Anything may be possible in America, but a Palin presidency is virtually implausible.

Like a cowboy saddling a bucking stallion, Republican leaders tried to tame the Tea Party while riding it to victories.

Once a popular Alaska governor with a modest record of accomplishment, Palin could conceivably revive her reputation in this era of short memories. But it's hard to imagine her name atop the GOP ballot in 2016, when a cast of heavyweights who sat out 2012 will be vying for the nomination.

With gridlock the norm, Congress's approval rating is below 10 percent and the public has lost faith in its national leadership.

One of Obama's most impressive attributes is his quiet confidence: Voters sense that he is comfortable in his own skin, a dedicated father and friend who won't waste time with the phony rituals of Washington.

In Washington, compromise has become a dirty word.

Clearly, the Obama presidency hasn't wiped out racial prejudices.