hink about it. Maybe you don't want to. But you'd better, because it's not too soon and it  doesn't seem so far-fetched.  

Last week's New York Magazine painted a provocative scenario in which Sarah Palin is elected President in 2012: the billionaire mayor Michael Bloomberg throws his hat into the ring, bypassing bothersome conventions and building a credible campaign as an independent. Being a northeast, big-city, pro-gay rights, pro-abortion, pro-gun control kind of independent, however, he siphons votes away only from  a battered Democratic incumbent, leaving the field open to the Republican challenger. Mitt Romney? Maybe not. "In a normal presidential cycle," writes political analyst John Heilemann, "Romney would be the clear Republican front-runner." But these are not normal times; they are so strange, in fact, as to make what once seemed impossible possible.

Heilermann took his share of hits from Washington pundits, some of whom chided him for far-fetched fantasies. After all, Ms. Palin, while enjoying the spotlight, especially as it combines with those big speaking fees, may come to realize that the day to day grind of a 5 to 9 (AM to PM) office job isn't much fun at all. She hasn't evinced a whole lot of interest in the details of government or policy or even geography for that matter. She walked away from office once before; she's no darling of the Republican establishment and a recent poll  shows fewer than 30% see her as qualified to actually serve as President. 

Not so fast, friends. Let's say Sarah the Barracuda (or grizzly or whatever dang animal she represents lately) can't resist the siren song of candidacy for the highest office. Imagine she reaches diagonally across the country to tap an up and comer, a charismatic, politically astute, Hispanic with Republican establishment cred. Imagine, in other words, she selects as a running mate someone who's recently been dubbed "The Great Right Hope": Senator-elect Marco Rubio. 

Are you tuning in now?

Last summer, Rubio graced the cover of The National Review; the handsome young contender seemed to preside over the headline, "Yes, He Can." The cover became a campaign sign; now some are wondering just how far the newly-elected Florida Senator can go.

Rubio isn't perfect;  his rock-solid conservative values have wobbled a bit when it comes to issues like immigration. But his is a story of the American dream fulfilled: how hard work and due diligence plus good looks can pay off.

Laugh if you dare. But keep your eyes on not only the fundraiser, pundit, media star, and mother of a teen activist turned dance competitor, but also on the man from Florida. You might see a new bumper sticker faster than you can say "Marco--Palin."

Of course it'd be the other way around, although you never know. There once was a freshman Senator named Barack...