult-like following she’s developed just proves that he was right, and I was wrong.