If someone's to crash the Mike, Mitt, Newt, and Sarah front-running party, William Kristol bets he/she will look like one of the following:
.... a businessman who stands up against President Obama's big-government proposals, a retired general who objects to Obama's foreign policy or a civic activist who rallies the public against some liberal outrage.
If a Republican elected official emerges, it will probably be because he or she champions some populist cause, not because that person is a fine representative or senator or governor.
(ea) The "retired general" isn't vague. But Petraeus doesn't seem to have any interest in Presidential politics.
As far as the "Republican elected official", Kristol says it would have to be a populist of some sort.
If Texas Gov. Rick Perry can get by Kay Bailey Hutchison and win a 3rd term, he'd fit that criteria nicely -- especially if Palin doesn't run (which I suspect she won't). Palin and Perry already have a close bond, and her supporters seem ideologically and aesthetically simpatico with Perry.
But Kristol's options seem limited. Where's Mitt's natural opponent? Kristol seems to concede a huge swath of votes and ideology to Romney against little objection. T-Paw and Thune might have something to say about that.
