GOP ticket 2012

There has been recent talk about the lack of leaders amongst the republican party. But I think there are extraordinary people who would make terrific candidates to campaign against an Obama-Biden ticket in 2012. I do not want a woman just because she is a woman and I do not want an African- American just because he/she is an African-American. I want the person who espouses the views that I believe in and can enunciate and debate them successfully.
I have nothing against Sarah Palin, she is a bright woman, but she is not presidential material. I probably agree with her politically but she does not have the capacity to debate those views against extremely bright challengers. To choose her again because she is an attractive female would be a mistake. We should not be the party that puts style over substance. We should put the best man/woman forward. We are the party that looks past the superficial. We don't judge a book by its cover, we believe in the power of the individual regardless of his race or sex. If that person is an older white male then we should go with that. We have to trust that the American people can look past the sex/color of the candidate and can look at the substance behind the shell. I know that's a leap of faith but its our only chance. The republicans will never win playing the celebrity game against the democrats. The republicans will win because their ideas are better.
Having said that, I think Newt Gingrich is the person who elaborates the position of the republicans eloquently and confidently. He can clearly state the positions of the republicans and how they contrast with the government centric democrats. He can debate the fiercest challenger with facility and can connect with the common man detailing the advantages of the conservative/republican values. There is no doubt he has negatives and he is a polarizing figure. That is only because he sticks to his positions and doesn't change with the most recent poll figures. But this is what we need at this time, a grown-up with real experience.
As far as the the vice presidential candidate, I think Charles Krauthammer would be a great choice. Yes, another old white male, but a great candidate. He is a terrific communicator both with the written and oral word. He portrays calmness and confidence and has a way of explaining complicated issues in a very simple to understand manner. I think he would be great in a national ticket.
So lets believe in the capacity of the American people to select a candidate based on their ideas and not by their exterior. A Gingrich-Krauthammer ticket in 2012 would truly put the decision to the American people. Do we want a country with larger government, more government power, higher taxation, and more government intrusion in our lives similar to a European model. Or do we want a country where we believe in the power of the individual to excel with minimal government interference. A place where race, sex and sexual preference are not factors in determining a person's ability to succeed, only his own talents and abilities. Lets have this debate as a country on these issues and not about personalities and lets decide in which direction we want to go.